Polipodium, Polypody
Bisfayaj (Unani)
Shui Long Gu, Duo Zu Jue Shu [lit. ‘Multi-Foot fern’=Polypodium] (TCM)
Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
Medical Botany, Woodville, Hooker, 1832
Flora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886
Polypody root
(Calcutta Unani College, Adam, 2019)
Botanical name:
Polypodium vulgare (TCM, West); P. virginianum is also used in TCM.
Parts used:
Root; that growing on the Oak was regarded as best
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Bitter, sweet
Classifications:
2A APERIENT. 2G. CLEANSING. 2H. CARMINATIVE
3K. EXPECTORANT
4f. SPLENETIC
Preparers and Purgers of Melancholy
TCM:
P. Clear Phlegm
Uses:
1. Purges Melancholy
-‘a gallant though gentle purger of Melancholy’ (Culpeper)
2. Clears Damp and Heat, Promotes Urine
3. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough
4. Clears Heat and Poison
5. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis
6. Strengthens Bones
7. Kills Worms
Dose:
Powder: 2–6 grams
Correctives:
Substitutes:
Main Combinations:
1. To purge all Humors:
i. Polypody with … available in PRO version
ii. Polypody with … available in PRO version
2. Melancholy and Phlegm/Damp:
i. Asthma, Leprosy, Epilepsy, Melancholy, Arthritic, Rheumatic complaints, Polypody with … available in PRO version
ii. Polypody with … available in PRO version
iii. Fibroid Tumors, Cancer, Polypody with … available in PRO version
3. To Purge Melancholy Humor:
i. Polypody with … available in PRO version
4. To Purge Phlegm Humor, Polypody with … available in PRO version
5. Cleanse the Blood, Polypody with … available in PRO version
6. Chronic Skin diseases, Eczema, Psoriasis, Polypody with … available in PRO version
7. Arthritis, Rheumatism, Polypody with … available in PRO version
8. Spleen obstruction, Jaundice and Edema, Polypody with … available in PRO version
9. Hardness of the Spleen, Polypody with … available in PRO version
Major Formulas:
Decoction of Dodder of Thyme (Rhasis)
Decoction of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue)
Decoction of Senna
Decoction of Guaiacum and Sarsaparilla
Syrup to Purge all Humors of Frankfurt
Syrup of Fumitory Greater
Syrup of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue)
Syrup of Horehound (Fernelius)
Syrup of Betony (Pharmacopoeia Augustana)
Wine for Scrophula (Renodeus)
Powder of Polypody (Montagnana)
Powder for Epilepsy (Unani)
Powder Against Rabies
Hiera Logadii
Arabian Confect Purging Melancholy (Confectio Hamech) (Mesue)
Catholicum (Diacatholicum) (Nicholas)
Bishops Electuary (Electuarium Elescop) (Mesue)
Electuary of Dodder (Unani)
Electuary of Dodder and Fumitory (Mesue)
Electuary for Head and Stomach Pain (Galen)
Electuary for Melancholy and Fear (Filius Zacharia)
Triphala Electuary of Dodder (Unani)
Indian Pills (Mesue)
Pills for Melancholy (Unani)
Pills of Lapis Lazuli-1 (Mesue)
Greater Polycrest Pills
Pills to Crumble Kidney Stones (Unani)
Cautions:
‘It works very safely’ (Culpeper)
As it is very drying it is not suitable in Yin deficiency.
