Lygodium spores (Haijinsha)

Pharmaceutical Name: Spora Lygodii

Botanical Name: Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw.

Common Name: Lygodium spores, Japanese fern spores

Source of Earliest Record: Jiayou Bencao

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The spores are gathered in autumn and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste: Sweet and cold

Meridians: Urinary bladder and small intestine

Functions: To promote water metabolism and regulate abnormal urination

Indications & Combinations: Damp-heat in the urinary bladder manifested as various abnormal urinary symptoms including hot urine, urinary tract stones, bloody urine, turbid urine, dysuria, painful urination, urgency of micturition and frequent urination. Lygodium spores (Haijinsha) is used with Talc (Huashi), Lysimachia (Jinqiancao), Plantain seed (Cheqianzi) and Amber (Hupo).

Dosage: 6-12 g

Cautions & Contraindications: The herb should be wrapped with a cloth for decoction, or decoction should be put through a strainer.