Hai Jin Sha
Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Damp-Heat; Promotes Urination and Relieves Stranguria; Expels Urinary Stones; Promotes Urination and Reduces Edema
Botanical Description
Lygodium japonicum is a slender climbing fern in the Lygodiaceae, native to East and Southeast Asia and naturalised in the southeastern United States, where it is regarded as an invasive weed. Unlike most ferns it has an indeterminate, twining rachis that functions as a climbing stem and can reach 3-5 m or more by twining over surrounding vegetation. The compound fronds bear opposite, palmately or pinnately lobed sterile pinnules with shallowly toothed margins. Fertile pinnules are narrower and deeply dissected into finger-like lobes whose margins are rolled to form double rows of marginal sporangia, producing abundant fine, light yellow-brown spores. These dried ripe spores, shaken from the fertile fronds in late summer and autumn, constitute the medicinal Hai Jin Sha.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Hai Jin Sha (lygodium spores, climbing fern spores) is a cold herb used in Chinese medicine to clear Damp-Heat from the Bladder and clear obstruction from urinary stones. It is one of the primary herbs for painful urinary conditions from stone obstruction or Damp-Heat — including hematuria, burning and painful urination, and urinary sand or gravel. It also clears Damp-Heat from the Large Intestine for bloody dysentery. Its name, meaning "golden sand of the sea," describes the appearance of its tiny spores.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.