State/School

California License Exam, Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Gypsum fibrosum

Common Name

Gypsum

Category

Clear Heat Drain Fire

Ingredients

Taste

Sweet, Acrid

Pao Zhi

Calcined to make it less cold and dispersing, it enhances its ability to restrain and generate flesh. Often used as an external powder for eczema, scalding and erupted sores or wounds that fail to heal.

Temperature

Very Cold

Action / Indication

1. Clears heat and drains fire: for high fever without chills, irritability, intense thirst, profuse sweating, a big flooding pulse, and a red tongue with yellow coat.
2. Clears heat from excess from lungs: for cough and wheezing with fever and thick, viscous sputum
3. Clears blazing Stomach fire: for headache, toothache and swelling gums due to blazing Stomach fire
4. For eczema, burns, and ulcerated sores: usually applied topically in powdered form after being calcined and mixed with other herbs. May also be taken internally for these conditions. 

Treatment Principles

Clears Qi-Level Heat
Drains Fire
Clears Lung Heat
Clears Stomach Fire
Heals the Skin

Contraindication

Qi, yin, or yang deficiency, and Stomach cold. For short-term use only.

Dosages

20-60g, crushed and precooked 30 minutes. May use up to 100g for very high fevers. As a powder use 6-15g. Use calcined for topical application.

Meridians

LU, ST

Tom's Comment

1. Shi Gao is very cold and can clear heat in Stomach and Lung. However, precaution should be used in patients that have a weak stomach because of its cold and hard to digest nature.
2. Shi Gao is often used externally to clear heat and swelling from trauma.

Source

Formula Type