Han Shui Shi
StarCalcite (CaCO₃) or Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O)
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Drains Fire; Eliminates Irritability and Relieves Thirst; Opens the Water Pathways; Reduces Swelling; Cools the Blood and directs Fire downward
Traditional Chinese Uses
Han Shui Shi (cold water stone, glauberite or calcite) is a cold, spicy mineral substance used in Chinese medicine to clear intense Heat and reduce fever. It is applied for conditions of excess Heat — including high fever with delirium, raging thirst, and burning painful urination — and is used topically for burns, scalds, and Heat-type skin conditions. Its cold, penetrating nature makes it appropriate for emergency heat-clearing applications.
Botanical Description
Han Shui Shi is not a plant but a mineral material, in TCM materia medica corresponding to either calcite (calcium carbonate, CaCO3, the so-called northern Han Shui Shi) or gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate, CaSO4 dot 2H2O, the southern variant). Calcite occurs as colorless, white, or pale-tinted rhombohedral crystals or massive aggregates with vitreous luster, hardness 3 on the Mohs scale, perfect rhombohedral cleavage, and effervescence in dilute acid. Gypsum forms soft, white to colorless, fibrous, granular, or tabular crystalline masses with hardness 2 and one perfect cleavage. Both minerals are sedimentary, forming in marine evaporite beds, hot-spring deposits, and cave systems. The trade material is a heavy, cold-to-the-touch mineral lump or powder (Wikipedia; NCBI).
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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