Adiantum, Maidenhair

Capillus Veneris, Venus Hair
Parsiaoshan (Unani)
Hamsapadi (Ayurveda)
Rtsa rma dongs རྩརྨ་མདོངས་

Herbario nuovo, 1667

Common Maidenhair
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

English Maidenhair (Trichomanes)
Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

Icones Plantarum Medcio-oeconomico, Vietz, 1800

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Botanical name:
Adiantum capillus-veneris
A number of related species are used:
  1. Golden: Adiantum aureum (used as common Maidenhair)
  2. White: Asplenium Ruta muraria (used as common Maidenhair)
  3. Black: Adiantum nigrum (used as common Maidenhair)
  4. Wall Rue: Adiantum album (old name: Ruta muraria)
  5. English Maidenhair (Trichomanes) (used similarly)

Parts used:
Herb, fresh (stronger) or dried

Temperature & Taste:
Temperate / slightly Cool, dry; Bitter, sweet
binding, attenuates, cleanses; one of the 'Capillary Herbs'

Classification:
2A APERIENT MEDICINES.   2F. PURIFYING.   2K. RESOLVENT
3E. DIURETIC.   3G. EMMENAGOGUE.   3K. EXPECTORANT.   3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4d. PECTORAL.   4f. SPLENETIC.   4g. HEPATIC

Uses:
1. Benefits the Lungs, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Coughs, Bronchitis, throat conditions such as Pharyngitis and Laryngitis

2. Clears Heat, Quenches Thirst:
-Fever

3. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Opens Obstructions, Moves the Blood, Resolves Masses:

4. Stops Leakage and Bleeding:
-Diarrhea, Enteritis and Dysentery.

5. Benefits the Blood, Regulates Menstruation:
-‘promote the Menses when deficient, and restrain them when too copious’

6. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine, Clear Stones:
-traditionally used for stoppage of Urine, Gravel and Stones.

7. Clears Heat, Benefits the Brain:
-cleanses the Brain of Bile and Melancholy

8. Externally:
-boiled in wine, or made into a Lye, cleanses the head of Scurf and Running Sores.
-in lotions for ‘all disorders of the Hair’: to strengthen the Hair, for thinning of hair, for Baldness, Alopecia, and to promote the growth of thick hair; the ashes are mixed with olive oil and vinegar.
-in lotions to treat Dandruff.
-some have used it to make the hair curl.
-applied topically for traumatic pain, swelling, bleeding and fracture.

Dose:
This more than almost any other herb was typically given as a dose of "a handful", this being because it is so light that weighing is difficult.
Infusion or Brief Decoction: 3–10 grams, or "a handful"
Powder: 1–3 grams, often with Honey

Correctives
... available in PRO version

Note:
Avicenna noted when added to the feed of Cocks and Quails it makes them fight.

Substitutes:
... available in PRO version

Main Combinations:
1. Usually combine Maidenhair with Licorice for the Lungs (as in Syrup of Maidenhair)
2. Cough:
i. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
iii. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
iv. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
v. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
vi. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
3. Asthma:
i. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
iii. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
4. Lung deficiency Cough, Wheezing:
i. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Maidenhair with  ... available in PRO version
5. Edema, Maidenhair  ... available in PRO version
6. To promote Hair growth, Maidenhair  ... available in PRO version

Major Formulas
Decoction of Maidenhair (Humain)
Decoction of Fruit and Flowers
Decoction for Cough and Asthma (Galen)
Opening Hepatic Decoction
Pectoral Decoction (Augustana)
Syrup of Maidenhair
Syrup of Licorice (Mesue)
Electuary of Maidenhair (Zenon)
Powder Against Postpartum Pain
Troches for Cough

Cautions:
1. Avoid use during pregnancy
2. Avoid in Yin deficiency as it dries the body

Main Preparations used:
Syrup of Maidenhair