Evidence supporting the use of: Male Fern
For the health condition: Parasites (general)

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Synopsis

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

Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly as a remedy for intestinal parasites, such as tapeworms. Its use dates back to classical antiquity, with references in Greek and Roman medical texts. The active constituents, particularly phloroglucinol derivatives like filicin, were believed to have anthelmintic properties—paralyzing or killing intestinal worms, making them easier to expel from the body. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, male fern extract (sometimes called "oleoresin of male fern") was a standard treatment for tapeworm infection in Europe and North America.

Despite its traditional use, the safety margin is low, and toxicity associated with male fern is well-documented, including gastrointestinal, neurological, and even fatal effects at higher doses. With the advent of safer and more effective synthetic anthelmintics, male fern is now rarely used in modern clinical practice. Scientific evidence supporting its efficacy is largely based on historical reports and early pharmacological observations, not on rigorous modern clinical trials. As such, its use today is not recommended, but the traditional role of male fern in treating parasites is well established in medical history.

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Other health conditions supported by Male Fern

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

Products containing Male Fern

We currently have no products on Caring Sunshine that contain this ingredient.