Adiantum, MaidenhairCapillus Veneris, Venus HairParsiaoshan (Unani) Hamsapadi (Ayurveda) Rtsa rma dongs རྩརྨ་མདོངས་ |
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Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485 |
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491 |
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Common Maidenhair Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563 |
English Maidenhair (Trichomanes) Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640 |
Icones Plantarum Medcio-oeconomico, Vietz, 1800
Botanical name:Adiantum capillus-veneris A number of related species are used:
Parts used:Herb, fresh (stronger) or dried |
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Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, dry; Bitter, sweet
“According to Galen it is moderate in temperament but at times it slightly tends towards Hotness and mostly it tends towards Dryness”. (Avicenna)
Classification:
2A APERIENT MEDICINES. 2F. PURIFYING. 2K. RESOLVENT
3E. DIURETIC. 3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3K. EXPECTORANT. 3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4d. PECTORAL. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC
Uses:
1. Benefits the Lungs, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-primarily for Coughs, Bronchitis, Shortness of Breath, Asthma
-throat conditions such as Pharyngitis and Laryngitis
-Pleurisy and Whooping Cough.
-‘cleanses the Lungs and is useful in Cough’. (Avicenna)
2. Clears Heat, Quenches Thirst:
-all types of Fevers, especially those coming of Phlegm and Bile (Damp-Heat);
-Thirst associated with Fevers.
-Diabetes
3. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Opens Obstructions, Moves the Blood, Resolves Masses:
-opens the belly, clears heat and phlegm from the Stomach and Liver, opens the Liver and Spleen, and clarifies Blood
-Abscesses, Scrofula, Fistulas, Fresh and Malignant Ulcers (Avicenna)
-Chlorosis, Spleen Pain, Jaundice etc. (Avicenna)
-‘Tumors of all Kinds, whether Hot or Cold, Edematous, Scirrhous, Inflammatory or Erysipelatous’ (Pharmacopoeia Universalis, James, 1743).
-cold Abscesses of the Uterus, as well as Hard Swellings, Fibroids and Tumors of the Liver, Spleen and other organs. (Ayurveda)
4. Stops Leakage and Bleeding:
-stop bleeding and looseness of the Stomach and Bowels
-Diarrhea, Enteritis and Dysentery.
5. Benefits the Blood, Regulates Menstruation:
-‘promote the Menses when deficient, and restrains them when too copious’
-prevent Sterility, and was said to be ‘particularly beneficial to the parts of generation’ (Pharmacopoeia Universalis, James, 1743)
-“Expels Placenta, cleanses Puerpera and stops Bleeding”. (Avicenna)
-commended for Leukorrhea.
6. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine, Clear Stones:
-traditionally used for stoppage of Urine, Gravel and Stones.(Avicenna)
-benefits the Joints in Arthritic complaints
-‘all diseases arising for Wind lodged in the Muscles. It resolves concretions formed upon the Ligaments of the Joints, and is for this very reason beneficial in the Gout [Arthritis]’ (Pharmacopoeia Universalis, James, 1743).
-Obesity
7. Clears Heat, Benefits the Brain:
-cleanses the Brain of Bile and Melancholy
-Sleeplessness, Coma, Madness, Melancholy, Headache, Epilepsy etc.
-brightens the Sight
-represses ‘humors’ falling to the Teeth, Ears, or glands of the Neck.
-exhilarates the Heart and strengthens its Vital Force.
-Black Maidenhair (A. lunulatum) is regarded as specific for Melancholy, Psychosis-related Fear and mental disorders.
8. Resists Poison:
-“If mixed with wine, it is useful in bite of Snakes, Mad Dogs and Insects”. (Avicenna)
9. Externally:
-boiled in wine, or made into a Lye, cleanses the head of Scurf and Running Sores.
-in lotions for ‘all disorders of the Hair’: to strengthen the Hair, for thinning of hair, for Baldness, Alopecia, and to promote the growth of thick hair; the ashes are mixed with olive oil and vinegar (Avicenna).
-in lotions to treat Dandruff; ashes mixed with water and applied (Avicenna)
-some have used it to make the hair curl.
-applied topically for traumatic pain, swelling, bleeding and fracture.
Dose:
This more than almost any other herb was typically given as a dose of “a handful”, this being because it is so light that weighing is difficult.
