Meng Shi
English Name: (lapis) mica, chlorite
Pharmaceutical Name: Lapis Micae seu Chloriti
Medica Category: Phlegm-Resolving Herbs
Properties: Meng Shi enters the Lung and Liver channels; it is salty and sweet in nature and neutral in temperature.
What is Meng Shi?:
The Chinese Herb Meng Shi is the mineral mica or chlorite, both of which are strong and heavy in nature and have a long tradition of use in TCM to go deep down into the body to “clear the root of phlegm”. The mineral can be decocted or ground into powder for use as medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Meng Shi:
Meng Shi dissolves stubborn accumulations of phlegm and has a descending action that redirects abnormally rising Lung and Liver qi. In the Lung, this makes Meng Shi a good assistant to help treat cough and wheezing with sticky, clumpy phlegm that is difficult to expectorate.
In the Liver, hot-phlegm accumulations lead to a condition referred to as “phlegm misting the orifices”. This condition is characterized by seizures, chronic convulsions, severe palpitations, high fever, and possibly unconsciousness; Meng Shi is used in TCM to address these distressed states.
–safety notes:
Contraindicated during pregnancy
Contraindicated for use in children.
Contraindicated for persons with weak digestion.
Contraindicated for use with person with significant qi and blood deficiency (e.g. many elderly people).