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Pyrrosia, Shi Wei 石韦

Shi Wei (TCM)
Pyrrosia lingua
Lowe, E.J., Ferns [a history of Ferns]: British and exotic (1856-1860)

Botanical name:
Pyrrosia spp.
A number of species are used:
  1. P. lingua
  2. P. sheareri
  3. P. petiolosa
  4. P. davidii
  5. P. calvata
  6. P. drakeana

Parts used:
Herb

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Bitter, Sweet

Classification:
C. Clear Damp, Promote Urine

Uses:
1. Clears Damp-Heat, Promotes Urine:
-difficult, painful and obstructed urine; Cystitis, UTI
-Hematuria with pain
-Gravel and Stones
-Prostatitis

2. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Hematuria with pain
-Coughing or Vomtiing Blood
-Irregular Uterine Bleeding
-Bleeding form the Nose

3. Clears Heat, Resolves Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Bronchitis, Wheezing, Asthma from Heat in the Lungs

4. Clears Heat, Regulates Qi:
-'eliminates restlessness, brings down adverse ascending Qi ... and pacifies the Five Viscera'. (Ming Yi Bie Lu)


DOSE:
Deoction: 6–9 grams

CORRECTIVE:
'It is reinforced if used together with Calamus (Shi Chang Pu)' (Xu Zhi Cai)

PREPARATION:
The hair on the leaf should be removed to avoid irritation.
1. Stir-fry the leaf lightly.
2. Mix with Sheep fat and stir-fry until dry. This is a traditional method of preparation no longer used.

Main Combinations:
According to the Divine Farmers Materia Medica, the envoys of Pyrrosia are Talcum and Almond/Apricot kernel (Xing Ren). It is more effective if combined with Calamus (Shi Chang Pu), according to the same text.

1. Painful and obstructed Urine from Damp-Heat:
i. Pyrrosia with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Talcum (Hua Shi)
ii. Pyrrosia with Sophora Ku Shen, Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
iii. Pyrrosia with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Alisma Ze Xie, Black Nightshade (Long Kui)
iv. Pyrrosia with Dianthus Qu Mai, Tetrapanax Tong Cao
2. Bloody urine, Pyrrosia with Mallow fruit (Dong Kui Zi)
3. Hematuria with burning, stabbing pain, Pyrrosia with Typha Pollen (Pu Huang), Gardenia Zhi Zi
4. Edema, Pyrrosia, Poria Fu Ling, Alisma Ze Xie, Corn Silk (Yu Mi Xu), Atractylodes Bia Zhu, Dioscorea hypoglanca Bi Xie, 
5. Proteinuria from chronic Nephritis, Pyrrosia with Astragalus Huang Qi, Stephania Han Fang Ji, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Dioscorea Shan Yao, Licorice
6. Stones:
i. Pyrrosia with Madder (Qian Cao), Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
ii. Pyrrosia with Lysmachia Jin Qian Cao, Mallow fruit (Dong Kui Zi)
iii. with Blood in the Urine, Pyrrosia with Mallow fruit (Dong Kui Zi) and Chinese Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao)
iii. Pyrrosia with Chicken Gizzard skin (Ji Nei Jin)
7. Prostatitis, Prostatic Hypertrophy with Heat and Qi Stagnation, Pyrrosia with Aloeswood (Chen Xiang), Paeonia Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Semiaquilegia Tian Kui Zi, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing, Bupleurum Chai Hu, Talcum (Hua Shi), Citrus Qing Pi (as in Chen Xiang San). Other herbs such as Paeonia Mu Dan Pi, Gardenia Zhi Zi, and Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu) can be added as needed.
8. Cough and Bronchitis from Lung Heat:
i. Pyrrosia with Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao
ii. Pyrrosia with Plantain (Che Qian Cao)
9. Coughing Blood:
i. Pyrrosia with Burnet (Di Yu)
10. Herpetic Keratitis from Herpes virus, prepare eye drops from Pyrrosia and Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao). This was found to be effective in a clinical study.


Major Formulas:
San Jing Tang

Shi Wei San (Pyrrosia Powder)
  Pyrrosia                                       9 grams
  Mallow fruit (Dong Kui Zi)
  Dianthus Qu Mai
  Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
  Talcum (Hua Shi)                       6 grams each
Powder.
  Used for Gravel and Stones with painful and bloody urination.


Cautions:
None noted

Main Preparations used: