While British Columbia has nearly 40 species of native ferns, not all are edible or used for medicinal purposes. These seven species are the most commonly used by the West Coast First Nations.
The most well-known is the ostrich fern, a large stout deciduous plant sought after for its fiddleheads, eaten by First Nations all across Canada but most notably a traditional dish in Quebec and New Brunswick and now sold commercially around the world. A food-borne illness outbreak in B.C. back in 1990 was attributed to the consumption of raw or under-cooked ostrich fern fiddleheads, so they must be harvested and prepared properly. Fiddleheads are collected mid spring when the fronds are still coiled, and it is recommended that no more than three tops per plant be harvested. Overpicking can deplete the rhizome’s energy reserves and kill the plant. Fiddleheads contain vitamins A and C as well as potassium and iron, making them a beneficially nutritious plant. According to Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada, First Nations across the country also drank a decoction of the ostrich fern’s leaf stalk base from a sterile frond to alleviate back pain and to speed the expulsion of the afterbirth.
A large stout evergreen plant, the fiddleheads of the Christmas or sword fern were also eaten, much in the same way as the ostrich fern. But this fern must be boiled for at least 10 minutes, with two water changes as they contain small amounts of carcinogens. Not only was the Christmas fern used as a famine food, it has been used by First Nations to treat a wide variety of ailments. An infusion of the plant was taken to treat rheumatism, fever, chills, tooth aches, cramps, diarrhea and used as a blood purifier for venereal disease. The rhizomes were also mixed into a rub and massaged into the body on rheumatic areas to relieve pain. A poultice of wet rhizomes were topically applied to boils, sores and even dandruff. Nancy J. Turner’s 1983 study Ethnobotany of the Nitinaht Indians of Vancouver Island writes the mature fronds of the sword ferns and bracken ferns were used in cooking pits, below and above the food or woven into temporary plates or place mats. There has also been documentation the fronds were used as bedding material.
The bracken fern, a tall single stalk deciduous fern, is also an important traditional food for West Coast First Nations - but proper preparation is crucial as it contains a very strong carcinogen that has been proven to cause stomach cancer. Young, coiled leaves are harvested early in spring, rubbed free of their tiny hairs and boiled for no less than 30 minutes with two water changes. The bracken fern was commonly eaten with oily foods like animal or fish grease, as well as salmon eggs because the rhizomes could cause constipation. A bracken fern tonic can be made to treat rickets, stomach ailments, diarrhea and worms. A salve of boiled leaves in fat can be used to treat burns and sores, while smoked leaves treat headaches. Turner’s 1983 study notes the Nitinaht people slept on a thick layer the bracken fronds and the Makah would use them to lay their fish on and for wiping the slime off fish. Bracken fern was also used as a hair rinse to stimulate growth. The tannin-rich leaves can tan leather and the rhizomes would later up well in water for use as a soap substitute.
The deer fern, a tufted ever-green, was only eaten when there was nothing else. The young stalks were peeled, and the center part can be eaten to relieve hunger or chewed to alleviate thirst. The deer fern was more regularly used as a medicinal plant, leaflets being chewed to treat internal tumors, respiratory or gastric complaints. Tonics can relieve general ill health and fronds can be applied directly to the skin on open sores.
The rarely known licorice fern is a summer deciduous plant, growing a single frond in very shady damp locations like mossy rocks or logs of downed trees. It’s eaten for its sweet unique flavor due to the high concentration of ploypodoside. The rhizomes of this fern can be eaten raw when young, the Nitinaht people would chew the rhizomes and swallow the licorice flavored juice to treat a cough or sore chest. Turner’s study notes the juice had a strong flavor and water was drunk after. While Nuu-chah-nulth used this fern for coughs and colds, it was said they were often just chewed for the sweet flavor. While this fern is generally safe it could interfere with vitamin B absorption in some individuals.
The lady fern was mainly used medicinally for the complaints of women. A decoction of pounded stems simmered in water would ease the pains of labour, and the rhizomes would ease breast pain. An infusion of the rhizomes steeped in water would stimulate the flow of milk. The young, unfurled fronds can be eaten for internal disorders like cancer of the womb, while dried powdered rhizomes are applied to sores to speed healing or mixed with water to create an eye wash. Oils are extracted from the plant to treat worms in both humans and livestock, but caution must be taken because a dose too strong was known to cause muscle weakness, coma or blindness. When travelling through the wilderness the sight of the lady fern was a sign of clean drinkable water.
And finally, the maiden hair fern, a small and delicate perennial plant found in moist areas of the forest. Turner’s study states that Nitinaht people didn’t consider this plant medicinal, but their dancers would rub the fronds on their feet and ankles to make them light footed, writes Turner. The Mowachaht and Hesquiaht dancers and athletes considered this plant good medicine, they would drink an infusion of the ashes of the maiden hair fronds mixed with other herbs for taste to give them strength and endurance. The Makah would chew the fronds for stomach trouble, sore chest or internal hemorrhaging. Smashed wet fronds could be used to treat snake bites or venereal disease sores. A strong infusion of the plant was brewed and used as an emetic (causes vomiting). The rhizomes were brewed into bitters to treat excessive menstruation, as a stimulant or to treat rheumatism. The bitters could be taken internally or externally massaged into the skin to treat joint aches. Once the Europeans discovered the benefits of the maiden hair fern it was exported overseas to make cough medicine. Maiden hair fern was also combined with chamomile or yarrow to create a rinse to make hair shiny.
The conditions of Vancouver Island’s temperate rainforest provides ideal growing conditions for a wide variety of fern species that have been utilized by First Nations in many capacities for centuries.
