About han shui shi

Han Shui Shi (寒水石) is a mineral, recorded as Glauberitum and given in English as calcite. It is acrid and salty in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Heart, Stomach and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that drain Fire. Its Chinese name reads as cold water stone.

Pinyin

han shui shi

Chinese

寒水石

Latin Name

Glauberitum

English Name

Calcitum

Japanese

kansuiseki

Korean

hansuseok

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and drains Fire at the Yang Ming stage or Qi level

Yang Ming or Qi-level Heat with a high fever, a yellow coat on the tongue, thirst and irritability

Clears Summerheat

Summerheat with the same high fever, thirst and irritability

Clears Heat and toxicity; used externally for burns and sores

Burns, scalds and inflamed sores, dusted with the powder
Red, inflamed eyes from Wind-Heat, applied topically
Swollen tonsils, a sore throat or ulcers in the mouth

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Edema, and absence of urine

Directs Fire downward and softens hardness

Painful swelling of the throat or gums
Clumping in the abdomen

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any

9-30 g

—

Cautions

contraindication Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach

contraindication Absence of real Heat

pregnancy Pregnancy: only under practitioner supervision

caution A cold, heavy mineral for brief use in acute Excess, not for long periods

caution Several different minerals have gone by this name; use a supplier able to identify exactly which one it is

Interactions

Drug interactions

Levothyroxine, iron preparations, bisphosphonates, and quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics: as calcium carbonate it can bind them in the gut and lower absorption, and raising stomach pH affects acid-dependent drugs; separate doses (a property of the chemical, not studied for this herb)

han shui shi

About han shui shi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and drains Fire at the Yang Ming stage or Qi level

Clears Summerheat

Clears Heat and toxicity; used externally for burns and sores

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Directs Fire downward and softens hardness

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

About han shui shi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and drains Fire at the Yang Ming stage or Qi level

Clears Summerheat

Clears Heat and toxicity; used externally for burns and sores

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Directs Fire downward and softens hardness

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 1 formula