Shí Gāo (石膏), known in English as Gypsum (Gypsum fibrosum), is a cold, acrid and sweet Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung and Stomach channels. Its main action: clears Heat, drains Fire (Qi level).
| Pinyin | Shí Gāo (Shi Gao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 石膏 |
| English | Gypsum |
| Botanical name | Gypsum fibrosum |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Acrid, Sweet |
| Channels | Lung, Stomach |
| Dosage | 15–60g (decoct first) |
| Cautions | Yang deficiency; Spleen deficiency; no true Heat |
Actions
- Clears Heat, drains Fire (Qi level)
- Relieves thirst, reduces high fever
- Heals sores (topical, calcined form)
Indications
- Qi-level Heat with high fever, thirst, profuse sweating, flooding pulse
- Lung and Stomach Fire
- Diabetes
How to remember Shí Gāo
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold: like most Clear heat herbs
- Lung and Stomach channels: from its use for “Lung and Stomach Fire”
- Learn by heart
- Acrid: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
- Sweet: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
Formulas containing Shí Gāo
Other Clear heat herbs
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Shí Gāo?
Shí Gāo is cold and acrid and sweet.
Which channels does Shí Gāo enter?
Shí Gāo enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Shí Gāo?
Clears Heat, drains Fire (Qi level); Relieves thirst, reduces high fever; Heals sores (topical, calcined form).
What is Shí Gāo used for?
Qi-level Heat with high fever, thirst, profuse sweating, flooding pulse; Lung and Stomach Fire; diabetes.
Which formulas contain Shí Gāo?
Bái Hǔ Tāng, Xiāo Fēng Sǎn, Yù Nǚ Jiān, Qīng Zào Jiù Fèi Tāng and Má Xìng Shí Gān Tāng.
Practise Shí Gāo and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.