Hǎi Jīn Shā (海金沙), known in English as Japanese climbing fern spore (Lygodium japonicum (spore)), is a cold, sweet and bland Chinese herb from the Drain damp category. It enters the Bladder and Small Intestine channels. Its main action: promotes urination, expels stones.
| Pinyin | Hǎi Jīn Shā (Hai Jin Sha) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 海金沙 |
| English | Japanese climbing fern spore |
| Botanical name | Lygodium japonicum (spore) |
| Category | Drain damp |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bland |
| Channels | Bladder, Small Intestine |
| Dosage | 6–15g (wrap when decocting) |
| Cautions | Kidney deficiency without Damp-Heat |
Actions
- Promotes urination, expels stones
- Clears Damp-Heat from Lower Jiao
Indications
- Urinary stones
- Hot dysuria
- Oedema from Damp-Heat
How to remember Hǎi Jīn Shā
Drain damp herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Bladder channel.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Sweet: like most Drain damp herbs
- Bladder and Small Intestine channels: from its action “Promotes urination”
- Learn by heart
- Bland: unusual for Drain damp herbs (most are sweet)
Other Drain damp herbs
- Fú Líng
- Yì Yǐ Rén
- Zé Xiè
- Mù Tōng
- Huá Shí
- Chē Qián Zǐ
- Qú Mài
- Bì Xiè
- Yīn Chén Hāo
- Jīn Qián Cǎo
- Zhū Líng
- Dēng Xīn Cǎo
- Tōng Cǎo
- Biǎn Xù
- Shí Wéi
- Dōng Kuí Zǐ
- Dì Fū Zǐ
- Dōng Guā Zǐ
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Hǎi Jīn Shā?
Hǎi Jīn Shā is cold and sweet and bland.
Which channels does Hǎi Jīn Shā enter?
Hǎi Jīn Shā enters the Bladder and Small Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Hǎi Jīn Shā?
Promotes urination, expels stones; Clears Damp-Heat from Lower Jiao.
What is Hǎi Jīn Shā used for?
Urinary stones; hot dysuria; oedema from Damp-Heat.
Practise Hǎi Jīn Shā and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.