Skip to content
Cura x Cura

Shi Gao石膏

Gypsum Fibrosum · Gypsum

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《神农本草经》

Overview

A mineral — hydrated calcium sulfate — and the reference herb for blazing heat in the qi level. Acrid, sweet and very cold, it drains fire while its acrid quality still lets the heat vent outward, which is why it suits high fever with heavy sweating, great thirst and a large surging pulse rather than heat that has already sunk into the blood. It is the chief of Bai Hu Tang and, with Ma Huang, of Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang. Raw gypsum is used internally; the calcined form Shi Gao is a different medicine, applied externally to weeping sores and burns and not taken by mouth.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, acrid · Very cold

Channels

Lung · Stomach

Typical Dosage

15–60 g in decoction
石膏Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

5 core actions

  • Clears heat, drains fireQi-level heat: high fever, profuse sweating, great thirst for cold drinks, irritability, a surging pulse.
  • Relieves irritability and thirstRestlessness and unquenchable thirst during or after a febrile illness, with a dry yellow tongue coat.
  • Clears Lung heatCough and wheezing with thick yellow sputum and fever, where the Lung is hot and the breath is short.
  • Clears Stomach fireToothache, swollen bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and frontal headache from fire in the Stomach channel.
  • Astringes damp sores (calcined, external only)Calcined gypsum is powdered for external use on weeping eczema, burns and slow-healing ulcers. This form is for topical application only.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Shi Gao

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • High fever with heavy sweating, great thirst and a surging pulse
    - Restlessness and thirst in the course of a febrile illness
    - Lung heat with cough, wheezing and thick yellow sputum
    - Toothache, swollen gums and mouth ulcers from Stomach fire
    - Weeping sores and burns (calcined form, externally)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

High feverPneumoniaBronchitisToothacheGingivitis

Contraindications

Cautions

Very cold and heavy: not for fever arising from yin deficiency, and contraindicated in Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold with poor appetite and loose stools. It must be crushed and decocted before the other ingredients. Large doses belong strictly to short courses under a practitioner, and the calcined form must never be taken internally.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution during pregnancy — its very cold nature means it is given only for a clear heat pattern and only under practitioner supervision.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.