Individual Herbs Notebook

Shi Gao

Translation: Stone Ointment

Pharmaceutical: Gypsum Fibrosum / Calcium Sulphate
Chemical Formula(e): CaSO4

Other names: Gypsum / Plaster of Paris / Godanti गोदन्ती / Jibs جبس

Category: Herbs that Clear Heat



Properties: Pungent, sweet, cold

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung and Stomach


Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Clears Heat in the Qi Stage, drains Fire, relieves irritability and quenches thirst
    Heat in the Qi Stage or Yangming Heat with high fever, no chills, irritability, intense thirst, profuse sweating, restlessness, encephalitis, a flooding, big pulse and a red tongue with a yellow coat
  2. Clears Excess Heat from the Lungs
    Lung Heat with cough, wheezing, fever and a thick viscous sputum
  3. Clears Blazing Stomach Fire
    Stomach Fire with headache, toothache or swollen gums
  4. Heals eczema, burns and ulcerated sores and wounds
    Sores and wounds (topically or internally)

Suggested Daily Dosage: 15-60g in decoction.


Cautions: Mineral products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only.

Conventional replacements include Huang Lian and Zhi Mu but its actions are difficult to substitute in many cases and the patient may have to rely on OTC mineral based antacids from the pharmacy such as sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate which have a similar effect of binding and neutralising the stomach acid, then using herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment. Another possibility would be to use sodium alginate that is often found in antacid medications and extracted from seaweed.


Interactions:


Notable Constituents:
Appears in 73 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)