A cure for baldness?
Maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris, Venus Hair or Rock Fern) is a semi-evergreen member of the family Polypodiaceae, sometimes attributed to the family Pteridaceae, that is widespread throughout temperate zones, growing in moist semi-shaded forest and rocky areas. It has dainty, triangular to oval segmented leaves on arching light green fronds emanating from black stems.
The plant’s name is derived from the Latin – Adiantos – meaning ‘not wet’ and refers to the fern’s ability to shed water. Pliny records: ‘…in vain do you plunge the Adiantum into water, it always remains dry’. Capillus-veneris translates from the Latin for ‘hair of Venus’, hence the common name.
Maidenhair was well known to the ancients and Dioscorides recommended it for respiratory infections. Paracelsus, in his Doctrine of Signatures, claimed that it was a cure for baldness and would regenerate hair follicles. There is wisdom in this, as the fern is a powerful vermifuge and will counteract the effects of ringworm, a fungal disease that causes loss of hair in animals.
Culpeper, the Tudor physician, states: ‘This and all other Maidenhairs is a good remedy for coughs, asthmas and pleurisy, on account of it being a gentle diuretic, also in jaundice, gravel and other impurities of the kidney’.
Gerard informs us that ‘It consumeth and wasteth away the King’s Evil (Scrofula) and other hard swellings, and it maketh the haire of the head or beard to grow that is fallen or pulled off’.
The plant contains flavenoids, rutin, triterpenoids, adiantone, tannins and mucilage; this renders it anti-tussive, antidandruff, styptic, depurative, febrifuge, emmenagogue, expectorant, tonic and vermifuge. Until the early twentieth century, Maidenhair was the main constituent of the very popular French cough medicine; Sirop de Capillaire.
Modern herbalists and homeopaths recommend it for infections of the respiratory system, to reduce fevers and for throat infections. In France and Italy it is infused to improve the menstrual cycle and the flow of breast milk. It is also claimed that it will detoxify recovering alcoholics and will act as a deterrent to alcohol addiction. In Canada, the native tribes used the fronds to treat the bites of centipedes and snakes.
The dried fronds and black stems are incorporated into basketwork by the Innuit to create geometric patterns in traps and containers.
Recent research has revealed that Maidenhair has a powerful pathogenic resistance and its DNA is being investigated to discover how it is able to overcome fungal diseases and viruses that would normally destroy other plants.
This plant is one of the most popular and easily maintained house-plants. If treated well it will last for years and you won’t have to worry about falling hair.
Next week Amanitas
