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The male fern is a common plant found in temperate climates. It is used for landscaping park areas, decorating gardens and household plots. The rhizome contains both toxic and beneficial substances. It is used for the treatment and prevention of diseases.
What does a fern look like (male)
According to the photo and description, the shield fern is a representative of the Shchitovnik genus from the Shchitovnikov family. The plant consists of a short and thick rhizome, from which a rosette with large leaves departs. Petioles are short and thick.
The leaves of the culture are long, erect, lanceolate, bipinnate and dissected. The length of the leaf plate is from 20 to 80 cm, its color is dark green on top and lighter on the underside. The height of the fern reaches 50 – 150 cm.
According to the description, the male fern has a medicinal purpose. Its rhizome has a tart sweet taste and smell. The plant is also used for ornamental purposes to decorate gardens and parks. In nature, moose and other animals eat it.
Reproduction of the fern fern in natural conditions occurs by self-sowing. The spores located on the reverse side of the leaves ripen in the second half of summer. Most of them germinate next year in the spring. The shield tree is also propagated by dividing the bush or side shoots.
Fern shield male in the photo:
Where does the fern grow
Under natural conditions, the shield tree meets in the forests of Eurasia and North America. On the territory of Our Country, the plant is present in the European part of the country and southern Siberia. The area of distribution of culture covers the subalpine belt, coniferous and deciduous forests, rocky slopes.
Fern male prefers shady places with fertile and moist soil. In the northern area, it grows on rocky and calcareous soil. There are both single specimens and dense thickets of ferns. Most often it grows in moderately swampy areas of the forest and clearings.
In culture, the male fern has been known since the 30th century. From the original form, more than XNUMX varieties of shieldwort have been bred. They differ in the shape and size of the leaves. The plant is valued for its decorative appearance, unpretentiousness and frost resistance.
Male fern grows best on moderately moist and loose soils. Shchitovnik tolerates shade well. Its rhizome is very fragile, if damaged it is rarely restored. For the development of the plant, illumination of 5% is sufficient. Therefore, it is planted to fill shady areas.
What is useful male fern for the body
The rhizome of the male fern has useful properties. It is dug up in the fall, cleaned of earth, roots and leaves. Then the raw material is dried in the fresh air. The root of the plant contains tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, essential oil.
The male fern root has the following effects on the human body:
- neutralizes the activity of tapeworms and worms;
- relieves cramps, pain in rheumatism;
- disinfects and heals wounds;
- stimulates immunity;
- relieves inflammation;
- slows down the growth of malignant cells.
The use of male fern in folk medicine
Fern found its main use in folk medicine. Its medicinal properties have been known since ancient times. The advantages of the thyroid gland are its availability in nature and pharmacies, as well as its low cost. The root and leaves of the plant are harvested independently or bought in the form of ready-made raw materials. Before starting treatment, you should always consult with your doctor.
Shield is used strictly in accordance with the recipe. Violation of the dosage of drugs and the rules of administration can cause poisoning and other health problems. Means are taken orally or used in the form of lotions and compresses.
From worms
According to reviews, the male fern is a proven and effective remedy for worms. When ingested, parasites impair the functioning of the digestive and genitourinary systems. As a result, the structure of the tissue changes, which leads to the formation of cysts and tumors.
The root of the thyroid gland contains phenyl acids. When parasites enter the body, their action causes complete paralysis of their muscles. Then the worms are removed with a laxative. However, this method is considered obsolete. More modern preparations have come to replace them, which contain an extract from the fern root. In its pure form, this component is used to treat pets.
The easiest way is to purchase ready-made medicine in capsules of 500 g. If the remedy is prepared independently, then the required amount is measured using scales. The daily norm of the drug is 5 – 7 g for adults. The doctor will determine the norm for children. Depending on age, it will be 2 – 5 g.
Treatment consists of two stages: preparation and directly taking the fern. For 5-7 days it is recommended to follow a diet. The diet includes foods rich in proteins and carbohydrates. These include milk porridge, cottage cheese, kefir, boiled fish, jelly, tea, white bread. Avoid fatty foods as much as possible.
On the evening before taking the fern, they also refuse a hearty dinner. It is enough to drink tea with a small piece of bread or choose other foods that are easy for digestion. Then drink a solution of laxative salt (30 g).
Rules for taking male fern from worms:
- In the morning before breakfast, take several tablets every 15 minutes.
- An hour later, they drink a laxative based on salt.
- After 2 hours you can eat.
- After 3 hours, a chair will appear. If this does not happen, do an enema.
With varicose veins
Compresses are a simple and effective way to treat varicose veins. It is used in the initial stages, when the disease has not yet spread. In addition, fern compresses can be made to prevent varicose veins.
Dried fern root relieves the symptoms of this disease. The tool is used externally. To do this, cut off the leaves of the shield. Then grind them with a knife or food processor to make a homogeneous gruel.
The resulting mass is mixed with sour milk in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is applied to dilated veins. The layer thickness is 1 cm. A bandage of gauze or other fabric is applied on top. After 4 – 5 hours it is removed. The mass is washed off with running water.
With inflammation of the ovaries
Another way to use male fern is to treat inflammation of the ovaries. To do this, use fresh or dried leaves of the plant.
Rules for the use of fern leaves for inflammation of the ovaries:
- Measure out 10 g of thyroid gland leaves.
- Raw materials are placed in glass or ceramic containers.
- Then pour 250 ml of boiling water.
- The remedy is infused for 15 minutes.
- The liquid is filtered.
The norm of taking fern infusion is 60 ml, three times a day. The duration of treatment is no more than 20 days.
