The source is from the mature spore of the perennial climbing fern, Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) sw., family Lygodiaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Guangdong, Zhejiang, etc., collected in autumn, dried in the sun and the crude one is used.

Medicinal Properties: Sweet in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the bladder and small intestine meridians.

Action: Induce diuresis to treat stranguria

Application
1. It can be used to treat various syndromes of stranguria and especially is a main medicine for treating stranguria caused by urinary stones. For stranguria of heat type, it can be combined with Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis) and Jinqiancao (Herba Lysimachiae); for that complicated by hematuria, used together with Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), Hupo (Succinum) and Xiaoji (Herba Cephalanoploris); for that caused by urinary stones, used together with Jineijin (Endotholium Corneum Gigeriae Galli) and Jinqiancao (Herba Lysimachiae).
2. For dysuria and edema, it is usually used together with Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis), Zhuling (Polyporus), Fangji (Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae), and Mutong (Caulis Akebiae), etc..

Usage and Dosage:
6 - 15 g is used in decoction for oral use, wrapped with gauze and then put in decoction to be decocted.