Deer’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium L), or deer’s tongue for short, sometimes just called tongue, belongs to the striped fern family. Unlike other fern species, with their single or multiple pinnate fronds, the fern is notable for its smooth, long leaves. Certain ornamental species exist with strongly wavy leaf edges.
Occurrence and cultivation of the deer tongue fern.
The perennial plant grows up to 50 centimeters tall and hangs in arches. Native to North America, eastern Asia and Europe, the deer’s tongue fern is a common plant. It prefers more temperate climates and is found primarily in areas with mild winters. In Germany it occurs mainly in the southwest, in the area of the Swabian Alb and in the foothills of the Alps. However, its distribution is not extensive. Usually only ten to a hundred plants are found in one place. Calcareous soils, humus-rich soil, shady places under maple, ash and lime trees, these are preferred habitats of the fern. Its favorite places are damp rocks and mountain forests. It even feels at home on rubble heaps and in damp, calcareous masonry, so it can be found on cemetery walls and in wells, as a so-called crevice rooter. The perennial plant grows up to 50 centimeters high and hangs in arches. From the rootstock come the dark green tufts of leaves, while the new leaves in the spring have a light green color. On the underside of the leaves are elongated spores that mature from July to September. The deer tongue fern is under special protection according to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance.
Effect and application
In medieval naturopathy, the deer’s tongue fern had great importance as an herbal remedy for all kinds of ailments. It was valued for its astringent effect on mucous membranes, its expectorant and expectorant effect on coughs, its anti-inflammatory effect on wounds. The medical treatises of the naturopath Hildegard of Bingen indicate that it was prescribed for cleansing the lungs and various visceral ailments. Hildegard’s medicine teaches, as does TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine, that in chronic diseases the liver must be treated as well. The hart’s tongue fern was therefore always used additionally as a tonic and cleanser of the liver. It was used against coughs, to strengthen the pancreas, against headaches and as a diuretic. Open wounds were treated with the leaves. A balancing hormonal effect during menstruation and menopause is also said to the plant. Among the important ingredients of the plants are mucilages, tannins, choline and vitamin C. Choline, together with other substances, plays an important role in fat metabolism and therefore has an influence on the digestive organs. Deer tongue fern is mainly used as an elixir, in some cases also as a powder. Since the plant is protected, it is necessary to resort to dried herbs from the pharmacy, or the skillful gardener will try planting in their own garden. A powder made from deer tongue fern has proven to be an immediate remedy for various painful conditions, nervousness, and anxiety before exams or travel. However, it tastes somewhat bitter.
Health significance, treatment and prevention.
The effect of deer tongue fern is still highly valued in modern naturopathy. It is used for detoxification of the gastrointestinal tract, helps with abdominal pain, hormonal disorders during menopause, thyroid and pancreatic dysfunction, chronic cough and bronchitis, allergic asthma, and it supports weak lungs or liver. Deer tongue fern is considered an optimal pain therapy without side effects. The plant elixir can be bought as a ready-made mixture or made by yourself. It requires the herb of deer’s tongue fern, honey (preferably maroni honey which especially strengthens the liver), stick pepper, cinnamon bark and sweet wine. In the first boil herbs and wine are cooked, in the second add honey, in the third pepper and cinnamon. Boil everything together again, then filter it. The brew will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Drink one liqueur glass of this elixir three times a day. In case of chronic or long-lasting diseases, such as liver and lung diseases, bronchitis, or to strengthen the digestive tract, it is recommended to use it as a cure for six weeks.Intervals are useful against asthmatic complaints. Start with an eight-week course of treatment, then take a break for eight weeks to allow the body to rest and process. Then start again with an eight-week course. Maintain this rhythm until the symptoms have finally subsided. Should they reoccur, start again with the cyclic cure. Even though deer tongue fern wine is a good remedy for bronchitis and asthmatic complaints, it does not help with the so-called smoker’s cough. Externally, poultices with the tincture help against skin inflammations and burns. Deer’s tongue fern powder is considered to be special, due to its rapid action. Therefore, it is used as an immediate medicine in accidents, when a headache, concussion or post-traumatic conditions occur afterwards. The powder is dissolved in a liqueur glass with warm wine or fennel tea and administered to the accident victim every two hours for three days. The powder can also be licked up pure several times a day directly from the hand(about two knife tips). Pain in the joints and spine also respond to the fern powder. Depending on the degree of pain, lick the powder from the hand several times a day. If the powder is too bitter for you, you can take a tablespoon of the elixir several times a day as a substitute. For acute pain, the powder is taken every hour until the pain subsides. Cramps in the body that have occurred due to shock can also be treated with deer tongue fern powder, even if the cause was a long time ago. The duration of treatment is between six and twelve months.