The resulting infusion can be used as an expectorant for bronchitis and other colds. To do this, gargle 2 – 3 times a day. As a result, inflammation and pain are relieved.
In case of cancer
In oncological diseases, the thyroid gland is used as an additional method of treatment. The composition of the fern root includes substances that slow down the reproduction of cancer cells. Before taking, consult a doctor. Such a remedy may not be compatible with other methods of treatment, since it contains alcohol.
For the preparation of the drug, the rhizomes of the male fern are taken. It is best to use fresh raw materials harvested in the spring. The root is washed well to remove impurities and cut into small pieces. Then fill a glass container with 1/3 of the resulting mass and fill it with high-quality cognac.
The aging period of tincture from male fern is 3 weeks. Then it is filtered, the resulting mass is thrown away. The drug is taken three times a day before meals, 5 ml.
For the treatment of joints
Male fern is effective for the treatment of joints with rheumatism, gout, arthritis. In spring or summer, fresh fern leaves are cut. They are laid on a mattress and covered with a sheet. If you constantly sleep on the leaves of the thyroid gland, you can get rid of the manifestations of these diseases. Leaves are discarded in the morning.
To relieve pain and inflammation in the joints, compresses are made based on an aqueous decoction of the thyroid gland. For 300 ml of water, 2 tbsp. l. dried roots. The components are placed in a saucepan, which is put on fire. The liquid is brought to a boil, then removed from the stove and cooled. A decoction compress is applied to sore spots.
Well helps with diseases of the joints tincture of the root of the male fern on vodka. To obtain it, mix 1 part of the raw material into 2 parts of vodka. The remedy is insisted for 3 weeks, after which it is filtered and used for rubbing. As a result, pain disappears, blood circulation and joint mobility improve.
For skin problems
When used externally, male fern improves skin condition. The substances present in its composition promote wound healing and help fight skin diseases.
In the presence of warts, papillomas and other formations, rubbing with an alcohol tincture of the thyroid gland is practiced. For its preparation, they take the crushed male fern root and pour it with medical alcohol. The ratio of components is 1:2, respectively. After 3 weeks, the product is ready for use.
For wound healing, fresh male fern juice is effective. The collected leaves are cut into large pieces and turned through a meat grinder. Then the mass is squeezed out and the bandage is soaked with juice. It is applied to wounds and other skin lesions. The bandage is changed daily.
What are useful baths with a decoction of the shield
Taking a bath can be turned into a healing procedure. To do this, add a decoction of male fern to the water. The procedure helps relieve cramps in the limbs, joint pain and heal festering wounds.
To prepare a decoction, take 100 g of fresh root and 50 g of dried. Raw materials are poured into 3 liters of water and put on the stove. For 2 – 3 hours, the remedy is boiled over low heat. Then remove the stove pan and strain the contents.
The resulting decoction of the shield is added to water with a temperature of 30 ° C. The bath is taken for 10 – 15 minutes. The procedure is repeated every other day.
The use of thyroid in medicine
Shchitovnik has become one of the components of medical preparations. It is added to medicines to get rid of parasites. Based on the male fern, a useful extract is also obtained.
Medicinal preparations based on the thyroid gland
Based on the thyroid gland, many medicines have been created. Basically, these are preparations for getting rid of worms and other parasites. They are taken strictly according to the doctor’s prescription. Be sure to observe the dosage, not exceeding it.
The most popular medical product based on male fern is Filiksan. This is a remedy for getting rid of worms. Its main component will be the rhizome of the shield. Available in the form of tablets that are taken orally once. The maximum dosage is 10 g per day.
The drug Filiksan has side effects. These are abdominal pains, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, loss of strength, loss of consciousness. To eliminate them, gastric lavage is done and a laxative based on salt is taken. Be sure to call a doctor. The patient is advised to drink more warm liquid. To normalize the condition, a specialist may administer an injection of caffeine or barbiturates.
male fern extract
Thyroid extract is a herbal anthelmintic drug that is available in the form of capsules or liquid. It is obtained by extracting useful components from the rhizome of the male fern. The capsules are covered with a gelatin shell and contain 0,5 g of the extract.
Indications for taking the drug is the presence of parasitic infectious diseases. Treatment is carried out under medical supervision. The product is not compatible with castor oil. The maximum dose is 8 g per day.
Instructions for use of male fern extract:
- with hymenolepiasis – 1 capsule every 3 minutes, the intake period is no more than 30 minutes;
- with taeniasis – up to 7 g of the drug during the day.
Treatment is carried out in cycles under the supervision of a physician. An enema is given before taking the extract. There should be a gap of 10-12 days between treatments.
Restrictions and contraindications
Due to the content of toxic substances, the shield has contraindications. It is not allowed to take drugs based on it for people suffering from diseases of the heart and stomach.
Male fern is contraindicated in the following cases:
- angina pectoris;
- low pressure;
- heart failure;
- anemia;
- stomach ulcer;
- tuberculosis;
- damage to the liver and kidneys;
- feverish conditions.
It is also forbidden to use the drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, it is not recommended to give the drug to children under 14 years of age.
When using male fern, the dosage is strictly observed. With excessive use, the drug causes poisoning, the first signs of which are dizziness, vision problems, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea, and heart disorders. With individual intolerance, an allergic reaction is possible.
Conclusion
The male fern is one of the most common plants in the world. It is distinguished by unpretentiousness and decorative appearance. The rhizome and leaves of the thyroid gland are used for medicinal purposes. Before use, consult a doctor. Fern helps to get rid of parasites in the body, heal wounds, improve symptoms of inflammation of the ovaries, varicose veins, joint diseases.
