Introduction of Shi Gao:Gypsum or Gypsum Fibrosum.
✵The article gives records of the herb Gypsum, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its mineral source 1 kind of mineral, ①.gypsum, with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this kind mineral, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this kind mineral, the features of the herb Gypsum, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Gypsum Fibrosum(Gypsum).
Pin Yin Name: Shí Gāo.
English Name: Gypsum.
Latin Name: Gypsum Fibrosum.
Property and flavor: cold, pungent, sweet.
Brief introduction: The herb Gypsum Fibrosum is a soft mineral chiefly composed of hydrated calcium sulfate (CaSO42H2O), used to clear heat and purge fire for relieving (1).high fever with fidgetiness and thirst in cases of warm diseases.(2).heat in the lung with cough and dyspnea, and (3).heat in the stomach with toothache and painful swelling of the gums, and also externally to promote the healing of wounds and ulcers. The herb is commonly known as Gypsum Fibrosum, Gypsum, Shí Gāo.
Mineral source: The herb Gypsum Fibrosum (Gypsum) is sulphate gypsumite mineral gypsum. It is also known as Gypsum, Shí Gāo. This commonly used mineral is introduced:
(1).Gypsum.
Mineral description: Gypsum mineral crystal structure is a monoclinic system. Intact crystals are often plate-like, prismatical and are often swallow-tailed twin crystals. Aggregation is often lumpy, flakiness, fibrous or powdery. Crystal is colorless and transparent, or white and translucent, when the composition is not pure and contains impurities, its colors are ash gray (gray-white), pale red (pinky or light red), pale yellow, etc. Glassy luster, the cleavage surface has pearly luster, the fibrous assembly has a silky luster. The hardness is 1.5 to 2, its relative density is 2.3~2.37. Cleavage thin sheet has flexibleness.
Ecological environment: The gypsum mineral often occurs in sedimentary rocks formed by gulf salt lakes and inland lakes. It is distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Zhujiang River area, southwest, northwest, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: Gypsum is a fibrous aggregate. It is a long block, plate, or irregular block. The color is white, off-white, or yellowish (light yellow); the striation is white, and some are translucent. The upper surface and undersurface are relatively flat, without texture and luster; the vertical surface usually has a vertical fibrous texture, has a sericeous (silk-like) luster. The herb is heavy, the texture of the herb is soft, and nails scratch can leave marks. The herb has a slight smell and a mild taste. The herb of a better grade has a large block, white, fibrous vertical surface, luster, loose, and no miscellaneous stones.
Pharmacological actions: ①.antipyretic effect; ②.enhance the phagocytic ability of rabbit alveolar macrophages against Staphylococcus albicans and colloidal gold, and promote the maturation of phagocytic cells; ③.shorten clotting time; ④.promote bile excretion; ⑤.have diuresis and hypoglycemia effect, etc.
Medicinal efficacy: The raw herb is used for relieving heat and fire, relieving restlessness and relieving thirst. It is indicated for exogenous febrile disease, high fever and polydipsia, lung heat and asthma, hyperpyrexia of the stomach, toothache and headache. The calcined gypsum can reduce dampness, promote tissue regeneration, collect sores, stop bleeding, treat ulcers without collecting, eczema pruritus, water and fire scald, traumatic bleeding.
Administration of Gypsum Fibrosum (Shí Gāo):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Gypsum Fibrosum (Shí Gāo)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 15~60 grams,decocted earlier (decocted about 15~20 minutes earlier than other herbs); ②.Internally:water decoction, 0.3~1 liang (about 9~30 grams), big dosage could be up to 6~8 liang (about 180~240 grams), or prepare to pill,powder.Externally:calcined and prepare to finely ground herb powder,or apply stick; ③.Internally:water decoction, 0.3~1 liang (about 9~30 grams), big dosage could be up to 6~8 liang (about 180~240 grams), or prepare to pill,powder.Externally:calcined and prepare to finely ground herb powder,or apply stick.
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References:
1.Introduction of Shi Gao:Gypsum or Gypsum Fibrosum.