Pteridii Aquilini Herba
Aliases：Biē (from Erya), Jué Qí (from Compendium of Materia Medica), Lóng Tóu Cài (from Guangdong Xinyu), Biē Jiǎo (from Yilin Zuanyao), Shān Fèng Wěi, Rú Yì Cǎo (from Nanjing Folk Herbal Medicine), Huāng Dì Jué, Sōng Gēng Jué, Sān Chā Jué (from Guangxi Chinese Veterinary Herbal Medicine), Jué Er Cài (from Northeast Herbal Medicine Journal), Māo Zhuǎ Zi, Gāo Shā Lì (from Jilin Chinese Herbal Medicine). Also known as Jù Cài, Fàn Jué, Jí Xiáng Cài, and Lóng Zhǎo Cài.
Jué Cài is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the young leaf of Pteridium revolutum (Bl.) Nakai, a plant belonging to the genus Pteridium of the family Pteridiaceae. This plant is a perennial herb with a long, creeping, robust rhizome and distant leaves. The leaf blade is broadly triangular or ovate-triangular, tripinnatifid. It was first recorded in Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica). Known as the "king of mountain vegetables", it is both a traditional wild vegetable and a medicinal and edible herb.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat and promotes diuresis; directs Qi downward and resolves phlegm; stops bleeding.
Indications
Indicated for common cold with fever, jaundice, dysentery, leukorrhea, dysphagia, hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculosis, hematochezia due to intestinal wind, and wind-dampness arthralgia. It may also be used for toxic sores, burns and scalds, rectal prolapse, strangury, and ascariasis. In modern clinical practice, it is also used for hypertension and dizziness with insomnia.
Modern Pharmacology
Modern research has demonstrated that bracken possesses antitumor, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and gut microbiota-regulating effects. Bracken total flavonoids exhibit free radical scavenging, antioxidant, tumor-inhibiting, antimutagenic, and immunomodulatory and enhancing activities; bracken polysaccharides also exhibit free radical scavenging and antioxidant effects. Bracken mainly contains pterosins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, and other secondary metabolites, displaying various pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pterosin C, a characteristic component of ferns, shows significant biological activity.
Ingredients
Pterosins (1-indanone compounds): Pterosin A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, N, O, Z; acetylpterosin C; benzoylpterosin B; isocrotonylpterosin B; palmitoylpterosin A, B, C; phenylacetylpterosin C. Pterosides: Pteroside A, B, C, D, K, P, Z; pteridinoside; osmundalin A, B, C. Flavonoids: Kaempferol, astragalin, tilroside, isoquercitrin, rutin, quercetin, isorhamnetin-3-O-(6″-O-E-p-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucoside. Phenolic acids: Protocatechuic acid, benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaroylquinic acid, shikimic acid. Organic acids: Fumaric acid, succinic acid. Others: Daucosterol, β-sitosterol, polysaccharides.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 6–15 g. The usual dosage is 9–15 g. May also be steeped in wine for consumption. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, crushed and applied topically; or ground into powder and mixed for topical application.
Contraindications
Should not be eaten raw or consumed for prolonged periods—as bracken contains carcinogens such as ptaquiloside, it must be blanched and soaked before consumption. Use with caution in cases of Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold—as bracken is cold in nature, it may aggravate diarrhea and abdominal pain. Use with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding—due to its potential toxicity. The elderly, infants, and those with allergic predisposition should consume little or none. Sun Simiao recorded: "Prolonged consumption may cause abdominal masses." Meng Shen recorded: "It may cause weakness of the feet and inability to walk, reduce sexual function, shrink the penis, and excessive consumption may cause hair loss, nasal congestion, and blurred vision." Shiliao Bencao (Dietetic Materia Medica) records: "Those with cold qi may experience abdominal distension after consumption."
Selected Formulas
For postpartum dysentery (Shengji Zonglu, Chun Jue San) Take fresh fern shoots, any amount, dry in the shade and grind into fine powder. Take 3 qian each morning on an empty stomach with aged rice water. For intestinal wind with heat-toxin (Taiping Shenghui Fang) Take fern flowers (or leaves), bake and grind into powder. Take 10g each time with rice water. For rectal prolapse (empirical formula) Take 3–6g of the whole fern plant, decoct in water, and take in 2–3 divided doses daily. For hypertension with dizziness and insomnia (empirical formula) Take 15g of fern, decoct in water and drink. For pulmonary tuberculosis with hemoptysis (empirical formula) Take 30g of fern, crush with boiling water to extract juice, and drink. For chronic rheumatoid arthritis with joint heat and pain, and dark urine (empirical formula) Take 15g of fern, decoct in water and drink. For burns and scalds (empirical formula) Dry fern in the sun, grind into powder, mix with tea oil, and apply externally. For rheumatoid arthritis (empirical formula) Take 15g of Fanjue (a type of fern), decoct in water or soak in wine and drink. For urinary tract infection (empirical formula) Take 15g of Fanjue and 9g of Haijinsha (Lygodium spore). Decoct in water and drink. For parasitic infestation (empirical formula) Take 15g of Fanjue and 9g of Shijunzi (Quisqualis fruit). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Pretreatment: Before consumption, bracken must be blanched in boiling water and then soaked in cold water to remove unpleasant odors and reduce the content of ptaquiloside. Stir-frying: Bracken can be stir-fried with meat, eggs, and other ingredients. Stir-fried Bracken with Chicken: Take 300 g of bracken and 200 g of chicken breast. Add an appropriate amount of peanut oil, soy sauce, and minced ginger and garlic. Soak the dried bracken until softened and cut into sections. Slice the chicken breast and marinate with soy sauce. Stir-fry each ingredient separately, then combine and stir-fry together, seasoning to taste. Soup: Bracken can be used in soups. Cold dressed: After blanching, bracken can be dressed cold. Dried product: Bracken can be sun-dried for preservation. Before use, soak in water to rehydrate.
Medicinal Parts
Dried young leaves (the whole plant is also used medicinally).
Selection & Storage
After drying, store in a ventilated, dry place. Protect from moisture and mold.
