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Alternate English names: calcite/gypsum

Alternate Chinese names: 白水石 bái shuǐ shí; 凌水石 líng shuǐ shí; 水石 shuǐ shí; 冰石 bīng shí; 盐枕 yán zhěn; 盐根 yán gēn

Kingdom: Plant

Use: Medicinal

Category: Heat-clearing agents / Heat-clearing fire-draining agents

Properties: Acrid and salty; cold.

Channel entry: Heart, stomach, and kidney channels.

Actions and indications: Clears heat and downbears fire; disinhibits the orifices and disperses swelling. Treats qì-aspect heat in febrile disease with vigorous heat effusion, vexation and thirst. Also treats mouth sores; wind-fire eye; painful swollen throat; and scalds.

Product description: The name hán shuǐ shí originally referred to glauberite, a light-colored brittle sodium calcium sulfate is Na₂Ca(SO₄)₂. Nowadays, what is sold on the market is calcite (CaCO₃ with Mg, Fe, and Mn) or red gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O with traces of Fe+++check plus plus plus, Fe++check plus plus, Al++check plus plus).

Production area: Shānxī, Héběi, Sìchuān, Húnán.

Etymology: The name hán shuǐ shí 寒水石, literally cold water stone, reflects the legend that when thrown into water it can cause the water to freeze.

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