Infusion or Brief Decoction: 3–10 grams, or “a handful”
Powder: 1–3 grams, often with Honey
Correctives
Mastic; Violet flowers (Unani)
Note:
Avicenna noted when added to the feed of Cocks and Quails it makes them fight.
Substitutes:
1. Violet
2. Licorice (Unani)
3. “An equal quantity of Violet and half the quantity of rob of Licorice may serve as its substitutes in cases of Asthma.” (Avicenna)
4. In Kerala Desmodium triflorum is used for Hamsapadi.
Main Combinations:
-Maidenhair is often combined with Licorice for the Lungs (as in Syrup of Maidenhair)
-One of the ‘Capillary Herbs’
Lungs
1. Common Cold with Cough, Fever:
i. Maidenhair with Licorice, Quince, Violet, Cucumber seed mucilage
ii. Maidenhair with Plantain, Violet, Coltsfoot
iii. Maidenhair with Camomile, Raisins
2. Sore Throat, Pharyngitis:
i. Maidenhair, Sage, Licorice as a gargle
i. Maidenhair with Dodder, Chamomile, Marshmallow, Radish, Fig, Celery as a gargle
3. Cough:
i. Maidenhair with Coltsfoot and Licorice
ii. with Lung deficiency, Maidenhair with Almond and Licorice
iii. Maidenhair with Fennel seed, Celery seed, Licorice juice, Sweet Almond
iv. Maidenhair with Hyssop, Basil, Horehound, Licorice (as in Decoction for Cough and Asthma of Galen)
v. with Lung deficiency, Maidenhair with Raisins, Barley, Jujube, Date, Licorice, Hyssop (as in Pectoral Decoction)
vi. Maidenhair with Horehound, Licorice, Hyssop, Aniseed, Celery root, Fennel root, Fenugreek, Orris, Linseed, Quince seed (as in Syrup of Horehound)
vii. Maidenhair with Licorice, Hyssop, Violet syrup as a decoction (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
viii. Maidenhair with Fig, Stavesacre, Licorice, Hyssop, Orris root as a decoction (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
ix. Maidenhair with Fennel, Celery, Licorice, Sweet Almond kernel as a pill (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
x. Maidenhair with Fennel, Celery, Licorice, Bitter almond kernel, Linseed mucilage as a pill (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
xi. Maidenhair with Myrtle, Melon seed, Licorice, Gum Arabic as a tablet (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
xii. Maidenhair with Liquorice, Assyrian Plum, Stavesacre, Hyssop, Anise, Marshmallow, Mallow, Orris
4. Asthma:
i. Maidenhair with Fig, Raisin, Date, Celery seed, Fennel seed, Licorice, Hyssop, Horehound, Fenugreek (as in Decoction for Asthma of Zacharia)
ii. Maidenhair with Butterbur, Parsley root, Elecampane, Fennel root, Licorice, Raisins, Date, Coltsfoot, Hyssop, Horehound, Aniseed (as in Anti-Asthmatic Syrup)
iii. Maidenhair with Marshmallow, Mallow, Camomile, Hyssop, Licorice, Jujube (this is a patent which has been studied for Asthma in children)
iv. Maidenhair with Linseed, Hyssop, Orris, Borage, Fennel, Licorice, Fig, Stavesacre (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
v. Maidenhair with Licorice juice, Hyssop, Black Pepper, Bitter Almond, Nettle seed, Orris, Saltpeter, Radish seed (as in Electuary for Asthma)
5. Lung deficiency Cough, Wheezing:
i. Maidenhair with Pine nut, Bitter Almond, Sweet Almond, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth, Licorice, Starch, Maidenhair, Orris (as in Electuary of Pine Nuts (Looch de Pino) of Mesue)
ii. Maidenhair with Jujube, Fig, Date, Fenugreek, Maidenhair, Cinnamon, Hyssop, Orris, Licorice, Aniseed, Linseed, Mint, Pine nut, Almond, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth, Violet root (as in A Sound and Experienced Electuary of Mesue)
6. Pleurisy:
i. Maidenhair with Fennel, Stavesacre, Damask Rose in decoction with Honey (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
ii. Maidenhair with Pennyroyal, Anise, Liquorice, Fennel
Urinary
7. Edema, Maidenhair with Elecampane, Celery root, Fennel root, Gentian, Asarum, Squill, Wormwood, Agrimony,, Parsley seed, Cinnamon (as in Wine for Edema)
8. Kidney pain, Maidenhair with Wild Carrot seed, Tribulus, Hyssop
