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Common fern (Polypodium vulgare) - timeless health and beauty

Whoever knows about plants knows that ferns belong to an ancient and "primitive" plant species which existed already over 400,000,000 years ago. Ferns are know as living fossils. The Chinese herbalists call them the "ancients", the "sages" and as such they pass on to us the ancient wisdom and ageless connection to the Earth. You can only imagine how useful that is to us!


They remained practically genetically unchanged over all those millions of years. That immediately brings to mind that they are hardy, stable and can root us down. Differently to some trees or other adaptogen roots, with ferns it is not so much the physical grounding. It is more of a Spiritual connection to that which is timeless, of being able to resist that what time changes.


That opens up so many potentials of this plant!


One Swiss cosmetic company studied Common Fern as one of the three major skin anti-aging plants*. But we can absorb better the time-resisting qualities of this plant by consuming it in herbal preparations. There are in fact numerous studies citing a wide range of benefits of Common Fern's herbal preparations. One study named Polypodium vulgare as a "versatile"** herb. The anti-aging qualities of Common Fern include: hydration, antioxidant properties, protection in neurodegenerative disorders, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-stress.


However, most of Common Fern uses derive from its associations, as classified by the Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, with Spleen, Stomach, Lung, Large Intestine and Kidney. Therefore, it is outstanding in treating respiratory and skin conditions (Lung organ), especially for issues that include phlegm, such as coughs, catarrh, bronchitis, and congestion. It is both expectorant and transforming of respiratory phlegm (more of Spleen function). In the same time, it soothes the mucous membrane, including Kidneys' (Marston, 1995)*** - function related to Spleen and Stomach energetics.


The extension of its mucous membrane soothing properties is applied to healing wounds**** such as cuts, bites and scrapes, being effective also due to its anti-bacterial properties. Topicaly it deals with psoriasis and eczema.


Other application of its soothing the mucous membrane is on the digestive tract in relieving colic, stitches, heartburn, stomachache and constipation***. It is traditionally considered as a mild laxative therefore one should not exaggerate on the quantities. However, if you harvest yourself the root of Polypodium, you will find out that it is rather laborious to collect exaggerated amounts anyway. It is further aiding digestion by increasing good, healthy appetite (again Spleen function).


Its energetics are of lowering and eliminating. Therefore, in addition to lowering the food down the digestive tract, it also lowers temperature, lowers the blood pressure, as mentioned before, and "lowers" the overreactive nervous system.

In addition to aiding Colon elimination it also aids liquid elimination but not through strict diuretic properties but drying out the liquid accumulations. Thanks to this property reduces the swellings, especially of inflamed joints.


Interestingly this herb has a very distinctive sweet taste, resembling so unbelievably liquorice that it is often called False Liquorice. In fact, it has the potential to be used as a Western substitute to liquorice in the Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine.


I have utilised Common Fern in my seasonal February decoction: https://www.dorotao.com/post/february-sprouting-time, together with Nettle, Horsetail, Parsley seeds and Ginger root. "It is a perfect start for the prep ground in February: gently detoxing but still warming and nourishing."


Finally, Polypodium is a very safe herb. I have not found any reference to it having any adverse effects other than laxative in the large amounts or over a long period of time.


I may be completely sided in believing that two weeks of drinking my seasonal February decoction has improved my skin quality and drained more mucus from my sinuses, but I will definitely include Polypodium in my next decoction mix. Stay tuned to my March energy update.


 






Wild Rose - for finding a sparkle in life

Each time I eat rose hip fruits I feel that amazing sensation of being fully alive; be it for the physical energy and clarity it gives me, be it for the energy it gives me. That zesty taste of its fruits gives me just that: the zest for life.


Wild Rose is captivating both when flowering: with most beautiful, delicate and pastel-coloured rose flowers, and when bearing fruits: bright red shiny fruits in the grey of Winter's background. Despite its apparent fragile beauty of its flowers, it is a robust and resistant plant growing in windy fields or cold mountains. Simply, out of all the roses, this one is the toughest one.


Hence Dr.Bach had studied it and used as one of his flower essences for "those who without apparently sufficient reason become resigned to all that happens, and just glide through life, take it as it is, without any effort to improve things and find some joy. They have surrendered to the struggle of life without complaint."


So, Dr. Bach has indicated the flower essence of Wild Rose for a lack of enthusiasm, saying that "the remedy helps reawaken our interest in life. In a positive Wild Rose state we are happy-go-lucky. But instead of apathy we feel a sense of purpose that brings increased happiness and enjoyment."


It does sound like a perfect pick-me-up for the Winter blues.


I can confirm that such energy is not only contained in the flower essence but also in the fruits of this particular rose. Be mindful of this when you go to harvest fruits of the Wild Rose and even when you consume a rose hip jam or rose hip powder.


