Maidenhair fern — a North American tradition
Entry No. 658 · North America
Maidenhair fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
- Origin
- North America
- Part used
- See detailed notebook
- Tradition
- Traditional ethnobotany
A delicate fern with black, glossy fronds, maidenhair fern has since antiquity adorned damp rock faces and old stone walls. Its very name, "Venus's hair," recalls the legend that its fine, supple stems always stay dry, even when soaked in water. Dioscorides and the apothecaries of old made much of it in their syrups and juleps.
II.
Traditional uses
Precautions
Learn more →
Before you use it
Avoid in pregnant or breastfeeding women, for lack of sufficient data. Do not exceed the usual traditional doses; prolonged use is not documented. Seek the advice of a health professional if undergoing respiratory or digestive treatment.
The detailed notebook
Traditional dosage, step-by-step preparation, precautions, and known interactions.
✦
- Prepared as a paste or decoction
- Traditional duration of use
- Known contraindications
- Related species and their uses
Where to find it
Partner herbalists — available with the detailed notebook.
Sources
Wikipedia
Content for historical and informational purposes — not a substitute for medical advice.
Herbier des Anciens