Gypsum is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and relieving fire. It can relax muscles, clear heat, and relieve thirst. It is not recommended for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, blood deficiency, and yin deficiency with fever.
[Introduction to Gypsum]
Gypsum is a sulfated mineral gypsum of the sulfate mineral Gypsum family. It mainly contains hydrated calcium sulfate and is widely distributed throughout the country. It is mainly produced in Hubei, Gansu, and Sichuan, with the best quality from Hubei and Anhui.
The nature, function and indication of gypsum in traditional Chinese medicine: The nature of gypsum is pungent and sweet, extremely cold. It belongs to the lung and stomach meridians. The function of gypsum is to clear heat and relieve fire, and to relieve restlessness and quench thirst. It is used for high fever and restlessness in warm diseases, lung heat with cough and asthma, stomach fire causing headache, and swollen and painful gums. It can also be used for long-lasting ulcers, eczema, and burns.
[Effects of Gypsum]
1. Anti-inflammatory effect
2. Analgesic effect
3. Sedative effect
4. Antipyretic effect
[Usage and Dosage of Gypsum]
It is not suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold and yin deficiency with fever. Gypsum has a strong cold nature and can easily damage the spleen and stomach yang qi, so it should be used with caution in those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold. The dosage of raw gypsum is 15-60 grams, and it is recommended to crush it and decoct it first. For external use, appropriate amount of calcined gypsum should be ground into powder and applied to the affected area.
