Han Shui Shi 寒水石 — Chinese Herbal Medicine

Han Shui Shi (寒水石) At a Glance

• Herb: Han Shui Shi
• Chinese name: 寒水石 (Han Shui Shi)
• Latin name: Calcitum
• Nature: Cold
• Taste: Acrid, Salty
• Meridian: Heart
• Category: Clear Qi Level Heat

Han Shui Shi is a cold mineral herb derived from calcite (calcium carbonate) used to rapidly clear blazing fire at the Qi level and expel heat from the Heart channel. Its acrid nature disperses accumulation while its salty quality directs the action downward, making it effective for fever with intense restlessness and vexation. It is also applied topically for heat-type skin inflammation, burns, and ulcerations.

Actions & Therapeutic Effects

• Clears heat and purges fire — addresses Qi-level febrile patterns with high fever, intense thirst, and flushed face
• Clears Heart fire and calms the spirit — alleviates irritability, agitation, and restlessness due to Heart fire blazing upward
• Disperses summerheat — treats febrile disorders arising in summer with heat stagnation and vexation
• Reduces swelling and alleviates pain (topical) — applied externally for burns, heat-type skin lesions, and oral ulcers

Clinical Applications in TCM

• High fever with thirst and agitation — combined with Shi Gao and Zhi Mu to intensify Qi-level heat clearance
• Heart fire with restlessness and insomnia — paired with Huang Lian and Zhu Ye (Lophatherum)
• Summerheat disorder with fever and vexation — used alongside Hua Shi and Gan Cao
• Stomach fire with oral ulcers and bad breath — combined with Huang Lian and Sheng Di Huang
• Burns and inflammatory skin conditions — applied externally as ground powder mixed with sesame oil

Precautions & Safety

• Dosage: 9–15 g in decoction (crush before decocting); 6–9 g in powder preparations; apply topically as needed
• Contraindicated in Cold-type patterns, Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold, and caution advised during pregnancy; avoid prolonged internal use without clinical supervision

Classical TCM Formulas

• Han Shui Shi San (寒水石散): Han Shui Shi + Hua Shi + Gan Cao — Summerheat with vexation and concentrated urine.
• Zi Xue Dan (紫雪丹) includes Han Shui Shi: Shi Gao, Han Shui Shi, Hua Shi, Ci Shi, Xuan Shen, Sheng Ma, Gan Cao, etc. Source: Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang.
• Bai Hu Tang (白虎汤) may use Han Shui Shi in place of Shi Gao for more intense Heat.

Herb Combinations

• Han Shui Shi (寒水石) + Shi Gao (石膏) + Zhi Mu (知母): the intense Qi-level Heat-clearing combination for severe high fever.
• Han Shui Shi (寒水石) + Hua Shi (滑石) + Gan Cao (甘草): clears Summerheat and promotes urination — the Han Shui Shi San approach.
• Han Shui Shi (寒水石) + Mang Xiao (芒硝) (topical): for burns and acute skin inflammation.

Pharmacology & Research

Antipyretic: calcium carbonate absorbs heat and exerts mild systemic anti-inflammatory effects, supporting fever reduction.
Anti-inflammatory: topical application inhibits local inflammatory mediators, reducing erythema and swelling.
Antimicrobial (topical): alkaline pH of calcite creates an unfavorable environment for bacterial proliferation on skin lesions and burns.

Classical Descriptions

• “Han Shui Shi is acrid and cold; it governs heat of the middle, evil heat accumulation in the stomach, hot fluids, and fever of the limbs.” — Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Husbandman’s Classic of Materia Medica)