Pteris ensiformis Burm.
Other names used locally: Feng wei cao (phoenix grass), shu wei huang (sage grass)
Diseases of the organs: Add to decoction for treating colds. When feeling hot, add sword break fern to reduce the internal heat to the lungs.
For treating colds, make a decoction using the following herbs: Spider fern (Pteris multifida), sword break fern, lanceleaf Blumea (Blumea lanceolaria), rough cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), ox knee (Achyranthes bidentata), balsam Blumea (Blumea balsamifera), and ailanthus-like prickly ash (Zanthoxylum ailanthoides). If there is coughing, add yellow bristle-hair ixeris (Ixeris chinensis), Chinese mulberry (Morus australis) root, and skunk vine (Paederia foetida).
Physical discomfort: Sword break fern and brown sugar decoction reduces internal heat.
Asian copperleaf (Acalypha australis) and asthma weed (Chamaesyce hirta) can be used to treat excess heat and problems with defecation pinpin. Sword break fern and water celery (Oenanthe javanica) can also be added to maintain the intestines and reduce internal heat.
A decoction of swordbreak fern and brown sugar can be used to reduce fatigue from overwork and nighttime coughs.
Interview and specimen numbers: Yen 38037, 41665, 43087, 43969, 44086, 45910
Zhong Hua Ben Cao
Pharmacological properties: Tastes bitter, slightly astringent, slightly cold in nature; liver, large instestine, and bladder meridians.
Functions and indications: Clears away heat and dampness, cools the blood, stops bleeding, detoxifies, and reduces swelling. Mainly used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice, gonorrhea, leucorrhea, sore throat, mumps, sores, swollen lymph nodes due to tuberculosis infection, malaria, uterine bleeding, bleeding hemorrhoids, bleeding wounds, swelling and pain from bruises, scabies, and eczema.
