The efficacy and function of Selaginella serrata

Many people know that Selaginella has unique therapeutic effects on some diseases. In fact, the magical effects of Selaginella are far more than that. The following will tell you in detail about the effects of Selaginella.

【English name】 Roughleaved Spikemoss

[Other names] Lung grass, stone cypress, phoenix tail grass, duck head grass, silver lung grass

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Selaginella serrata of the Selaginellaceae family.

【Original morphology】Plant height 25-35cm. The main stem is straw-colored, and supporting roots often grow at the branches; the side branches are dense and multi-branched. The nutrient leaves are dark green above and gray-green below, dimorphic, with 3 rows on the dorsal and ventral sides. The lateral leaves (dorsal leaves) have single-celled short spines and granular protrusions on them, are rough, ovate-oblong, 2-3mm long, 1.2-1.5mm wide, with blunt heads, and leaf margins with micro-teeth and cilia. The middle leaves (ventral leaves) are short ovate-oblong, 2-2.1mm long, 1-1.1mm wide, keel-shaped, with cilia, and awned at the tip. The sporangium spike is quadrangular, 5-10mm long, and grows at the top of the branches; the sporophylls are ovate-triangular, gradually pointed, with fine teeth on the edges, arranged in 4 rows and alternating in a shingle-like manner. Megasporangium is round and kidney-shaped, growing at the base of the panicle; microsporangium is round and kidney-shaped, growing at the top of the panicle or the panicle is entirely made up of microsporangium; spores are of two types.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows under forests or beside ditches.

【Nature and flavor】 Light; Cool

【Meridian】 Liver, lung, heart meridians

【Functions and indications】 Clears heat and relieves cough; cools blood and stops bleeding. Mainly used for lung heat cough; tuberculosis; blood in stool; dysentery; burns; bleeding from knife wounds

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-20g. For external use: take appropriate amount and grind into powder for application.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The effects and functions of Selaginella are varied, and we should choose the appropriate way of consumption according to different physical symptoms. In life, we can learn more about this when we have free time.