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Calcite, Han Shui Shi 寒水石

Han Shui Shi  (TCM)
Cong Zhi  ཅོང་ཞི  (Tibetan)
Calcite crystal
(Photo by Slim Sepp)
Mineralogical name:
Calcitum
Five types of Calcite are recognised in Tibetan Medicine:
  1. Male (Pho cong zi); best; this is Iceland Spar (transparent calcite)
  2. Female (Mo cong zi)
  3. Neuter (Ma ning cong zi),
  4. Son (Bu cong zi)
  5. Daughter (Bu mo cong zi)
Limestone is often referenced for Cong zi. Both Calcite and Limestone are composed of Calcium carbonate, so it is possible that some of the Cong zi varieties listed above are related minerals other than Calcite.

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)

Classifications:
B. Clear Strong Heat or Fire

Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Drains Fire:
-used for high fever, thirst, irritability, big pulse and yellow tongue coat
-good for Febrile disease during the Summer
-Thirst associated with strong heat conditions
-strong heat of the Stomach and Intestines (Yang Ming)
-Fever, Chronic Fever, Poisoning, chronic Blood Disease (Tibetan Medicine)
-Headaches and Upper Body Pain from strong heat rising (Tibetan Medicine)

2. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Anuria
-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:
Of the Powder: 500mg–1.5 grams;
In Decoction: 10–15 grams

SUBSTITUTE:
Gypsum. Gypsum and Calcite were confused and intermixed, being classed of varieties of the same mineral. Their use is very similar.

NOTE:
Various types and sources of 'Calcite' have been used. Some are related stones, for example, Red Gypsum is used for Calcite in North China. Likewise, Tibetan Medicine recognises 5 distinct types of Calcite:
  • a) Male Calcite: Hard, heavy and resembles broken pieces of Horse teeth. Used to eliminate Blood and Bile diseases, as well as Triple disease (diseases caused by imbalance of 3 Humors).
  • b) Boy Calcite: 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.
  • c) Female Calcite: Brown, resembles a Cow udder. Found in the faults of rocks and is good for all diseases.
  • d) Girl Calcite: 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.
  • e) Neuter Calcite: 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.

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, Caradmon, Ginger (as in Calcite  9 of Tibetan Medicine)
6. Difficulty Urinating, Gravel, Calcite with Talcum (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 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.

Main Preparations used: