Chinese herbal medicine’s new life
What are the characteristics of Shi Gao (Gypsum)? Why is it often used with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae rhizoma)? What are the differences between their actions?
Shi Gao is the most important substance to clear internal Heat, especially Heat in the Qi level. As it is a mineral substance and is heavy in weight, it is considered to have a descending tendency. It is pungent, sweet, and very cold, and enters the Lung and Stomach meridians.
Shi Gao can clear Heat in these meridians and organs directly and strongly. It is often used to treat Heat in the Lung when the patient has a high fever, thirst, irritability, shortness of breath, profuse sweating, a very red tongue anda forceful, rapid pulse. This syndrome can be found in pneumonia, acute bronchitis or some infectious childhood diseases. It can also be used in headache and toothache in the region where the Stomach meridian passes through.
Shi Gao can quickly and directly clear Heat in the Stomach; it also powerfully clears Heat in the other parts of the body. It is used in acute infectious disease, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, epidemic encephalitis B, measles, and scarlet fever in children. It can also be used for disorders such as asthma, cerebrovascular accident when the Heat has spread through the Lung, Heart, Liver, Stomach and Large Intestine meridians.
Shi Gao can also be applied to clear Heat in the other organs and meridians. It is especially used when the Heat is so strong that it covers many meridians and organs. The Stomach meridian is the Bright Yang meridian where there is an abundance of Yang and Heat. That is because the Stomach is responsible for receiving, ‘ripening’, digesting and transporting food. The whole process produces a large amount of heat; therefore the organ and meridians are called the ‘Sea of Yang and Heat’. Moreover, the Stomach meridian connects with many other meridians; if Heat has spread through the whole body, then clearing Heat in the Bright Yang meridian may reduce Heat in the other meridians. This is a clearing-Heat strategy.
Shi Gao has another feature compared with the other herbs which clear Excessive-Heat. Most of those herbs are bitter and cold. Because bitterness has the tendency to move downwards, and Cold, of course, can clear Heat, they can quickly and strongly clear Heat and reduce Fire in the right situation. But these herbs cannot be used for a long period of time; with a high dosage or long period of time of usage, the bitter-cold herbs may cause a hidden Heat syndrome, which is a common side-effect of bitter-cold herbs. Moreover, bitterness possesses a drying property, so may injure the Yin of the body, which has already been injured by Excessive-Heat. Bitter and cold substances may injure the Stomach-Qi and Yang and disturb the digestion, especially in patients with weakness in the Middle Jiao.
Shi Gao has a strong point compared with these herbs: it is very cold, but sweet. The combination of cold and sweetness may generate the Body Fluids and benefit the Yin of the body. Shi Gao can strongly clear Heat, but without the side-effect of injuring the Stomach-Yang. Moreover, Shi Gao also has a pungent property, so it not only clears Heat and reduces Fire but also disperses the Heat. This feature is closer to theascending nature of Fire so that it does not because constrained Fire or hidden Heat. In addition, the pungent property of Shi Gao can vent Heat from the Qi level to the Defensive level in acute febrile diseases and is more effective for Excess conditions.
Zhi Mu is bitter and cold and enters the Lung, Stomach, and Kidney meridians. Although it is cold and bitter, it is moist in nature. This is the difference from the other herbs that are bitter, cold and with drying properties. It can clear Heat, reduce Fire, moisten the Dryness, and generate Yin. Because it can generate the Kidney-Yin, it is particularly used for Heat in the Qi, Nutritive and Blood levels. Shi Gao and Zhi Mu are often used together, as this enhances the effect of clearing Heat.
