Gypsum is a mineral containing calcium sulfate. When used as a medicine, it has the effects of clearing heat and purging fire, and relieving restlessness and quenching thirst. When calcined, it has the effects of healing wounds, reducing dampness, and stopping bleeding. However, there are many precautions that need to be taken into account when using gypsum as a medicine.
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【Efficacy and Effects of Gypsum】
1. Clearing heat and purging fire
Gypsum is used for lung heat cough and asthma. When there is excessive heat in the lungs, resulting in high fever, cough, shortness of breath, nasal flaring, and thirst, gypsum can be used to clear lung heat, combined with ephedra, apricot kernel, and other lung-ventilating, cough-relieving, asthma-relieving herbs (such as Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang).
2. Quenching thirst and generating body fluids
The decoction of raw gypsum can significantly reduce the water intake of dehydrated rats, indicating that raw gypsum has a remarkable thirst-quenching and fluid-generating effect.
3. Coagulating blood and stopping bleeding
The clear liquid from gypsum can promote blood coagulation and shorten clotting time, therefore has a hemostatic effect.
4. Constricting and healing wounds
Gypsum is used for eczema, scalds, ulcers that do not heal, and wounds that do not close for a long time. When gypsum powder is applied externally, it has the effects of clearing heat, constricting, and healing wounds. It is often used in combination with sheng dan, huang bai, qing dai, and other herbs.
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【Identification and Application of Gypsum】
1. Raw gypsum
Usually taken orally, it is mainly used for clearing heat and purging fire, and relieving restlessness and quenching thirst. It is suitable for external heat syndrome, high fever and thirst, lung heat cough and asthma, and excessive stomach fire. Calcined gypsum is suitable for external use, for dampness, wounds that do not heal, eczema itching, scalds, and bleeding from wounds.
2. Cold water stone and raw gypsum
Both are important medicines for clearing heat and purging fire, and they belong to the same category of minerals. Both can treat excessive heat in the yangming meridian. However, cold water stone mainly clears heat in the blood, without the ability to expel pathogens externally, but it can also diuretic and reduce swelling. Raw gypsum mainly clears heat in the lungs, with the ability to dispel wind and relieve cough, and also has a clearing and stabilizing effect on the lungs.
3. Gypsum and zhimu
Both have the effects of clearing heat and purging fire, and relieving restlessness and quenching thirst. Both can be used for lung and stomach fire, thirst due to fluid damage, and fever with sweating. However, the main uses of the two drugs are not exactly the same: gypsum mainly focuses on clearing heat and purging fire in the lungs and stomach, treating lung heat cough, stomach fire toothache, etc., and is commonly used; zhimu is good at moistening the lungs and stomach, treating lung dry cough, fluid damage with thirst, etc., and is very suitable.
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【Precautions for the Use of Gypsum】
1. People with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold, as well as blood deficiency and yin deficiency, should avoid taking gypsum.
2. Gypsum is incompatible with Scutellaria baicalensis and Aconitum.
3. Gypsum belongs to a cold-natured substance, which can easily damage yang qi and cause coldness in the stomach. It should not be used by people with extreme heat in the abdomen.
4. Gypsum is incompatible with Croton tiglium and should be avoided with iron. "Pharmacology of Medicinal Substances"
5. Excessive use of gypsum can cause fatigue, weakness, mental fatigue, and poor appetite.
6. Gypsum should not be used at the same time as the following western medicines:
Tetracycline antibiotics, as gypsum can reduce the solubility and absorption rate of these antibiotics.
Isoniazid should not be taken with gypsum, as it can reduce its effectiveness.
Dexamethasone should not be taken with gypsum, as it can reduce its bioavailability.
