Shi Wei
Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farw.
โฏ TCM Properties
Promotes Urination and Relieves Stranguria; Clears Lung Heat and Stops Cough; Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Pyrrosia lingua is an epiphytic or lithophytic evergreen fern in the Polypodiaceae family native to East Asia, growing on tree trunks, mossy rocks, and old walls in humid forests from southern China through Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. A long-creeping wiry rhizome 2-4 mm thick clad in narrow scales bears widely-spaced, simple, undivided fronds. Each frond consists of a slender wiry stipe and a thick leathery elliptic to lance-shaped lamina 5-25 cm long, dull green and sparsely hairy above and densely covered below with a soft fawn to rust-coloured felt of branched stellate scales โ the feature giving the genus its common name 'felt fern'. Round to elongated sori are scattered or in rows across the underside of fertile fronds, sunk into the dense indumentum and lacking indusia.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | Daily | โ | โ | โ |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Shi Wei (pyrrosia leaf) is a bitter, cool herb used in Chinese medicine to promote urination, clear Heat and Dampness from the Bladder, and stop bleeding. It is used for urinary tract infections, bloody urine, urinary stones, and urinary difficulty from Damp-Heat obstruction in the Bladder. Its hemostatic properties also address bleeding conditions, particularly hematuria. As an anti-inflammatory and diuretic herb with concurrent blood-stopping action, it is specifically valuable for conditions where Damp-Heat and bleeding coexist in the urinary system.
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.