Gerard wrote of Adder’s Tongue:
Ophioglosson, or Lingua serpentis (called in English Adder's-Tongue; of some, Adder's-Grass, though unproperly) riseth forth of the ground, having one leaf and no more, fat or oleous in substance, of a finger long, and very like the young and tender leaves of Marigolds: from the bottom of which leaf springeth out a small and tender stalk one finger and a half long, on the end whereof doth grow a long small tongue not unlike the tongue of a serpent, whereof it took the name.
I have seen another like the former in root, stalk, and leaf; and differeth, in that this plant hath two, and sometimes more crooked tongues, yet of the same fashion, which if my judgment fail not chanceth per accidens, even as we see children born with two thumbs upon one hand; which moveth me so to think, for that in gathering twenty bushels of the leaves a man can hardly find one of this fashion.
The place.
Adder's-Tongue groweth in moist meadows throughout most parts of England; as in a Meadow near the preaching spittle adjoining to London; in the Mantels by London, in the meadows by Colebrook, in the fields in Waltham Forest, and many other places.
The Time.
They are to be found in April and May; but in June they are quite vanished and gone.
The Names.
Ophioglossum is called in shops Lingua serpentis, Linguae, and Lingualace: it is also called Lancea Christi, Enephyllon, and Lingua vulneraria: in English, Adder's-Tongue, or Serpent's-Tongue: in Dutch, Natertonguen: of the Germans, Nater zungelin
The nature.
Adders-tongue is dry in the third degree.
The Virtues.
A. The leaves of Adder's-Tongue stamped in a stone mortar, and boiled in olive oil unto the consumption of the juice, and until the herbs be dry and parched, and then strained, will yield a most excellent green oil, or rather a balsam for green wounds, comparable unto oil of St. John's Wort, if it do not far surpass it by many degrees: whose beauty is such, that very many Artists have thought the same to be mixed with verdigris.
Culpepper tells us:
ADDER'S TONGUE, OR SERPENTS TONGUE
Description. This herb hath but one leaf, which grows with the stalk a finger's length above the ground, being flat and of a fresh green colour; broad like water plantain, but less, without any rib in it; from the bottom of which leaf, on the inside, riseth up (ordinarily) one, sometimes two or three slender stalks, the upper half whereof is somewhat bigger, and dented with small dents of a yellowish green colour, like the tongue of an adder serpent (only this is as useful as they are formidable.) The roots continue all the year.
Place. It grows in moist meadows, and such like places.
Time. It is to be found in May or April, for it quickly perisheth with little heat.
Government and virtues. It is an herb under the dominion of the Moon and Cancer, and therefore if the weakness of the retentive faculty be caused by an evil influence of Saturn in any part of the body governed by the Moon, or under the dominion of Cancer, this herb cures it by sympathy; It cures these diseases after specified, in any part of the body under the influence of Saturn, by antipathy.
It is temperate in respect of heat, but dry in the second degree. The juice of the leaves, drank with the distilled water of horse-tail, is a singular remedy for all manner of wounds in the breasts, bowels, or other parts of the body, and is given with good success to those that are troubled with casting, vomiting, or bleeding at the mouth or nose, or otherwise downwards. The said juice given in the distilled water of oaken buds, is very good for women who have their usual courses, or the whites flowing down too abundantly. It helps sore eyes. Of the leaves infused or boiled in oil, omphacine or unripe olives, set in the sun for certain days, or the green leaves sufficiently boiled in the said oil, is made an excellent green balsam, not only for green and fresh wounds, but also for old and inveterate ulcers, especially if a little fine clear turpentine be dissolved therein. It also stayeth and refresheth all inflammations that arise upon pains by hurts and wounds.
What parts of the body are under each planet and sign, and also what disease may be found in my astrological judgment of diseases; and for the internal work of nature, in the body of man; as vital, animal, natural and procreative spirits of man; the apprehension, judgment, memory; the external senses, viz. Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling; the virtuous attractive, retentive, digestive, expulsive, &c. under the dominion of what planets they are, may be found in my Ephemeris for the year 1651. In both which you shall find the chaff of authors blown away by the fame of Dr. Reason, and nothing but rational truths left for the ingenious to feed upon.
Lastly, To avoid blotting paper with one thing many times, and also to ease your purses in the price of the book, and withal to make you studious in physic; you have at the latter end of the book, the way of preserving all herbs either in juice, conserve, oil, ointment or plaister, electuary, pills, or troches.
Mrs. Grieve wrote:
The Adder's Tongue, known also in some parts of England as Christ's Spear, has no resemblance to any other Fern. The stems which grow up solitarily from the small root - formed merely of a few stout, yellow fibres - are round, hollow and succulent, bearing on the upper part a simple spike, issuing from the sheath of a smooth, oblong-oval, tapering, concave, undivided, leafy frond. Embedded on each side of the stalk - at the top is a single row of yellow thecae, not covered by any indusium. The whole has much the appearance of the Arum flower.
The name is derived from ophios (a serpent) and glossa (a tongue).
This strange little Fern, growing only from 3 to 9 inches in height, is generally distributed over Great Britain, being not uncommon, buried in the grass in moist pastures and meadows. It is tolerably easy of cultivation.
Medicinal Action and Uses---This Fern has long had a reputation as a vulnerary. A preparation of it, known as the 'Green Oil of Charity,' is still in request as a remedy for wounds.
The older herbalists called it 'a fine cooling herb.' The expressed juice of the leaves, drunk either alone, or with distilled water of Horse Tail, used much to be employed by country people for internal wounds and bruises, vomiting or bleeding at the mouth or nose. The distilled water was also considered good for sore eyes. An efficacious ointment for wounds was made as follows:
'Put 2 lb. of leaves chopped very fine into 1/2 pint of oil and 1 1/2 lb. suet melted together. Boil the whole till the herb is crisp, then strain off from the leaves.'
This is a very ancient recipe for wounds.
John K’eogh wrote of the Irish tradition:
Adder’s Tongue is an excellent herb for the healing of wounds. Taken inwardly, it is good against bruises, wounds and inflammation of the liver. An oil or unguent made from it can be applied to inflammations, burns, wounds St. Anthony’s fire and to all hot tumors.
The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics tells us:
Adder’s Tongue is said to be a valuable remedy used both internally and externally, in scrofula. The leaves and roots boiled in milk, and the infusion or the decoction taken in scrofulous affections, applying a poultice of the same to the ulcer or swelling when it exists, is said to be a remedy of much value, and one that will often alleviate and remove the disease. It is said to possess astringent, tonic and diuretic properties. The recent root is said to be emetic. It has been used in dropsies and diarrhea, and as a gargle, in mercurial sore throat.
Plants for A Future states:
The root and the leaves are antiseptic, detergent, emetic, haemostatic, styptic and vulnerary. An ointment made from the plant is considered to be a good remedy for wounds and is also used in the treatment of skin ulcers. The expressed juice of the leaves is drunk as a treatment for internal bleeding and bruising.
Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase.
Botany In A Day tells us, “Medicinally, the juice of the leaves is taken for internal bleeding and bruising.”
This article is an excerpt from
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own
experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
