Hai Jin Sha (海金沙) — Japanese Climbing Fern Spore
Hai Jin Sha is a specific Chinese herb for stone-type Lin (urinary calculi) — the fine golden-brown spore powder passes readily through fine urinary passages and helps expel stones. Often used with Jin Qian Cao in urinary lithiasis.
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Dosage
- Cautions and incompatibilities
- Key formulas
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Hai Jin Sha (海金沙) — Japanese Climbing Fern Spore (Lygodium japonicum (spore)) — is a Chinese herb in the Drain Dampness category. I prescribe it as part of bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granule formulas from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Hai Jin Sha |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 海金沙 |
| Latin name | Lygodium japonicum (spore) |
| English name | Japanese Climbing Fern Spore |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels entered | Small Intestine, Bladder |
| Category | Drain Dampness |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Promotes urination and expels stones
- Clears Damp-Heat
Indications
- Urinary calculi (stones)
- Damp-Heat painful urination
- Haematuria of urinary origin
4. Dosage
6–15g (decocted in a bag)
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
- Not a substitute for surgical management of large stones
- Contraindicated in Kidney Yin deficiency
6. Key formulas
Hai Jin Sha is used in a range of bespoke prescriptions rather than a fixed classical formula in modern practice. Consult a qualified TCM herbalist for individual prescription.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Hai Jin Sha where its indications and TCM pattern match the patient’s presentation, always as part of a tailored formula. Return to the Chinese herbs directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
