Spirifer Fossil Shell
- Chinese
- 石燕
- Pinyin
- Shi Yan
- Latin
- Fossilia Spiriferis
Known in TCM as Shi Yan (石燕), this salty, cool herb enters the Kidney and Bladder. Traditionally, it clears damp-heat and promotes urination ... Shi Yan is used in older materia medica for difficult urination, hot strangury, sand-like urine, and lower-burner damp-heat, most often applied for urolithiasis, urinary tract infection, and leukorrhea.
Part used: Fossil bone
Also Known As
Latin: Fossilia Spiriferis | Pinyin: Shi Yan | Chinese: 石燕
TCM Properties
- Taste
- salty
- Temperature
- cool
- Channels
- Kidney, Bladder
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Clears damp-heat and promotes urination ... Shi Yan is used in older materia medica for difficult urination, hot strangury, sand-like urine, and lower-burner damp-heat.
- Helps stone and gravel-type urinary obstruction ... the fossil shell is grouped with other downward-directing, stone-focused materials.
- Appears in older internal and external traditions for leukorrhea, hemorrhoidal bleeding, and superficial clouding of the eye.
Secondary Actions
- This fossil-shell page must stay distinct from the already-live medicinal-salt `Shi Yan` record and from the calming fossil-mineral pages such as dragon bone.
- The record is primarily documentary because modern indexed research on Fossilia Spiriferis is extremely sparse.
Classic Formulas
- Stone-strangury pairings with Hai Jin Sha and Hua Shi ... the main traditional urinary lane.
- Lower-burner damp-heat combinations for leukorrhea and painful urination ... practical materia medica use more than famous named formulas.
- External eye-powder or wash traditions for superficial opacity ... an old but now uncommon use.
Classical References
- Traditional summaries describe Shi Yan as a cool salty fossil shell entering the Kidney and Bladder to clear damp-heat and facilitate urination.
- Older texts also record external ophthalmic use, which helps explain why the herb was remembered for both urinary and eye indications.
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Weak patients without damp-heat or strangury patterns
- Unverified fossil-mineral sourcing
Cautions
- Direct modern research is limited, so this page is chiefly historical and materia-medica documentary.
- As with other fossil-mineral medicinals, purity and source verification matter more than with ordinary culinary herbs.
Conditions
- Urolithiasis Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
- Urinary Tract Infection Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
- Leukorrhea Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
- Hemorrhoids Traditional ★☆☆☆☆ JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spirifer Fossil Shell used for?
Spirifer Fossil Shell is traditionally used to Clears damp-heat and promotes urination ... Shi Yan is used in older materia medica for difficult urination, hot strangury, sand-like urine, and lower-burner damp-heat., Helps stone and gravel-type urinary obstruction ... the fossil shell is grouped with other downward-directing, stone-focused materials., Appears in older internal and external traditions for leukorrhea, hemorrhoidal bleeding, and superficial clouding of the eye..
What are other names for Spirifer Fossil Shell?
Spirifer Fossil Shell is also known as Spiriferida Fossil, Spirifer's fossil shell, Spiriferis. In TCM: 石燕 (Shi Yan); Fossilia Spiriferis.
Is Spirifer Fossil Shell safe during pregnancy?
Spirifer Fossil Shell is not recommended during pregnancy.
What are the contraindications for Spirifer Fossil Shell?
Spirifer Fossil Shell should not be used in: Pregnancy; Weak patients without damp-heat or strangury patterns; Unverified fossil-mineral sourcing. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.