Hua Shi - 滑石 - Talcum
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Talcum |
| Common English: | Talc Talcum |
Category
Herbs that Drain Dampness (Diuretics)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Bland | Cold | Stomach Bladder | 9-18g 9-15g (Secondary source) Wrap in cheesecloth when decocting. |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Promotes urination and drains Heat from the Urinary Bladder (aids the movement of gravel and stones), (expels Damp-Heat) | Hot Painful Urinary Dysfunction (Lin Syndrome) with hot, painful urination, dark, painful, burning, scanty urine Damp-Heat diarrhea Qi Level Heat with Dampness with unremitting fever, heavy feeling in the body, thirst, yellow tongue coat |
Releases Summeheat and resolves Dampness | Summerheat (fever, urinary difficulty, thirst) |
Absorbs Dampness and clears Heat (topically) | Damp skin lesions (eczema, damp sores, prickly heat) (topical) |
Stops bleeding due to Heat | Heat type bleeding |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Fr. Malvae | Poria | Fr. Gardeniae |
Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao causing urinary discomfort and dysfunction. | Damp-Heat diarrhea. | Lin Syndrome with hot, painful urinary dribbling and scanty, dark, painful urination. |
| Rz. Dioscoreae | Spora Lygodii | Scl. Polypori |
Heat in the Upper Jiao with thirst and diarrhea. | Urinary discomfort and dysfunction due to Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao. | Stone Lin. |
| Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Cx. Phellodendri | Rx. Scutellariae |
Summerheat causing painful urinary dysfunction, thirst, irritability and fever. | Damp-Heat skin lesions and eczema topically as a powder. | Damp-Warmth when Damp-Heat obstructs the Qi Level. |
| Cx. Phellodendri | Caul. Akebiae | Sm. Plantaginis |
| Topically as a powder for eczema and other damp skin lesions. | Heat Lin. | Damp-Heat dysuria with pain and cloudy urine. |
| Hb. Sive Radix Cirsii Japonici | Hb. Agastache | Gypsum Fibrosum Preparata |
Bloody Lin. | Heatstroke with vomiting and diarrhea. | Topically as a powder for dermatological disorders. |
Notes
- It is a key herb for Lin Syndrome.
- It may stimulate the growth of granulomas in the vagina and colon.
- Its absorbent, astringent nature protects the intestines and prevents diarrhea. Applied externally, it aids healing, soaks up suppurative fluids and shields wounds.
- It is used in more severe presentations involving burning and bleeding.
- It ranks among the best substances for urinary calculi.
- Take care not to inhale the dust.
- It is an important herb for Summer-Heat with thirst and irritability.
- Hua Shi and Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao both clear Heat and relieve thirst. Hua Shi suits thirst from Summerheat with Dampness and dark, difficult urination, but it is not appropriate for Dry Heat. Shi Gao is the better choice once pathogenic Heat has entered the Yang Ming Stage and dried up the fluids.
- Hua Shi and Fol. Pyrrosiae Shi Wei are both cold and open up painful urinary dysfunction. Hua Shi is slippery, promotes the movement of Dampness, and is best for Damp-Heat Lin and Stone Lin; it also cools Summerheat and relieves thirst. Shi Wei cools the Blood, stops bleeding and is the best choice for Blood Lin; it also cools the Lungs and stops cough.
- Hua Shi and Fr. Malvae Dong Kui Zi are both slippery, open the orifices, and treat difficult urination with a rasping pain in the urethra. Hua Shi excels at cooling Summerheat and draining Dampness and may be applied externally to Damp-Heat sores, whereas Dong Kui Zi helps the bowels move and promotes lactation, as well as reducing swelling.
- Flying Talcum Fei Hua Shi is ground into a fine powder that is best suited to internal use.