石韦 / 石苇 / 金星草 — Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farw.

Pinyin: Shíwéi / Jīnxīngcǎo · Malay: Paku Duit-duit / Paku Usik · Family: Polypodiaceae (水龙骨科)

Energetics

Slightly Cold (微寒)

Flavor

Bitter, sweet (苦、甘)

Meridians

Lung (肺), Urinary Bladder (膀胱)

Traditional Edict

Clears damp-heat, unblocks strangury, cools blood to stop bleeding, clears Lung-heat to calm coughing. For acute stone strangury, bloody urine (Xue Lin), nephritis, and yellow heat cough.

Cautions & Contraindications

Ensure stellate hairs are brushed away. Contraindicated in Yin deficiency and cold incontinence without burning pain.

Clinical Applications

Acute UTIs (E. coli cystitis), nephrolithiasis, chronic glomerulonephritis, microscopic/gross hematuria, and chronic asthmatic bronchitis.

Quality Markers

Mangiferin (芒果苷) >= 0.50% & Chlorogenic Acid (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

Mechanism & Phytochemistry

1. Mangiferin inhibits uropathogenic E. coli fimbrial adhesion to bladder uroepithelium and suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome. 2. Caffeic acid and bioflavonoids strengthen glomerular capillary permeability, halting hematuria. 3. Bronchospasmolytic leukotriene downregulation.

Preparation & Dosage

CRITICAL PAOZHI: Dried leaves MUST be brushed or rinsed to remove abaxial brown stellate hairs (Shua Qu Rong Mao / 刷去绒毛) before boiling to prevent throat coughing. Decoct: 6-12 g (up to 30 g).

Appended Prescriptions

1. Shi Wei San (石韦散) with Lygodium japonicum and Plantago asiatica for acute painful bloody strangury. 2. Hematuria Recovery Formula with Cephalanoplos segetum (Xiao Ji) and Achyranthes.

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Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only