Gypsum (Shigao)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Gypsum Fibrosum |
| Botanical Name: | Calcium sulphate |
| Common Name: | Gypsum |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The mineral is ground into powder. |
| Properties and Taste: | Sweet, pungent and very cold |
| Meridian: | Lung and stomach |
| Functions: | To clear heat and sedate fire To relieve irritability and thirst |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Excessive heat at the qi level due to invasion by exogenous pathogenic heat manifested as high fever, irritability, thirst, profuse sweating and surging, rapid and forceful pulse. *Use with Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu) in the formula Baihu Tang. 2. Excessive heat at the qi level and blood levels due to invasion by exogenous pathogenic heat manifested as continual high fever and maculopapule. *Use with Scrophularia (Xuanshen) and Rhinoceros horn (Xijiao). 3. Cough and asthma caused by heat in the lungs manifested as cough and asthma accompanied by fever, thirst and desire to drink. *Use with Ephedra (Mahuang) and Apricot seed (Xingren) in the formula Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang. 4. Flaring up of stomach fire manifested as toothache, swollen and painful gums and headache. *Use with Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang) and Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu) in the formula Yunu Jian. 5. Eczema, burns and abscess. *Use with natural indigo (Qingdai) and Phellodendron bark (Huangbai). |
| Dosage: | 15-60 g |
| Cautions: | This herb should not be used in cases with a weak stomach. |