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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Lung-Clearing Expectorant, Antitussive & Lithagogue Sovereign (清热利湿 / 宣肺止咳化痰利咽利尿通淋凉血解毒治急性支气管炎咽喉肿痛尿路结石 — 欧洲与岭南第一止咳润肺糖浆 Capillaire / 铁线蕨 / 泌尿排石圣草)

    铁线蕨 / 猪鬃草 / 少女发丝蕨 / 乌脚芒 / 水猪毛七 / 铁丝草 — Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (syn. Adiantum michelii)

    Pinyin: Tiěxiànjué / Zhūzōngcǎo / Shàonǚ Fàsījué · Malay: Paku Sisik Hijau / Paku Ranting Hitam / Paku Rambut Gadis / Paku Lumut · Family: Pteridaceae (凤尾蕨科 / 铁线蕨属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool (微寒 / 苦凉)

    Flavor

    Bitter, sweetish, bland, cooling (苦、微甘、淡、凉)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Kidney (肾), Urinary Bladder (膀胱)

    Traditional Edict

    Maidenhair Fern / Southern Maidenhair (Paku Sisik Hijau / Tie Xian Jue / Capillaire). Fan-shaped leaflets on shiny black wiry stipes. Master Botanical for Pectoral Cough Syrups (Sirop de Capillaire): liquefies sticky pulmonary phlegm, soothes spastic bronchitis, flushes kidney stones.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Shade-dry below 35C to preserve active mucilage. High clinical, respiratory, and pediatric safety profile. Safe in lactation; moderate internal doses during pregnancy.

    Clinical Applications

    • Acute and chronic tracheobronchitis, spastic dry hacking cough, pharyngotonsillitis, and nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis (calcium oxalate crystal growth inhibition via Adiantone).

    Quality Markers

    Adiantone (铁线蕨酮) >= 0.50%, Isoquercitrin, Rutin & Mucilage Arabinogalactans >= 4.0% (HPLC EP standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Mucilage polysaccharides coat inflamed pharyngeal mucosa, reducing cough reflex excitability. 2. Flavonoids relax tracheal smooth muscle. 3. Adiantone prevents calcium oxalate stone aggregation.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE CLASSICAL EUROPEAN MAIDENHAIR PECTORAL SYRUP (Sirop de Capillaire / 铁线蕨化痰糖浆): 30 g dried Maidenhair fronds steeped in 300 mL boiling water for 30 min, strained, simmered with 200 g raw honey; take 1 tbsp 3-4x daily for bronchitis. Lithagogue decoction: 15-30 g.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Pectoral Bronchitis Syrup with Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Coltsfoot (Kuan Dong Hua). 2. Nephrolithiasis Stone Clearance Draught with Desmodium styracifolium.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only