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Botany
Stems densely tufted, 4 to 15 cm long, branched nearly to the
base; leaves of the lower plane crowded, ovate, with a distinct
cusp, bright green, rigid, serrulate on both margins; the leaves
of the upper plane are nearly as long, ovate lanceolate, cuspidate;
the sporophylls are keeled.
Distribution and
Preparation:
Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Bontoc, Zambales, Pampanga, Rizal, Batangas,
Laguna, Quezon. The whole plant may be collected throughout the
year. Wash thoroughly, cut off the roots and sun-dry. This may
also be processed into charcoal form by heating it with small
glow until it turns black, sprinkle with some clean water and
redry under the sun. Rhizome or the trunk-like portion of the
main axis used for propagation. Preferably transplant collected
living plants.
Uses
Folkloric
Hemoptysis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hematosuria, excessive
menstrual flow.
Prolapse of the rectum: boil the drug material to a concentrated
decoction and drink.
To stop external bleed of any cause: powder or dress the wound
with granulated drug materials.
Selaginella plus Thuja: For hematochezia due to a boil in the
anal region (patient cannot sit) or for an extra-menstrual bleeding
uterus. Selaginella preparation plus Thuja leaf preparation:
Grind into powder, add warm water. Drink the resulting infusion.
Other Uses in
Asia
Called Keoun Back in Korea, Selaginella
tamariscina is a traditional medicinal
plant for therapy of advanced cancer patients in the Orient.
It is thought to modify gene expression and cytokine production.
It also lowers blood sugar and lipid peroxide levels. The biflavones
isolated from related Selaginella species exert both tumoricidal
effects against human tumor cell lines and anti-mutagenic activity.
There is ongoing study for its chemopreventive effects in stomach
cancers. (Article
link)
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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