As mentioned, the Maidenhair ferns have similar uses in many cases, and there has been a good deal of confusion over these ferns. This fern has beautiful black, shiny stems when dried and has been much used in basket weaving.
John Gerard, wrote of the True Maidenhair Fern:
A. The true Maidenhair, as Galen testifieth, doth dry, make thin, waste away, and is in a mean between heat and coldness: Mesues showeth that it consisteth of unlike or disagreeing parts, and that some are watery and earthy, and the same binding, and another superficially hot and thin. And that by this it taketh away obstructions or stoppings, maketh things thin that are thick, looseneth the belly, especially when it is fresh and green: for as this part is thin, so is it quickly resolved, and that by reason of his binding and earthy parts; it stoppeth the belly, and stayeth the lask and other fluxes.
B. Being drunk it breaketh the stone, and expelleth not only the stones in the kidneys, but also those which stick in the passages of the urine.
C. It raiseth up gross and slimy humours out of the chest and lungs, and also those which stick in the conduits of the windpipe, it breaketh and raiseth them out by spitting, if a lohoch or licking medicine be made thereof.
D. Moreover, it consumeth and wasteth away the King's evil, and other hard swellings, as the same author affirmed, and it maketh the hair of the head or beard to grow that is fallen and pilled off.
E. Dioscorides reckoneth up many virtues and operations of this Maidenhair, which do not only differ, but are also contrary one to another. Among others he saith, that the same stancheth blood: and a little before, that it draweth away the secondines, and bringeth down the desired sickness: which words do confound one another with contrarieties; for whatsoever things do stanch blond, the same do also stay the terms.
F. He addeth also in the end, that it is grown about sheepfolds for the benefit of the sheep, but what that benefit should be, he showeth not.
G. Besides, that it cannot be sown, by reason it is without seed, it is evident, neither can it fitly be removed. Therefore in this place it seemeth that many things are transposed from other places, and falsely added to this chapter: and peradventure some things are brought hither out of discourse of Cytisus, or Milk Trefoil, whereof here to write were to small purpose.
H. Wall-Rue is not much unlike to Black Maidenhair in temperature and faculty.
I. Wall-Rue is good for them that have a cough, that are short winded, and that be troubled with stitches and pain in their sides.
K. Being boiled, it causeth concoction of raw humours which stick in the lungs; it taketh away the pain of the kidneys and bladder, it gently provoketh urine, and driveth forth stones.
L. It is commended against ruptures in young children, and some affirm it to be excellent good, if the powder thereof be taken continually for forty days together.
This fern seems to have found some use in early American herbal medicine, having been mentioned by the Thomsonians and Eclectics, and by the time of the Civil War it was recognized. Resources of The Southern Fields and Forests states:
The
leaves of Ferns - one of the subdivisions of this class, generally
contain a thick, astringent mucilage, with a little aroma; on which
account they may be considered pectoral and lenitive. Lindley states
that almost any of them may be substituted for the Adiantum pedatum,
and capilus ceneris, which especially abounds in these products. The
first of these grows in shady woods, North Carolina and northward,
and the second is often pendant from limestone cliffs, Florida,
Alabama and westward. They form the basis of the syrup called
capillaire, so much used in France and Germany. Ainslie states that a
strong decoction of the last is decidedly emetic. I have observed in
the leaves of the Osmunda regalis, and of several other species, a
taste strongly resembling that of spermaceti.
King’s Medical Dispensatory of 1898 tells us:
The American species of Adiantum is a delicately beautiful and graceful fern, growing from 6 to 15 inches high, with a handsome, polished, dark-purple or black stipe, forking at the summit; each branch so created supporting simple branches densely clothed with alternate, triangular, oblong pinnae. These are entire and veined on their lower margin, incised on their upper border, and fruit-bearing. The fruit dots are short, slightly crescent-shaped, and marginal, and covered by an indusium derived from the reflected margin of the lobe. The fronds are erect and present a beautiful appearance. The leaves are slightly bitter, together with a faintly sweetish, aromatic, feebly astringent taste. The odor is delicately aromatic.
