Evidence supporting the use of: Male Fern
For the health condition: Parasites (nematodes, worms)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) has a long history of traditional use as an anthelmintic, particularly for the expulsion of tapeworms and other intestinal parasites. Ancient physicians such as Dioscorides and Galen described its use for this purpose, and it became a standard remedy in European herbal medicine from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. The active constituents, chiefly phloroglucinol derivatives (such as filicin), were believed to paralyze the musculature of worms, allowing them to be expelled from the digestive tract when followed by a purgative. However, while some pharmacological studies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries confirmed its efficacy in paralyzing tapeworms in vitro and in vivo, the use of Male Fern extract also led to frequent reports of serious side effects, including gastrointestinal irritation, vision disturbances, and even fatalities due to its toxicity. Modern medicine has largely abandoned Male Fern in favor of safer and more effective synthetic anthelmintics. There is limited contemporary clinical evidence to support its efficacy, and its use persists mainly in historical accounts and some traditional herbal practices. Modern regulatory bodies generally advise against its use due to safety concerns.

More about Male Fern
More about Parasites (nematodes, worms)

Other health conditions supported by Male Fern

Parasites (general)
Parasites (nematodes, worms)
Parasites (tapeworm)

Products containing Male Fern

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.