The Female Fern, and
the Male Fern, that we will discuss next, have long use in herbal
medicine. In the Middle Ages, Saint Hildegard von Bingen recommended
this herb for those who ail in their intestines, but only for people
who are very lean.
Gerard wrote of the
Female Fern:
There be divers
sorts of Fern, differing as well in form as place of growing; whereof
there be two sorts according to the old writers, the male and the
female; and these be properly called Fern: the others have their
proper names, as shall be declared.
The female Fern
hath neither flowers nor seed, but one only stalk, chamfered,
something edged, having a pith within of divers colours, the which
being cut aslope, there appeareth a certain form of a spread eagle:
about this stand very many leaves which are winged, and like to the
leaves of the male Fern, but lesser: the root is long and black, and
creepeth in the ground, being now and then an inch thick, or somewhat
thinner. This is also of a strong smell, as is the male.
The Female Fern
is of like operation with the former, as Galen saith. Dioscorides
reports, that this bringeth barrenness, especially to women, and that
it causeth women to be delivered before their time; he addeth, that
the powder hereof finely beaten is laid upon old ulcers, and healeth
the galled necks of oxen and other cattle: it is also reported, that
the root of Fern cast into an hogshead of wine keepeth it from
souring.
Culpepper wrote of
both the Female and Male Fern:
Of this there are
two kinds principally to be treated of, viz. the male and female. The
female groweth higher than the male, but the leaves thereof are
lesser and more divided and dented, and of as strong a smell as the
male: the virtues of them are both alike, and therefore I shall not
trouble you with any description or distinction of them.
Place. They grow
both on heaths, and in shady places near the hedge-sides in all
counties of this land.
Time. They flower
and give their seed at midsummer.
The female fern
is that plant which is in Sussex, called brakes, the seed of which
some authors hold to be so rare. Such a thing there is I know, and
may be easily had upon midsummer eve, and for ought I know, two or
three days after it, if not more.
Government and
virtues. It is under the dominion of Mercury, both male and female.
The roots of both these sorts of fern being bruised and boiled in
mead, or honeyed water, and drank, killeth both the broad and long
worms in the body, and abateth the swelling and hardness of the
spleen. The green leaves eaten, purge the belly and choleric and
waterish humours that trouble the stomach. They are dangerous for
women with child to meddle with, by reason they cause abortions. The
roots bruised and boiled in oil, or hog's grease, make a very
profitable ointment to heal wounds or pricks gotten in the flesh. The
powder of them used in foul ulcers, drieth up their malignant
moisture, and causeth their speedier healing. Fern being burned, the
smoke thereof driveth away serpents, gnats, and other noisome
creatures, which in fenny countries do, in the night time, trouble
and molest people lying in their beds with their faces uncovered; it
causeth barrenness.
Mrs. Grieve tells
us:
Athyrium
Filix-foemina.
The Lady Fern is
similar in size and general appearance to the Male Fern. It grows
abundantly in Britain, in masses, in moist, sheltered woods, on
hedgebanks and in ravines. The rootstock is short and woody; the
fronds 2 to 3 feet high, grow in circular tufts and are light,
feathery and succulent, generally drooping, and while young and
tender, not infrequently soon shrivelling up after being gathered.
The leaf base - as already stated - has only two large bundles, and
the stalks are less scaly than in the Male Fern. The pinnae are
alternate, the lowest decreasing much in size at the bottom, and are
divided into numerous long, narrow, deeply-divided and toothed
pinnules, with abundant sori on their undersides, the indusium
attached along one side, in shape rather like an elongated and rather
straightened kidney. The Lady Fern is very variable in form, tint and
flexibility: it is more graceful and somewhat more delicate than the
Male Fern, and is early cut down by autumn frosts. It is easy of
cultivation.
The medicinal
uses are as in Male Fern, but it is less powerful in action.
John K’eogh wrote
of the Irish tradition:
The root if
crushed and taken with ½ ounce of honey and water will expel worms
form the body. A decoction of it in wine will dispel obstructions of
the liver and spleen. Around midsummer, the country people burn the
stalks and leaves of it in order to make ashes with which to whiten
their linen clothes.
Plants for A Future
states:
A tea of the
boiled stems has been used to relieve labour pains. The young
unfurled fronds have been eaten to treat internal ailments such as
cancer of the womb. The roots are anthelmintic and diuretic. A tea of
the boiled roots has been used to treat general body pains, to stop
breast pains caused by childbirth and to induce milk flow in caked
breasts. The dried powdered root has been applied externally to heal
sores. A liquid extract of the root is an effective anthelmintic,
though it is less powerful than the male fern, Dryopteris felix-mas.
Young shoots,
harvested before they have fully unfolded, can be eaten cooked. They
must not be eaten raw - see the notes on toxicity. Used in spring,
they are a bitter emergency food. Rhizome - peeled and slow-baked.
Reports that the root of this plant were eaten by native North
American Indians are likely to be mistaken, it was probably
Dryopteris expansa that was used.
The fresh shoots
contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B
complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people
eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large
quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed
by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the
thiaminase. Although we have found no reports for this species, a
number of ferns also contain carcinogens so some caution is
advisable.
The Peterson Field
Guide to Medicinal Plants tells us:
American Indians
used root tea as a diuretic, to stop breast pains due to childbirth,
induce milk in caked breasts. Stem tea taken to cause labor. Like
many ferns, this was was traditionally taken to eliminate worms.
Dried, powdered root used externally for sores. Japanese researches
found anti-gout potential in the related fern, A. mersosorum.
The Physician’s
Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine states:
Effects: The drug
is a mild expectorant; a choleretic-type effect is questionable.
Unproven Uses:
The drug is used for respiratory and gastrointestinal tract uses.
Precautions and
Adverse Reactions: No health hazards or side effects known in
conjunction with proper administrations of designated therapeutic
dosages.
This article is an excerpt from
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
