Since ancient times, many nations have sacredly believed that in the middle of summer, on the night of Ivan Kupala, a fern blossoms a flower of unprecedented beauty, to which miraculous properties were attributed.
Fern description
This is a herbaceous perennial plant whose height is from 30 to 100 cm. It has a brown and thick rhizome with a large number of appendages that resemble threads. The fern stalk is underground. In May, young leaves (vayi) appear, at first they are very similar to snails, and over time they unfold and become like hooks. Rachis is a petiole of a leaf. Fern propagates by spores, so it can not have any flowers in principle.
The properties of bracken are well known to people. The thing is that it is one of the most ancient plants on Earth. Fern leaf - scaly, cirrus. In autumn, sporangia appear on them, from which a little later spores spill out.
Spread
Fern, the useful properties of which are used by folk healers, grows around the world. It can be found in the northern countries (Norway and Finland), it feels great in hot Mexico or Central Asia. Even in some Arctic regions you can meet him in the summer. In Russia, fern grows everywhere: from the Kola Peninsula to Siberia. Most often it is found in forests, preferring spruce, fir, beech and mixed arrays.
Composition
The fern root contains starch, alkaloids, bracken tannic acid, essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, fat. Young shoots are saturated with vitamins, tocopherol, riboflavin, carotene, as well as nicotinic acid.
Fern: useful properties, application
The bracken fern contains protein, which in its composition and properties is close to that of this valuable substance in cereals. It is easily absorbed by the human body. Fern is included in the diet of taiga in the Far East and residents of Korea and Japan. Its use in food contributes to the correct formation of the skeleton, normalizes metabolism, normalizes the nervous system, improves the human working capacity, removes radionuclides from the body, and improves the endocrine system.
Some peoples of the world use fern in cooking. Salads are prepared from young leaves and shoots, and the petioles are fried, boiled, salted and pickled for the winter. They are an excellent seasoning for meat and resemble mushrooms to taste.
Modern researchers do not cease to be surprised at the healing properties of the plant root: it contains many unique components that help to remove toxins from the human body, cleanse it. With skin diseases, fern is quite effective. The use of root-based drugs gives a positive effect in the treatment of long non-healing wounds, eczema, rheumatism, chronic constipation, relieves headaches. In addition, recent studies have shown that such drugs improve the state of the cardiovascular system (but at the same time they are contraindicated in some heart diseases, therefore, a doctor’s consultation is necessary).
Healing properties
Basically, fern-based preparations are aimed at combating intestinal parasites. The healing properties of fern in the fight against this disease are explained by its chemical composition. It contains substances that paralyze the tapeworm muscles.
Folk healers use an aqueous infusion of fern roots to treat seizures, rheumatism. Infusion for these diseases is applied externally.
Harvesting roots
Fern in folk medicine is most often used in the form of infusions from the roots of a plant. They are collected in September and October. Thoroughly cleaned from the ground, remove the scaly leaf of fern and small roots. Raw materials are usually dried in ovens or in rooms with good ventilation. Store them in a tightly closed container. Raw materials can be stored for no more than one year. The roots that are brown inside cannot be used for the manufacture of medicines.
Fern: cooking recipes
In order to prepare a decoction of fern roots, it is necessary to take 10 g of dried and well-crushed raw materials, pour it with a glass (200 ml) of boiling water. The composition is boiled until the volume is reduced by half. Take it with honey for 1 teaspoon. You can knead it with flour, divide the resulting mass into 10 equal parts and take it inside. However, you need to know that only a doctor can prescribe you a regimen. You cannot take such drugs on your own. This is a very powerful way to fight intestinal parasites.
It should be remembered that after taking it, you should definitely take a laxative (saline) and make several cleansing enemas. Another laxative is not recommended, so as not to cause absorption of this drug into the blood.
Outdoor application
Fern, the useful properties of which are very multifaceted, can be used for external use: bath, wipe. Take 50 g of dry root (or 100 g of fresh), boil it for 2-3 hours in two liters of water under a closed lid. Add the composition to a cool bath (+ 27-32 degrees).
In Russia, a dense extract from the fern root is approved for use. It is used for infection with pork, bovine or dwarf tapeworm. This is a quick-acting drug, so after 30 minutes you need to take a laxative to remove parasites from the intestines.
For this, a folk remedy is used, the basis of which is fern. The recipes for preparing potions from this plant are simple, but the dosage should be strictly observed. From a dry fern root, prepare a powder (60 g). Divide it into 30 parts. Powder and castor oil should be taken as follows:
1 day. During the day, take only liquid food. At night, take 2 tablespoons of castor oil.
2 day. Every 2 minutes for an hour on an empty stomach take 1 part of the powder, mixed with 2 ml of essential tincture of the root. Do not take food for 6 hours, then take a laxative.
Contraindications
Remember that fern extract is the strongest poison, therefore, all preparations based on it should be used only as directed and under the supervision of physicians. They are strictly contraindicated for people with chronic liver diseases, with duodenal ulcer and stomach ulcer, fever, tuberculosis, anemia. In addition, they should not be given to children under 2 years old.
An overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, convulsions, severe headache, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, dizziness, weakening of cardiac activity, respiratory depression, and even death.
It is strictly forbidden to use fern during pregnancy. In case of an overdose, it is urgently necessary to empty the stomach, take a laxative and immediately seek help from a medical institution.
Fern, the beneficial properties of which can help with fairly serious diseases, can be very dangerous with uncontrolled intake and dosage failure.