The efficacy and function of the broken line fern

The wire fern is a relatively familiar traditional Chinese medicine. It has many benefits for our body. If we want to consume it correctly in our lives, we need to have some understanding of the wire fern. Let’s take a look at it below.

【English name】 Shining Colysis

[Alias] Shiwei, a pair of swords, snake-slaying sword

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of the plant Pteris cretica of the Polypodiaceae family.

【Original morphology】Plant height 30-60cm. The rhizome is long and horizontal, densely covered with dark brown, ovate-shaped scales, gradually pointed at the apex, sparsely serrated on the edge, and transparent sieve pores. Leaves are distal; petioles are 1.5-2cm long, cylindrical, dark brown to reddish brown, attached to the rhizome at joints, sparsely covered with scales, with narrow wings on the upper part; leaf blades are papery, broadly lanceolate to oblanceolate, 40-60cm long, 5-7cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, gradually narrowing towards the base, often extending downward to the base, with entire margin; main veins are raised on both sides, lateral veins are obvious and raised on both sides, not reaching the leaf margin, transverse veins are tortuous, connecting into 3-4 large nearly square meshes between each pair of lateral veins, with single or forked small veins inside, and an enlarged water sac at the apex. The sori are large, oblong, nearly circular to short linear, with an irregular row between each pair of lateral veins, growing at the intersection of the mesh, without sori cover, and usually only fertile on the upper half of the back of the leaf.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing under mixed forests, beside streams or on wet rocks at an altitude of 500-1300m.

[Chemical composition] The leaves of the spider fern contain uracil and uridine.

【Nature and flavor】 Light; astringent; cool

【Meridian】 Bladder and kidney meridians

【Functions and indications】 Detoxification; clearing away heat and promoting diuresis. Mainly used for short, red and painful urination; rash; snake bites

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Leaves: taste light, astringent, cool in nature, have the functions of clearing heat, promoting diuresis and detoxifying. Used for urethritis, short and red urine, rheumatoid arthritis, scurvy, and snake bites.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above article introduces the functions of the wire fern. I hope it will be helpful to you in your life. But it is important to note that you should not randomly combine it with other foods. You should consult a professional before making a decision.