Blechnum Orientale L.

Family name: Blechnaceae

Aboriginal name: Karun giri, Hway giri, Ttaru, Ggiri, Iyu tere (all Atayal), Giri (Atayal and Taroko), Ra:san, Asoi, Mata:zo (Saisiyat), Djriququ (Paiwan)

Occurrence: In mountainous regions at low altitudes to 1500 meters above sea level

Aboriginal methods of treatment:

Headaches

• Decoction of the herb

Swollen Injuries

• Grind the herb and collect its juice for application on the wound

General Injuries

• Grind the roots and apply them to the wound with a bandage
• Dip the sprouts into boiling water and massage them against the wound

Contents:

• Cholesterols

Medicinal Benefits:

• Removes free radicals and prevents bacterial infection

Cautions:

• Should be used in small amounts for pregnant women

Huperzia Salvinioides (Herter) Holub

Family name: Lycopodiaceae

Aboriginal name: Derusumu (Paiwan)

Occurrence: Mountainous and forest regions in Taiwan

Aboriginal methods of treatment:

Stomach ache

• Grind with Acorus Gramineus and mix with honey before consummation

Contents:

• Complanatine, lycopodine, nicotine, alpha-obscurine

Nephrolepis auriculata (L.) Trimen

Family name: Oleandraceae

Aboriginal name: Giri (Atayal), Giriri, Karumonai (all Atayal and Taroko)

Occurrence: At low altitudes in Taiwan

Aboriginal methods of treatment:

Eye disease

• Smash the stem and collect the juice for rinsing the eye
• Smash the sprouts and collect the juice for rinsing the eye

Contents:

• Proteins, fats, reducing sugars, sequoyitol, beta-sitosterols

Medicinal benefits:

• Prevents bacterial infection, prolongs aging, lowers blood glucose levels

Onychium japonicum (Thunb.) Kunze

Family name: Pteridaceae

Aboriginal name: Soosopeeni (Tsou)

Occurrence: At low to medium altitudes in mountainous regions or open lands in Taiwan

Aboriginal methods of treatment:

Chest pain

• Cook the leaves before applying

Stomach ache

• Cook the leaves before applying

Contents:

• Kaempferol dirhamnoside, chrysoeriol, luteolin, butin, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, beeta-sitosterols

Medicinal benefits:

• Removes toxins and those in body cells

Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw.

Family name: Schizaeaceae

Aboriginal name: Kwani na Tutuh (Atayal)

Occurrence: At low altitudes in Taiwan

Aboriginal methods of treatment:

Swollen Injuries

• Smash the sprouts and apply them to the site of injury with a bandage

General Injuries

• Rub the leaves and mix with lime before applying it with bandage to the site of injury
• Put the skin of the stem into edible salt and rub them together before applying to the site of injury
• Rub the leaves and directly apply
• Grind the leaves and apply with bandage
• Smash the sprouts and apply with bandage

Poisonous snake bites

• Collect the juice from cooking the leaves and use it to wash the injury site

Contents:

• Flavonoids, fatty oil, nonyl aldehyde, 3-thiophenecarboxylic acid, cedrol, phenyl ether, benzoic acid, apione, makisterone C

Medicinal benefits:

• Prevents bacterial infection, benefits gallbladder, prevents oxidation, suppresses female hormones, promotes hair growth