Shi Gao (Gypsum) - Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Name: Shi Gao
English Name: Gypsum

Clinical Usage and Indications

  • The most important herb to clear internal heat, especially in the qi and yang ming levels.
  • Clears heat, drains fire (heavy, descending) - high fever with no chills, excessive thirst, sweating, flooding and big pulse (the "4 bigs"), irritability, red tongue with yellow coat.
  • Clears excess lung heat - cough, wheezing, fever, thick yellow sputum.
  • Clears blazing stomach fire - headache, toothache, painful and swollen gums.
  • Topically for eczema, burns, ulcerated sores; may also be taken internally.

Functional Groups (Click for Summary/Study Notes)

Dosage and Preparation Notes

  • Dosage: 9-30g
  • Up to 90g for very high fevers
  • Break up and cook 30 minutes before adding other herbs

Channels/Meridians Influenced

Associated Temperature and Taste

Cautions and Contraindications

  • Avoid in patients with a weak stomach, weak pulse, and yang deficiency.
  • Avoid in cases with heat from yin deficiency.

Staff Clinician Notes

  • Unlike other bitter-cold herbs that clear heat (not for long periods, hidden heat syndromes, injure yin (bitterness) and stomach), Shi Gao is bitter and sweet - benefits yin, clears heat without hurting the stomach.
  • When the calcined form is used it is for burns, eczema, abscesses, and nonhealing ulcers.
  • Many texts do not require Shi Gao to be cooked longer - this seems to be the right way, however, according to research and experience.

Herbal Formulas Which Include This Herb

Below you will find Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas which contain this particular herb (in alphabetical order). You may click on the name of the formula for more details or click on any of the products from our store to read usage information or purchase a particular formula.

  • Xiao Feng Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Itchy and red skin lesions, possibly with weeping, comprising such conditions as psoriasis, eczema, acne, dermatitis, etc.

    The Pulse will generally be forceful, floating and rapid and the Tongue will have a yellow or white tongue coating.


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