9. Kidney and Bladder Stones:
i. Maidenhair with Melon seed, Caraway, Ajwain, Galingal, Celery, Radish seed, Bitter Almond kernel (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
ii. Maidenhair with Horse gram, Tribulus, Melon, Fennel, Raisin (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
iii. Maidenhair with Tribulus, Camomile, Meliot, Oregano, Celery, Wild Cabbage, Dill, Marshmallow (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
iv. Maidenhair with Tribulus, Nettle, Corn Silk, Melon seed (This has been studied)
10. Cysitis, Nephritis, Maidenhair with Senna, Polypody, Violet, Cucumber seed, Chicory, Prune, Jujube, Fumitory, Cassia Fistula (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
11. Dysuria, Maidenhair with Tribulus, Camomile, Dill, Celery, Meliot, Radish seed, Wild Cabbage, Marshmallow, Linseed, Fenugreek, Violet decocted and used as a sitz bath (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
Liver, Gall Bladder
12. Hepatitis, Maidenhair with Fenugreek, Linseed, Licorice, Marshmallow, Mallow, Hyssop, Fig, Stavesacre (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
13. Jaundice, Maidenhair with Roman Wormwood, Oregano, Poley, Chamomile, Feverfew, Dill, Common Wood Sorrel, Citron (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
Gynecology, Obstetrics
14. Amenorrhea:
i. Maidenhair with Pennyroyal
ii. Maidenhair with Cretan dittany, Cassia Fistula
iii. Maidenhair with Cretan dittany, Fennel, Rue (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
15. Promote Labor, Maidenhair with Cassia Fistula, Tribulus, Melon seed, Savin, Cretan dittany, Marshmallow, Asparagus (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
16. Abortifacient, Maidenhair with Cretan dittany, Savin, White Lupin, Pennyroyal as a decoction (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
Brain
17. Brain tonic in Dementia and Alzheimer’s, Maidenhair with Licorice, Violet, Rose, Lavender, Peony, Borage, Fennel, Marshmallow, Stavesacre (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
Externally
18. To promote Hair growth:
i. decoct Maidenhair in wine with Celery seed and a little oil; use topically
ii. Maidenhair with Melia azedarach, Myrrh, Emblic Myrobalan, Myrtle oil as an oil
iii. Maidenhair with Rockrose, Wormwood, Mastic Gum as a liniment
iv. Maidenhair with Myrtle, Celery seed, Radish oil as an oil
v. the ashes mixed with Vinegar and Olive oil is applied to Alopecia. (Avicenna)
vi. Maidenhair, Myrtle oil Wine applied lengthens the hair and prevents its falling. (Avicenna)
19. Toothache:
i. Maidenhair with Licorice, Borage flower, topically (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
ii. Maidenhair with Lavender, Fumitory, Jujube, Black Nightshade distilled water as a mouth wash (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
20. Tonic Tooth powder. Maidenhair with Frankincense, Long Birthwort, Violet, Sandalwood (Iranian Traditional Medicine)
21. Wounds, Maidenhair with Aloe and Myrrh
Major Formulas
Decoction of Maidenhair (Humain)
Decoction of Fruit and Flowers
Decoction for Cough and Asthma (Galen)
Decoction for Cough and Asthma (Dioscorides)
Opening Hepatic Decoction
Pectoral Decoction (Augustana)
Syrup of Maidenhair
Syrup of Licorice (Mesue)
Electuary of Maidenhair (Zenon)
Powder Against Postpartum Pain
Troches for Cough
Cautions:
1. Avoid use during pregnancy
2. Avoid in Yin deficiency as it dries the body
Main Preparations used:
Syrup of Maidenhair, Distilled Water
1. SYRUP of MAIDENHAIR.
Maidenhair 5 oz.
Licorice 2 oz.
Steep a day in 4 lbs of warm water. After gentle boiling, straining, and pressing, make a syrup with 1.5 lbs. of fine sugar.
Opens the stomach, strengthens the Lungs, helps diseases of them.
2. DISTILLED WATER of MAIDENHAIR.
Good to clear phlegm from the chest. Stops Cough, Wheezing etc.
- Extra Info
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Research