Pyrrosia Leaf

Overview:
Shi Wei, or Pyrrosia Leaf, is the dried leaf of the Pyrrosia lingua plant, a type of evergreen fern widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is valued for its ability to promote urination, clear heat, stop bleeding, and relieve coughs caused by lung heat.

Botanical Characteristics:
Pyrrosia lingua grows naturally on rocks and tree trunks in humid, mountainous regions of East Asia. The leaves are thick, leathery, and green, harvested for their medicinal properties.

Traditional Uses:

• Promotes urination and clears damp-heat: Used to treat painful urination, urinary tract infections, and blood in the urine (hematuria).

• Clears lung heat and relieves cough: Helpful for coughs with yellow or bloody phlegm.

• Stops bleeding: Sometimes used for hematuria and other bleeding disorders associated with heat.

Pharmacological Properties:
Research suggests Pyrrosia Leaf has diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and hemostatic effects, supporting its traditional uses for urinary and respiratory conditions.

Preparation and Dosage:
Usually decocted alone or combined with other herbs, Shi Wei is taken as part of herbal formulas. Dosage should be guided by a qualified practitioner based on individual needs.

Precautions:

• Use with caution in people with cold from deficiency or weak digestive systems.

• Not recommended for prolonged use without medical supervision.

• Pregnant women should consult a healthcare provider before use.