Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies: Cyrtomium fortunei and Cystopteris fragilis, Brittle Bladder Fern

 


Cyrtomium fortunei

This is an Asian Fern, that would seem to have promising use in herbal medicine.

Plants for A Future states:

The rhizome is analgesic, anthelmintic, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antiviral, depurative, febrifuge and haemostatic. A decoction is used in the treatment of hookworm, tapeworm, ascariasis, filiariasis, acute infectious hepatitis and various bleeding ailments. The decoction is also used as a preventative for influenza and measles.

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.

(photo By Andra Waagmeester - https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/23734612, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=97607252)



Cystopteris fragilis, Brittle Bladder Fern

Unlike its cousins, Cystopteris bulbifera (Bladder Fern) and Cystopteris bulbifera (Mountain Bladder Fern), which is considered only useful as a survival food, Brittle Bladder Fern has some medicinal use. Externally, it is used as a poultice for wounds. Internally, it has traditional use to treat fevers associated with intestinal parasites.

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.

(photo By Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5376954)



This article is an excerpt from 

Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS

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Read about my other new books:

A Daily Catholic Devotional Reflections on the Daily Mass readings July-December, 2024
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Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6: by Judson Carroll


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Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS

The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html

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Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6

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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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