Dryiopteris
carthusiana, Buckler Fern or Shield Fern
This
one had a name change at some point – Mrs. Grieve listed it as
Aspidium spinulosum, Shield Fern:
The
Prickly-toothed Shield Fern is allied to the Male Shield Fern, but is
not so tall, about 8 to 14 inches, and has very much broader leaves.
The rootstock is similar to Male Fern, but there are differences in
the number of wood bundles in the stems, also in the hairs on the
margins of the leaf-stalk scales. The fronds are more divided - twice
or thrice pinnate - and are spinous, the pinnae generally opposite
and the lowest pair much shorter than the others. The sori are
circular, with kidney-shaped indusium, much smaller than in
Filix-mas.
The
Prickly-toothed Shield Fern is moderately erect and firm and grows in
masses, being common in sheltered places on moist banks and in open
woods.
The medicinal
uses are as in Male Fern, with the rhizome of which, as imported from
the Continent, it has always been much mixed.
Plants for A Future
states:
The root contains
"filicin", a substance that paralyses tapeworms and other
internal parasites and has been used as a worm expellent. It is one
of the most effective treatments known for tapeworms - its use should
be immediately followed by a non-oily purgative such as magnesium
sulphate in order to expel the worms from the body. An oily purge,
such as caster oil, increases the absorption of the fern root and can
be dangerous. The root is harvested in the autumn and can be dried
for later use, it should not be stored for longer than 12 months.
This remedy should be used with caution and only under the
supervision of a qualified practitioner. The root is toxic and the
dosage is critical. See also the notes above on toxicity.
Although we have
found no reports for this species, a number of ferns contain
carcinogens so some caution is advisable. The fresh plant contains
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.
However, there have been reports for other species of ferns
suggesting that even cooked fronds can have a long term harmful
effect. Some caution is therefore advised.
(photo By Wasp32 - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49740198)
Dryopteris
crassirhizoma, Crown Wood Fern
A Handbook of
Chinese Healing Herbs by Daniel Reid tells us:
This is a common
fern that grows in temperate and subtropical regions throughout the
world. There are many different Latin designations because a variety
of species are used interchangeably under the same name in Chinese
Medicine, thereby confounding the translators. The lush green fronds
grows to a length of 15-30 centimeters, and the starchy rhizomes are
used in medicine; in ancient times, the later were also eaten as
food. They contain tannin, essential oil, resin, starch, and sugar,
and are mildly toxic.
Energy: Slightly
Cold
Flavor: Bitter
Affinity: Liver,
Stomach
Therapeutic
Effects: anthelmintic, antidote, antipyretic, hemostatic (TCM:
clears internal heat).
Indications:
Intestinal parasites, uterine congestion and hemorrhage after
childbirth, menorrhagia. leukorrhia, inflamed abscesses due to excess
heat, thyroid inflammation, (TCM: internal heat).
Contraindications:
Pregnancy
Plants for a Future
states of this Dryopteris:
The root stalks
are analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral,
astringent, febrifuge, haemostatic, vermifuge and vulnerary. A
decoction of the dried root is depurative and resolvent. The root
contains "filicin", a substance that paralyses tapeworms
and other internal parasites and has been used as a worm expellent
for humans and also in veterinary medicine. It is one of the most
effective treatments known for tapeworms - its use should be
immediately followed by a non-oily purgative such as magnesium
sulphate in order to expel the worms from the body. An oily purge,
such as caster oil, increases the absorption of the fern root and can
be dangerous. The root is also taken internally in the treatment of
internal haemorrhage, uterine bleeding, mumps and feverish illnesses.
The root is harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use,
it should not be stored for longer than 12 months. This remedy should
be used with caution and only under the supervision of a qualified
practitioner. The root is toxic and the dosage is critical. See also
the notes above on toxicity. Externally, the root is used in the
treatment of abscesses, boils, carbuncles and sores.
(photo By Dalgial - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9646422)
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.
