The efficacy and function of Dicranopteris dichotoma

Dicranopteris dichotoma is a famous traditional commonly used Chinese medicinal material in my country with a long history of application. Today we will learn about Dicranopteris dichotoma.

【English Name】Ample Forked Fern

【Other name】 Dicranopteris dichotoma

[Source] Medicinal material source: the young shoots and pith of Dicranopteris dichotoma, a plant of the Lippiaceae family.

【Original form】The plant is up to 1.5m tall. The rhizome is horizontal and densely covered with rusty yellow long hairs. The leaves are long-petiolated, up to 80 cm long; the leaves are leathery, glabrous, sparsely distributed, and gray-blue underneath; the rachis is dichotomously branched three to four times, and the dormant buds at the branches have ovate bracts with irregular coarse teeth on the margins. Except for the terminal branches, each side of the bifurcation has a pair of large pinnate-like stipules with deep pinnate-like lobes; the terminal pinnae are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 20-40 cm long, 8-12 cm wide, and deeply pinnate-lobed almost to the rachis; the lobes are lanceolate, 4-10 cm long, 8-10 mm wide, with entire or wavy margins; each group of lateral veins has 5-7 veinlets. The sporangium groups are located at the arches at the bases of the upper and lower sides of each group of veinlets, and are arranged in 2-3 irregular rows on both sides of the main vein.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing under sparse woods or in thickets at an altitude of 600-1400m.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly sweet; neutral; astringent

【Meridian】 Liver meridian

【Functions and indications】Detoxification and hemostasis. Centipede bites; epistaxis; traumatic bleeding

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decoct in water, 6-15g. For external use: appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply on the affected area; or crush fresh product and apply on the affected area.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Young shoots and pith: slightly sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It has the function of detoxification and hemostasis. Used for centipede bites, epistaxis and traumatic bleeding.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Dicranopteris dichotoma is often used in the treatment of some diseases. It can be made into a compound prescription or used alone as needed. However, Dicranopteris dichotoma should not be consumed blindly to avoid adverse effects on the body.