Although Chinese Medicine uses a similar Rose, Rosa laevigata variety in its herbal medicine, it has been studied as genetically very closely related to Rosa Canina (Wild Rose)*. In Classical Chinese Materia Medica the rose hips are used more than other parts of the plant. They are considered a tonic. They are neutral in temperature, hence we can eat them in Winter without the worry of cooling our body too much or drying it by overheating. Their taste is sweet and sour but sour taste dominates giving it astringent quality. Astringent holds onto the essence and the slight sweetness nourishes.


It is from its strongly astringent quality that most of its benefits derive: it prevents all kinds of leakage: of energy, fluids and substances. Hence it is suggested when a person is not able to hold onto essence: seminal or vaginal, blood: emorragie uterine, bleedings, fluids: urine or feces (giving rise to diarrhoea) due to Kidney and Spleen weakness. Even when you notice undigested food in your feces or in your child's, that can be a sign of Kidney and/or Spleen deficiency. So, a very good Winter remedy for that is a rose hip jam or rose hip powder. As you would have gathered by now, rose hips are related to organs of Bladder, Kidneys, Spleen and Large Intestine in their capacity to regulate how much to hold onto.


The way to observe its capacity to hold essence is to note the size of its fruits in Autumn and then in December. As more rain comes in November its fruits grow substantially in size and become more juicy just before ripening in Winter.


Further, its astringent quality can reverse prolapsed muscles of uterus and bladder. So, the pulling up effect of rose hips is not only on the mood but also on the muscles in the lower part of the body.


In Winter you can use it even if in good health, as a Winter tonic. If you had read my December blog you would have found out by now that Winter is the season of accumulation of our essence and energy https://www.dorotao.com/post/december-withdrawing-and-accumulating. Last but not least, as most of you know, rose hips contain loads of Vitamin C: 426 mg in 100 g of fruits, protecting us from the seasonal influenza.


So, when out for a Winter walk in Nature, pick some of its fruits. You can eat them raw, especially if soft, squeese out the pulp leaving out the seeds. You can also bring them home, cut in half, clean out the seeds and dry in low heat (up to 40-50°C). Then, you can chew the pieces or pulverise it into a powder and take a spoonful a day.



 





December - withdrawing and accumulating

So, here's the Winter season! According to the Classics, 7th December marks the beginning of the second month of Winter. This middle month of Winter represents to us the festive season in which we celebrate light (December being the darkest month of the year) and our humanity. It comes from our innate need to come together on dark and cold evenings to create and share heat and light. We withdraw from much outdoor activities to rest and recover after many busy months. We are supposed to accumulate energy during the next couple of months or so. So, avoid doing harsh eliminations or energy wastage, i.e. detox or rushing around without stopping, in the next couple of months.


In some ways, we have adopted that innate need to withdraw and accumulate energy into acquisition of goods as presents and foods for the festive season. But remember that this is really our instinctual urge to accumulate and recharge our batteries. Look at trees, all their energy is withdrawing from the external parts (branches) into trunks and roots. Hence they lose their leaves. Look at animals; they either hibernate or look for warm shelter and sleep a lot.


In Chinese Medicine this energy, our batteries, is called Jing and it is placed in our Kidneys. We have two Kidneys, one is related to our pre-natal energy and the other to our post-natal energy. This means that the Kidneys are a kind of a bridge between our living energy and the energy we had brought in with us: ancestral or reincarnated. So, this month we reconnect with our roots, our families, to renew the connection to who we are and where we have come from. I encourage you to take time off to yourself to reflect on what you feel your human identity is here on Earth.


The next two months will give us this possibility to dive deep into our essence and identity. If, in that process, you rediscover or re-identify some aspects of yourself you have, but you have not realised you have had, it has the potential to give you a new shot of life, a renewed will to live. Sometimes it is simply a family connection, going back to your roots and feeling that connection can reignite life. Whether you feel part of the family or not (you feel more of an outcast), facing them up still reinforces the message about who you feel you are. Other times, it is slowing down and reflecting that gives us more clarity on your identity. In any case, make time to reconnect and reflect.


In Winter we should be like the stormy waters which calm down and reveal their transparency all the way to the bottom of the sea. You will benefit immensely on the mental level too! Physically, it will give you tranquil sleep, good body circulation, physical strength (especially in the lumbar back) and improved immunity to cold-borne diseases (such as viruses).


The post-natal Kidney "batteries" are further renewed during these Winter months by taking care of our "renewable" physical energy. The best way to renew it is to keep the body warm, circulation stable and resting sufficiently. If you suffer from cold, do warm up with hot coarse salt compresses and warming herbal teas (ginger, cinnamon, etc) and soups (especially with winter root vegetables). Brisk walking or jogging and winter sports are also indicated in this season to keep the circulation going and building up the body's strength and determination.


To keep you warm, nourished and sustained during this Winter I have prepared special herbal teas, meticulously made from personally harvested herbs and according to the principles of Classical Chinese Medicine. If you are interested in getting this special herbal tea edition, please contact me below:



 










Thank you for joining in!

​© 2023 by Dorota Kowal. All rights reserved.

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