Hua Rui Shi (花蕊石) — TCM Ophicalcite Mineral for Bleeding with Blood Stasis

At a Glance

• Herb: Hua Rui Shi
• Chinese name: 花蕊石 (Huā Ruǐ Shí)
• Latin name: Ophicalcitum
• Nature: Neutral
• Taste: Sour / Astringent
• Meridian: Liver
• Category: Herbs that Stop Bleeding
• Introduction: Hua Rui Shi (花蕊石) is a naturally occurring ophicalcite — a metamorphic marble rock composed of calcite and serpentinite, showing characteristic pale green patches within white calcite matrix, harvested from mineral deposits in Shaanxi, Henan, and Sichuan provinces. Its flower-like veining pattern gives it the poetic name ‘flower-pistil stone.’ Documented in the Song dynasty Jiayou Bencao, it is uniquely positioned as a mineral hemostatic that simultaneously activates Blood and disperses stasis — stopping bleeding while preventing clot retention. Calcium and magnesium carbonates with silicate components contribute to both physical astringent hemostasis and mild anti-inflammatory effects. In classical use it is calcined (煅花蕊石) before administration, and is particularly indicated when bleeding is accompanied by internal clot formation — a pattern where purely astringent hemostatics would cause dangerous retention.

Action

• Stops bleeding while dispersing stasis — prevents internal clot retention during hemorrhage control
• Activates Blood — resolves existing clots and stasis after bleeding has stopped
• Reduces swelling (topical) — applied to traumatic wounds with bleeding and bruising
• Neutral temperature — suitable for bleeding from various patterns

Clinical Application

• Hemoptysis and hematemesis with stasis: when blood is coughed or vomited with clots — combined with San Qi
• Traumatic bleeding with internal bruising: stops surface bleeding while dispersing deeper stasis
• Uterine bleeding with retained clots: ensures bleeding stops without causing dangerous retention
• Post-traumatic internal hemorrhage: combined with Pu Huang and San Qi
• Topical: powdered application to wounds with bleeding and contusion

Precautions

• Dosage: 10–15 g in decoction (pre-decoct 30 min); 1–1.5 g as calcined powder
• Must be calcined (煅) before use — raw mineral is less effective
• Contraindicated in pregnancy — Blood-activating action risks miscarriage
• Avoid in bleeding from pure deficiency without stasis
• Pre-decoct when adding to formula — mineral requires extended cooking time to release active components
• Distinguish from purely astringent hemostatics: Hua Rui Shi’s stasis-dispersing action makes it safer when clot retention is a concern

Formula

• Hua Xue Dan (化血丹) — Hua Rui Shi + San Qi + Blood-cooling herbs; hemoptysis and hematemesis with stasis
• Hua Rui Shi San (花蕊石散) — Hua Rui Shi alone as calcined powder; traumatic bleeding
• Combined with San Qi and Xue Jie in traumatology formulas for bleeding with concurrent stasis
• Combined with Pu Huang in formulas for uterine bleeding with clot retention

Combinations

• Ophicalcite (花蕊石) + Notoginseng (三七) + Crinis Carbonisatus (血余炭) → Hua Xue Dan (化血丹) — classic formula for hemoptysis, dissolve stasis and stop bleeding
• Ophicalcite (花蕊石) powder alone (3g with rice wine) → traumatic bleeding with blood stasis
• Ophicalcite (花蕊石) + Bletilla Rhizome (白及) → stop hemoptysis from pulmonary TB, bronchiectasis, lung abscess
• Ophicalcite (花蕊石) + Charred Cattail Pollen (蒲黄炭) + Charred Madder Root (茜草炭) → multiple hemostatic mechanisms, refractory or recurrent bleeding
• Ophicalcite (花蕊石) + Bur-Reed Rhizome (三棱) + Zedoary Rhizome (莪术) → break stasis, stop bleeding, masses with concurrent bleeding; must be used as powder (研末服) — mineral cannot be decocted; calcination enhances calcium bioavailability and hemostatic potency

Pharmacological Effects

• Hemostatic
  • calcium ions — essential cofactor activating coagulation cascade factors II, VII, IX, X
  • promotes platelet aggregation via calcium-dependent processes
  • acidic nature promotes protein precipitation at wound surface
• Stasis-resolving
  • mild anti-platelet effect at low doses — prevents thrombus formation while stopping surface bleeding
  • calcium-magnesium balance modulates this bidirectional effect
• Anti-inflammatory
  • magnesium — inhibits inflammatory signaling
• Antacid
  • calcium and magnesium carbonate — neutralize excess stomach acid
• Key principle: ‘化瘀止血’ — resolves stasis and stops bleeding simultaneously; ‘化血为水’
  • transforms congealed blood to fluid
• Important: mineral form requires grinding to fine powder for internal use; calcination
  • 煅) at 800-1000°C converts to more bioavailable calcium and magnesium oxides/carbonates
  • cannot be decocted — always taken as powder (1.5-3g
• Clinical use: hemoptysis with stasis
  • TB, bronchiectasis), traumatic hemorrhage

Classic Description

• Jia You Ben Cao: ‘Governs incised wounds and stops bleeding; also treats postpartum blood dizziness and stagnant blood.’
• Ben Cao Gang Mu: ‘Its function specializes in stopping bleeding — it can transform blood into water; it is the sour flavor that astringes.’
• Ben Cao Jing Shu: ‘Ophicalcite — its function specializes in stopping bleeding. It can transform blood into water; it is the sour flavor that astringes.’
• Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu: ‘Ophicalcite is the most gentle and harmonious in nature, with a slightly sour flavor; for treating hematemesis and epistaxis it has confirmed effectiveness. Its ability to transform stasis blood, while not especially powerful, does not damage new blood after transformation — this is truly precious.’