Compound-leaved ear fern, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the rhizome of Arachniodes exilis (Hance) Ching, a plant in the family Polypodiaceae. It is distributed in areas south of the Yangtze River basin, as well as in Shandong, Henan, and other regions. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and promoting wound healing. It is used to treat dysentery and burns and scalds.
Compound-leaved Ear Fern
Compound-leaved ear fern, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the rhizome of Arachniodes exilis (Hance) Ching, a plant in the family Polypodiaceae. It is distributed in areas south of the Yangtze River basin, as well as in Shandong, Henan, and other regions. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and promoting wound healing. It is used to treat dysentery and burns and scalds.
Chinese Name : 复叶耳蕨
Latin Name : Arachniodes exilis (Hance) Ching
Authentic Producing Area : Areas south of the Yangtze River basin, Shandong, and Henan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Slightly bitter and astringent in taste; cool in nature
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Clears heat and detoxifies; promotes wound healing.
Indications
Used for dysentery and burns and scalds.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decoct 15–30 g. External use: Apply an appropriate amount as a paste made from the powdered herb.
Precautions
Prolonged use of this herb may lead to uterine cold and infertility.
Pharmacological Actions
1. Antifertility effects. 2. Uterine contractile effects.
Relevant Discussions
*Medicinal Spore Plants of China*: “Clears heat and astringes. Used for dysentery, scalds, and burns.”
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. For dysentery: 15–30 g of compound-leaved ear fern. Decoct and take orally.
2. For scalds and burns: Compound-leaved ear fern (as needed). Sun-dry, grind into a powder, and mix with vegetable oil to apply topically. (Formulas 1 and 2 are from *Medicinal Spore Plants of China*)
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Can be harvested year-round. Remove the leaves, wash off the soil, and use fresh or sun-dry.
Crude Drug Identification
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
A plant of the family Polypodiaceae, specifically the spiny-headed compound-leaved ear fern.
Morphological Characteristics
Plant height: 30–90 cm. The rhizome is long and creeping, densely covered with brown, awl-shaped scales.Leaves are distichous or nearly so; petioles are 15–50 cm long, straw-colored, and, together with the rachis and pinnae, are often covered with small, brown, linear-drill-shaped scales; leaf blades are papery, triangular or ovate-triangular, 20–35 cm long and about 20 cm wide, tapering to a tail-like acuminate apex, and three-times pinnate;There are 5–8 pairs of pinnae, slanting upward and petiolate; the basal pair is the largest, ovate-triangular, 15–20 cm long and 7–10 cm wide; the lower lateral pinna of this pair is exceptionally long and once-pinnate, 8–10 cm long; the remaining pairs gradually decrease in size toward the apex;The leaflets are oblong, with an acute apex; the upper side of the base is slightly ear-shaped or has a separate auricle; the margins are shallowly lobed or bear long, bristle-like serrations; the upper surface is smooth, while the lower surface bears sparse, small brown scales along the midrib;The venation is pinnate, with lateral veins branching 2–4 times. Sporangia are round, dorsally borne at the tips of the minor veins, located midway between the midrib and the leaf margin; indusia are round-reniform and fall off early.
Distribution Area
Distributed in areas south of the Yangtze River basin, as well as in Shandong, Henan, and other regions.