☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind, dredges the channels and tonifies the Kidneys
Traditional Chinese Uses
Shi Nan Ye (Folium Photiniae) is the dried leaf of Photinia serratifolia, classed among the Wind-extinguishing/Wind-dispelling herbs. Pungent, bitter and neutral (with slight toxicity), it enters the Liver and Kidney channels to dispel Wind, dredge the channels and collaterals, and tonify the Kidneys. This dual action makes it useful where Wind-Damp obstruction coincides with underlying Kidney deficiency.
Classic indications include Wind-Damp painful obstruction (bi syndrome) with rheumatic joint pain and weakness or soreness of the low back and knees, Wind-type headache and migraine, and itchy Wind rashes such as rubella. Owing to its Kidney-warming aspect it is also traditionally given for impotence and spermatorrhea. It is decocted 6-12 g or used in pill/powder form. Because it is warming and drying to Wind, it is contraindicated in Yin deficiency with effulgent fire.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Shi Nan Ye (石楠叶) is the dried leaf of Photinia serratifolia (Desf.) Kalkman (synonym Photinia serrulata Lindl.), an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Rosaceae reaching 4–12 m, widely distributed across central and southern China and cultivated as an ornamental for its brilliant red young growth. The leathery, oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate leaves measure 9–22 cm long with finely sharp-serrate margins and a prominent midrib; mature leaves are glossy dark green above and paler beneath. Flat-topped corymbs of small white five-petaled flowers in spring give rise to small globose red pomes. The dried leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides (notably prunasin) and are historically regarded as mildly toxic in excess; medicinal use is principally for wind-damp painful obstruction, lumbar weakness, and headache, with careful dosing.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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