This has traditionally been one of the most used ferns in herbal medicine. The second half of the Latin name, “officinarum” indicates that it was an herb used in Monastic Medicine – an herb of the officina or apothecary.
Gerard tells us:
Spleenwort being that kind of Fern called Asplenum or Ceterach, and the true Scolopendria, hath leaves a span long, jagged or cut upon both sides, even hard to the middle rib; every cut or incisure being as it were cut half round (whereby it is known from the rough Spleenwort) not one cut right against another, but one besides the other, set in several order, being slippery and green on the upper side, soft and downy underneath; which when they be withered are folded up together like a scroll, and hairy without, much like to the rough bear-worm wherewith men bait their hooks to catch fish: the root is small, black, and rough, much plaited or interlaced, having neither stalk, flower, nor seeds.
Ceterach groweth upon old stone walls and rocks, in dark and shadowy places throughout the West part of England; especially upon the stone walls by Bristol, as you go to Saint Vincent's Rock, and likewise about Bath, Wells, and Salisbury, where I have seen great plenty thereof.
The rough Spleenwort groweth upon barren heaths, dry sandy banks, and shadowy places in most parts of England, but especially on a heath by London called Hampstead Heath, where it groweth in great abundance.
A. Dioscorides teacheth, that the leaves boiled in wine and drunk by the space of forty days, do take way infirmities of the spleen; help the strangury, and yellow jaundice, cause the stone in the bladder to moulder and pass away, all which are performed by such things as be of thin and subtle parts: he addeth likewise that they slay the hicket, or yexing, and also hinder conception, either inwardly taken, or hanged about the party, and therefore, saith Pliny, Spleenwort is not to be given to women, because it bringeth barrenness.
B. There be empirics or blind practitioners of this age, who teach, that with this herb not only the hardness and swelling of the spleen, but all infirmities of the liver also may be effectually, and in very short time removed, insomuch that the sodden liver of a beast is restored to his former constitution again, that is, made like unto a raw liver, if it be boiled again with this herb.
C. But this is to be reckoned among the old wives' fables, and that also which Dioscorides telleth of, touching the gathering of Spleenwort in the night, and other most vain things, which are found here and there scattered in old books: from which most of the later writers do not abstain, who many times fill up their pages with lies and frivolous toys, and by so doing do not a little deceive young students.
Culpepper wrote:
Description. This is a small plant, consisting only of leaves, which spring from a fibrous root: they are about three or four inches long, hardly half an inch broad cut into small roundish segments, which stand not opposite ot one another, but alternately; they are of a greenish colour on the upper side, and brownish, and full of dusty seed underneath, generally crumpled or folded inward, in shape somewhat like the insect Scolopendra, whence it takes one of the names.
Place. It grows as well upon stone walls, as moist and shadowy places, about Bristol, and other the west parts plentifully; as also in Framlingham Castle, on Beaconsfield church in Berkshire, at Stroude in Kent, and elsewhere.
Time. It abides green all the winter.
Government and virtues. Saturn owns it. It is generally used against infirmities of the Spleen. It helps the stranguary, and wasteth the stone in the bladder, and is good against the yellow jaundice and the hiccough; but the juice of it in women hinders conception. Matthiolus says, that if a drachm of the dust that is on the backside of leaves be mixed with half a drachm of amber in powder, and taken with the juice of purslain or plantain, it helps the gonorrhea speedily, and that the herb and root being boiled and taken, helps all melancholy diseases, and those especially that arise from the venereal disease. Camerarius says, That the distilled water thereof being drank, is very effectual against the stone in the reins and bladder; and that the lye that is made of the ashes thereof being drank for some time together, helps splenetic persons. It is used in outward remedies for the same purpose. This is one of the five capiliary plants, ex re nomen habens, having its name from its good effect, in curing diseases of the spleen, taking away the swellings thereof, and hindering its too great largeness, whence likewise it is called Miltwaste: it likewise opens obstructions of th eliver, helps the jaundice, and is very good for the rickets in children.
Mrs. Grieve tells us:
The Common Spleenwort grows on old walls and in the clefts of moist rocks. The fronds are 4 to 6 inches long, leathery, light green above, beneath densely covered with rusty, toothed scales, the sori hidden under the scales.
This Fern used also to be called 'Miltwaste,' because it was said to cure disorders of the milt or spleen, for which it was much recommended by the Ancients. Probably this virtue has been attributed to the plant because the lobular milt-like shape of its leaf resembles the form of the spleen. The name of the genus, Asplenium, is derived from the Greek word for the spleen, for which the various species originally assigned to the genus were thought to have curative powers. This particular species was used to cure an enlarged spleen. It was also used as a pectoral and as an aperient in obstructions of the viscera, and an infusion of the leaves was prescribed for gravel. Meyrick considered that a decoction of the whole plant was efficacious, if persevered in, for removing all obstructions of the liver and spleen. Pliny considered that it caused barrenness.
Plants for A Future states:
The whole plant is antitussive and diuretic. It is widely used in the Mediterranean to treat gravel in the urine and is also used with other mucilaginous plants to treat bronchial complaints. The taste is very bitter and needs to be sweetened with other herbs such as liquorice. The plant is harvested from late spring to summer and can be dried for later use. Some caution should be employed in its use since it has not been fully tested.
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.
The Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants tells us:
American Indians used root poultice or lotion for snakebites, bruises, cuts, sores. In folk medicine, root tea emetic, induces sweating; also an expectorant, used for lung ailments.
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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