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Shi Yan

Unknown

Pinyin: Shi Yan Latin: Fossilia Spiriferis
Spirifer’s Fossil Shell (English)

โ˜ฏ TCM Properties

Category: transforming_dampness
Temperature: cool
Taste: salty
Meridians: kidney, bladder
Functions:

Clears Damp-Heat, promotes diuresis and removes nebulae

Botanical Description

Shi Yan (็Ÿณ็›), literally "stone salt," is rock salt or halite โ€” a mineral substance, not a plant. Halite is the natural crystalline form of sodium chloride (NaCl), occurring as colorless, white, grey, pink, or pale-orange isometric cubic crystals or massive granular aggregates in evaporite beds, salt domes, and brine deposits. In Chinese materia medica, mined rock salt is distinguished from sea salt (Hai Yan) and is sometimes equated with the related substance Da Qing Yan (great green salt) used to soften hardness, cool the blood, and conduct other medicinals to the kidneys. Modern usage is limited and largely supplanted by purified pharmaceutical sodium chloride. As a mineral, the substance has no botanical attributes.

Dosage

Form Amount Frequency Duration Population Notes
decoction 9-15g Daily โ€” โ€” โ€”

Cultural & Historical Context

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.