|
|
 | Harts Tongue Other Names: Hind's Tongue. Buttonhole. Horse Tongue. God's-hair.
Botanical Name: Scolopendrium vulgare
Family: N.O. Filices |
Description: |
| Its broad, long, undivided dark-green fronds distinguish it from all other native ferns, and render it a conspicuous object in the situations where it abounds, as it grows in masses. It receives its name of Scolopendrium because its fructification is supposed to resemble the feet of Scolopendra, a genus of Mydrapods. The sori are in twin oblique lines, on each side of the midrib, covered by what looks like a single indusium, but really is two, one arranged partially over the other. In the early stages of its growth, the folding over of the indusium can be clearly seen through a lens. The fronds are stalked and the root, tufted, short and stout. This fern is evergreen and easy of cultivation. |
Habitat: |
| The Hart's Tongue, a fern of common growth in England in shady copses and on moist banks and walls, is the Lingua cervina of the old apothecaries, and its name refers to the shape of its fronds. |
Medicinal Usage: |
In common with Maidenhair, this fern was formerly considered one of the five great capillary herbs.
The older physicians esteemed it a very valuable medicine, and Galen gave it in infusion for diarrhoea and dysentery, for which its astringent quality made it a useful remedy. In country districts, especially in Wales and the Highlands, an ointment is made of its fronds for burns and scalds and for piles, and it has been taken internally for Bright's Disease, in a decoction made of 2 oz. to a pint of water, in wineglassful doses. In homoeopathy, it is administered in combination with Golden Seal, for diabetes. It is specially recommended for removing obstructions from the liver and spleen, also for removing gravelly deposits in the bladder. Culpepper tells us:
'It is a good remedy for the liver, both to strengthen it when weak and ease it when afflicted.... It is commended for hardness and stoppings of the spleen and liver, and the heat of the stomach. The distilled water is very good against the passion of the heart, to stay hiccough, to help the falling of the palate and to stay bleeding of the gums by gargling with it.' |
Ancient Lore: |
HART'S TONGUE
PHYLLITIS (= ASPLENIUM) SCOLOPENDRIUM
A good remedy for the liver, both to strengthen it when weak, and ease it when afflicted. A perennial fern, the leaves are about a foot (30 cm) long when fully grown.
Where to find it: Shady spots, among rocks, near walls and shady copses. Flowering time: It flowers not, being a fern, but remains green all winter. Astrology: Jupiter claims dominion over this herb.
Medicinal virtues: A syrup should be made of it, so that it is always available. It is commanded for hardness and stoppings of the liver and spleen, heat from the stomach, lax and the bloody flux. The distilled water is very good against the passions of the heart, to stay the hiccough, to help the falling of the palate, and to stay the bleeding of the gums, by gargling with it.
Modern uses: A soothing diuretic with laxative and pectoral properties. A decoction is made from 2 oz (56 g) of the herb to 1 pt (568 ml) of boiling water and taken in doses of 2 fl oz (56 ml). It is a liver tonic and will also remove sediment from the bladder. Its mucilaginous content is useful in treating bronchial disease.
Herbalists use it in combination with other remedies not available in Culpeper's day. |
|
|