The European species is about 1 foot high, with a brownish or brownish-black stipe, pinnate above, and doubly or thrice pinnate below. The leaflets are irregular, wedge-shaped, obtusely incised, with the fruit dots in a marginal line. It is inodorous, with a sweetish taste, afterward slightly bitter, and feebly astringent.
History and Chemical Composition.—The maidenhair ferns contain a volatile oil, sugar, tannin, mucilage, and a bitter principle. The A. pedatum is a common fern in the moist, rich soil of the American woods, and is found also in Eastern Asia. The A. capillus Veneris is a native of Europe, but, according to Englemann, is naturalized in Florida, Texas, and Arkansas, and westward to California. The European species is used in preparing a syrup called Sirop de capillaire, which is popular in France and Germany as a mucilaginous pectoral. The plants yield their virtues to boiling water, and are used in decoction, infusion, or syrup.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Maidenhair is refrigerant, expectorant, tonic, and subastringent. In decoction it forms an elegant refrigerant drink in febrile diseases and in erysipelas, and is also beneficial in coughs, chronic catarrh, hoarseness, influenza, asthma, etc. It is likewise reputed efficacious in pleurisy, and in jaundice.The decoction or syrup may be used freely. These plants are highly valued by some practitioners, and deserve investigation. Doses: Decoction (℥j to aqua Oj), dose, 1 to 4 fluid ounces. Infusion (℥j to aqua Oj), dose, 1 to 4 fluid ounces. Syrup (adiantum 1 part, boiling water 10 parts, sugar 19 parts; infuse, adding the sugar after the syrup has been strained), dose, 1 or 2 tablespoonfuls.
Related Species.—Asplenium Adiantum nigrum, Linné. Black maidenhair. Habitat, Europe. Mucilaginous. Substituted for the true maidenhairs.
Asplenium Trichomanes. Spleenwort. Europe. Also used to adulterate the true species. Neither of the foregoing have, however, the aromatic flavor of the genuine article.
Asplenium ruta muraria, Linné. White maidenhair. Indigenous to both Europe and the United States. Used for the same purposes as the medicinal fern.
Plants of The Cherokee informs us that this fern was used in a formula for chills:
“A warm infusion made of the roots of several ferns: Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum), Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Brittle Fern (Cystopteris fragilis), Hay Scented Fern (Dennstaedtia punctiloba) and Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) are blown upon the person from the east, north west and south in succession, four times in the morning for four days….” An incantation is said by the healer.
Also:
A decoction of the whole plant is used as an emetic in cases of ague or fever. A tea made by pouring boiling water over the leaves is used for rheumatism; another fern is also used. The doctors explained that the fronds of the different varieties of fern are curled up in the young plant, but unroll and straighten out as it grows, and consequently a decoction of ferns causes the contracted muscles of the rheumatic patient to unbend and straighten out in like manner. A leaf tea is drunk and as a wash to cure fevers. The powdered leaves, when smoked are good for heart trouble. For sudden paralytic attack, as in bad pneumonia of children, a steep of the entire plant was blown all over the head and chest where he is hot. A prayer is said.
Plants for A Future states:
The whole plant is considered to be antirheumatic, astringent, demulcent, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, haemostatic, pectoral and tonic. A tea or syrup is used in the treatment of nasal congestion, asthma, sore throats etc. A decoction of the root was massaged into rheumatic joints. The N. American Indians chewed the fronds and then applied them to wounds to stop bleeding. A strong infusion of the whole plant was has been used as an emetic in the treatment of ague and fevers. This plant was highly valued as a medicinal plant in the 19th century and merits scientific investigation.
Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable. Many ferns also 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.
Botany in a Day tells us:
A tea of the leaves is used as an expectorant and a refrigerant, used for coughs and colds. A tea of the leaves is used as a menstrual stimulant, or a hair rinse to ad shine and body.
The Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants states:
Considered expectorant, cooling, and anti-rheumatic. Tea or syrup used for nasal congestion, asthma, sore throats, hoarseness, colds, fevers, flu, pleurisy. The fern was highly valued as a medicinal plant by some 19th century medical practitioners, suggesting that its efficacy should be investigated by science. Stems were used by Indians throughout North America as a hair wash to make the hair shiny.
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.
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