Adiantum capillus-veneris is a species of ferns. This fern is cultivated and widely available around the world for planting in natural landscaping in gardens, in indoor & outdoor in container as houseplant. This fern grows from 6 to 12 inches in height. It is found in temperate climates, from warm to tropical, where the moister content is high. It grows well in the moist, well-drained sandy soil, including rainforest, woodland, near wet/moist area near by springs, shaded & sheltered area.
Adiantum capillus - veneris is also a medicinal plant. Mr. Akhlaq Khan Kakar wrote a detailed noted on its medicinal values, sharing here as it is:
Medicinal uses:
Antidandruff, Antitussive, Depurative, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Galactogogue, Refrigerant, Stings, Tonic, Vermifuge. The maidenhair fern has a long history of medicinal use and was the main ingredient of a popular cough syrup called 'Capillaire', which remained in use until the nineteenth century. The plant is little used in modern herbalism. The fresh or dried leafy fronds are antidandruff, antitussive, astringent, demulcent, depurative, emetic, weakly emmenagogue, emollient, weakly expectorant, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, pectoral, refrigerant, stimulant, sudorific and tonic. A tea or syrup is used in the treatment of coughs, throat afflictions and bronchitis. It is also used as a detoxicant in alcoholism and to expel worms from the body. Externally, it is used as a poultice on snake bites, bee stings etc. In Nepal, a paste made from the fronds is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches and to the chest to relieve chest pains. The plant is best used fresh, though it can also be harvested in the summer and dried for later use.:
Parts Used
Leaves, above ground parts.
Quality/Temperament
Warm and dry in first order/normal or balanced in warmness and dryness.
Functions and Properties (Pharmacological Actions)
Resolvent, demulcent, concoctive for phlegm and atrabile, expectorant, deobstruent, detersive, diuretic, anticatarrhal, emmenagogue.
Specific Action
Concoctive, expectorant and purgative for bile and atrabile, anticatarrhal.
Medicinal Uses
Being concoctive and expectorant useful in pleurisy, acute pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis and asthma. In fevers due to excess phlegmatic humour used as concoctive with other suitable drugs. Being diuretic and emmenagogue given for expelling the placenta. As detersive and desiccative applied on sores, ulcers, alopecia, alopecia furfuracea, for this purpose bruised to powder and applied on oral sores, stomatitis, pustules and boils of children. Resolves hard swellings, scrofulous glands and other local inflammations. Burnt into ashes, the herb has been regarded as effective when hairs are washed with it in headache and insanity (of temporary origin). Mostly its decoction is used in Unani medicine and not used alone because it brings desiccation.
Compound Preparations
Matbookh Bukhar, Laooq Sapistan, Sherbet Mudir Tams, Sherbet Ustukhudus, Sherbet Faryad Ras, Sherbet Kaknaj, Sherbet Mushil.
Dosage
5 to 10 g.
Corrigent
Pistacia lentiscusLinn. and flowers of Viola odorataLinn.
Tenedium
Viola odorataLinn. (Banafsha), Glycyrrhiza glabraLinn.
Comments
Described as harmful if administered to patients suffering from spleen disorders. Regular use may cause dessication.
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