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Calcite, Han Shui Shi 寒水石
Han Shui Shi (TCM)
Cong Zhi ཅོང་ཞི (Tibetan)
Cong Zhi ཅོང་ཞི (Tibetan)
Mineralogical name:
Calcitum
Various types and sources of 'Calcite' have been used. Some are related stones, for example, Red Gypsum is used for Calcite in North China and Limestone varieties may be also used. Tibetan Medicine recognises 5 distinct types of Calcite (Cong Zi):
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Pungent, Salty (TCM); Sweet (Tibetan Medicine)
PROPERTIES:
Crystal system: Trigonal
Color: colorless, white, grey, yellow-green
Streak: white
Cleavage: perfect, angle of 74°
Fracture: conchoidal
Lustre: vitreous to pearly
Tenacity: brittle
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Hardness: 3
Specific Gravity: 2.71
Constituents:
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) with admixture and trace minerals.
Classifications:
B. Clear Strong Heat or Fire
Calcitum
Various types and sources of 'Calcite' have been used. Some are related stones, for example, Red Gypsum is used for Calcite in North China and Limestone varieties may be also used. Tibetan Medicine recognises 5 distinct types of Calcite (Cong Zi):
- Male Calcite (Pho cong zhi): Best type; it is Hard, heavy and 'resembles broken pieces of Horse teeth'. this is Iceland Spar (transparent calcite). Used to eliminate Blood and Bile diseases, as well as Triple disease (diseases caused by imbalance of 3 Humors).
- Son Calcite (Bu cong zhi): Long white pieces, soft, springy and flexible; forms near Hot springs and is very effective when used in Elixirs. Used for Phlegm diseases and fractures of the Skull.
- Female Calcite (Mo cong zi): Brown, resembles a Cow udder. Found in the faults of rocks and is good for all diseases.
- Daughter Calcite (Bu mo cong zhi): Yellow stone with dirt formed on it. Found in rock faults, and it has a special unique effect when used as an Elixir; good for Kidney disease.
- Neuter Calcite (Ma ning cong zi): long pieces of yellow, red or white color with a flexible nature. It has a special nature and is one of the best medicines in the form of an Elixir. Given to either sex.
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Pungent, Salty (TCM); Sweet (Tibetan Medicine)
PROPERTIES:
Crystal system: Trigonal
Color: colorless, white, grey, yellow-green
Streak: white
Cleavage: perfect, angle of 74°
Fracture: conchoidal
Lustre: vitreous to pearly
Tenacity: brittle
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Hardness: 3
Specific Gravity: 2.71
Constituents:
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) with admixture and trace minerals.
Classifications:
B. Clear Strong Heat or Fire
Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Drains Fire:
-High Fever, Thirst, Irritability, big pulse and yellow tongue coat
-Blood Heat
-Fever, Chronic Fever, Poisoning, chronic Blood Disease (Tibetan Medicine)
-good for Febrile disease during the Summer
-Thirst associated with strong heat conditions
-strong heat of the Stomach and Intestines (Yang Ming)
-Headache, Toothache from Fire
-Headaches and Upper Body Pain from strong heat rising (Tibetan Medicine)
-'Hidden heat of the Five Viscera' (Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, Kidney) (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-Poisoning of Croton seed (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-Neutralizes side effects of Alchemical (mineral) drugs (Zhen Quan)
2. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Anuria, Dysuria
-distention in the lower abdomen
-obstruction and 'clumping' of the abdomen (TCM)
-Kidney disease and chronic Urinary disorders (Tibetan Medicine)
3. Externally:
-Burns, Scalds
-Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth, Gums and Throat
-Erysipelas
DOSE:
Powder: 500mg–1.5 grams;
Decoction: 10–15 grams, decocted for 30–45 minutes before adding herbs.
COMMENT:
Gypsum and Calcite were confused and intermixed, being classed of varieties of the same mineral. The similar use of these two medicines is seen in both TCM and Tibetan Medicine. Li Shi Zhen said in ancient formulas, Han Shui Shi was Calcite, but from the Tang and Song dynasties onwards Gypsum (Shi Gao) was used for Han Shui Shi.
SUBSTITUTE:
Gypsum
PREPARATION:
According to some traditional sources, the drug can be prepared by being heated with Ginger juice until dry. This moderates the hardshness and is better for weak digestion. (Lei Xiao)
Powder: 500mg–1.5 grams;
Decoction: 10–15 grams, decocted for 30–45 minutes before adding herbs.
COMMENT:
Gypsum and Calcite were confused and intermixed, being classed of varieties of the same mineral. The similar use of these two medicines is seen in both TCM and Tibetan Medicine. Li Shi Zhen said in ancient formulas, Han Shui Shi was Calcite, but from the Tang and Song dynasties onwards Gypsum (Shi Gao) was used for Han Shui Shi.
SUBSTITUTE:
Gypsum
PREPARATION:
According to some traditional sources, the drug can be prepared by being heated with Ginger juice until dry. This moderates the hardshness and is better for weak digestion. (Lei Xiao)
Main Combinations:
1. Strong Heat, High Fever:
i. Calcite is often combined with Gypsum (Shi Gao)
ii. High fever with Delirium, Calcite with Coptis Huang Lian
2. Asthma and Wheezing, Calcite and Gypsum are taken with Decoction of Ginseng (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
3. Epilepsy, Paralysis, Calcite with Rhubarb (Da Huang), Ginger (Gan Jiang), Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi), Fossil Bones (Long Gu) (as in Feng Yin Tang from Jin Gui Yao Lue [Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer])
4. Wind and Heat High Fever, Restlessness, Raving, Calcite with Tabasheer (Tian Zhu Huang), Licorice, Borneo Camphor (Bing Pian) (as in Long Nao Gan Lu Wan from Yao Seng Yuan Ji Yan Fang [Yao Seng-yuan’s Collection of effective recipes]),
5. Fever, Vomiting, Indigestion, Calcite with Chebulic Myrobalan, Safflower, Pomegranate, Cardamon, Ginger (as in Calcite 9 of Tibetan Medicine)
6. Difficulty Urinating, Gravel, Calcite with Talcum, Mallow seed (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
7. Poor appetite and Indigestion, Calcite with Pomegranate, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Emblic Myrobalan, Inula root, Ginger (as in Calcite 11, Tibetan Medicine)
8. Poisoning and Fever, Calcite with Nutmeg, Clove, Safflower, Greater and Lesser Cardamon, Tabasheer, Sandalwood, Swertia, Chebulic Myrobalan (as in Calcite 20, Tibetan Medicine)
9. Burns, Scalds, Calcite with Calamine topically
10. Bleeding Gums, Calcite, Cinnabar, Licorice, Camphor topically (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
11. Erysipelas, Calcite, White Clay and Vinegar, topically (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
Major Formulas:
Calcite 6 Powder (Tibetan Medicine)
Calcite 9
Calcite 20
Pacific 6 (Zhi byed drug pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Pacific 11 (Zhi byed bcu gcig) (Tibetan Medicine)
Golden Pacific (Zhi gser) (Tibetan Medicine)
Balancing Comforter (Bde byed snyoms) (Tibetan Medicine)
Zi Xue Dan
Cautions:
Very cold, so not suitable for cases with Cold and weak Stomach.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Considered incompatible with Burnet (Sanguisorba, Di Yu).
Main Preparations used:
Very cold, so not suitable for cases with Cold and weak Stomach.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Considered incompatible with Burnet (Sanguisorba, Di Yu).
Main Preparations used: