Calcite, Han Shui Shi 寒水石

Han Shui Shi (TCM)
Cong Zhi ཅོང་ཞི (Tibetan)

Calcite crystal
(Photo by Slim Sepp)

Mineralogical name:
Calcitum
Calcium carbonate

Parts Used:
Various types and sources of ‘Calcite’ have been used. Some are related stones, for example, Red Gypsum is used for Calcite in North China and Limestone varieties may be also used.

Tibetan Medicine recognises 5 distinct types of Calcite (Cong Zi):

Male Calcite (Pho cong zhi): Best type; it is Hard, heavy and ‘resembles broken pieces of Horse teeth’. this is Iceland Spar (transparent calcite). Used to eliminate Blood and Bile diseases, as well as Triple disease (diseases caused by imbalance of 3 Humors).
Son Calcite (Bu cong zhi): Long white pieces, soft, springy and flexible; forms near Hot springs and is very effective when used in Elixirs. Used for Phlegm diseases and fractures of the Skull.
Female Calcite (Mo cong zi): Brown, resembles a Cow udder. Found in the faults of rocks and is good for all diseases.
Daughter Calcite (Bu mo cong zhi): Yellow stone with dirt formed on it. Found in rock faults, and it has a special unique effect when used as an Elixir; good for Kidney disease.
Neuter Calcite (Ma ning cong zi): long pieces of yellow, red or white color with a flexible nature. It has a special nature and is one of the best medicines in the form of an Elixir. Given to either sex.

Some Tibetan formulas list Red or Yellow Calcite

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, dry. Pungent, Salty (TCM); Sweet (Tibetan Medicine)

Properties:
Crystal system: Trigonal
Color: colorless, white, grey, yellow-green
Streak: white
Cleavage: perfect, angle of 74°
Fracture: conchoidal
Lustre: vitreous to pearly
Tenacity: brittle
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Hardness: 3
Specific Gravity: 2.71

Constituents:

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) with admixture and trace minerals.

Classifications:

B. Clear Strong Heat or Fire

Uses:

1. Clears Heat, Drains Fire: (TCM, Tibetan Medicine)
-High Fever, Thirst, Irritability, big pulse and yellow tongue coat
-Blood Heat
-Fever, Chronic Fever, Poisoning, chronic Blood Disease (Tibetan Medicine)
-good for Febrile disease during the Summer
-Thirst associated with strong heat conditions
-strong heat of the Stomach and Intestines (Yang Ming)
-Headache, Toothache from Fire
-Headaches and Upper Body Pain from strong heat rising (Tibetan Medicine)
-‘Hidden heat of the Five Viscera’ (Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, Kidney) (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-Poisoning of Croton seed (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-Neutralizes side effects of Alchemical (mineral) drugs (Zhen Quan)

2. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine: (TCM, Tibetan Medicine)
-Edema, Anuria, Dysuria
-Diarrhea, chronic Gastritis, Sour Watery Vomit (Tibet)
-distention in the lower abdomen
-obstruction and ‘clumping’ of the abdomen (TCM)
-Kidney disease and chronic Urinary disorders (Tibetan Medicine)

3. Heals Fractures:
-used for Fractures (Tibetan Medicine)

4. Externally:
-Burns, Scalds
-Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth, Gums and Throat
-Erysipelas

Dose:

Powder: 500mg–1.5 grams;
Decoction: 10–15 grams, decocted for 30–45 minutes before adding herbs.

Comment:

Gypsum and Calcite were confused and intermixed, being classed of varieties of the same mineral. The similar use of these two medicines is seen in both TCM and Tibetan Medicine. Li Shi Zhen said in ancient formulas, Han Shui Shi was Calcite, but from the Tang and Song dynasties onwards Gypsum (Shi Gao) was used for Han Shui Shi.

Substitute:

Gypsum

Preparation:

1. Ginger Prepared Calcite:
According to some traditional sources, the drug can be prepared by being heated with Ginger juice until dry. This moderates the harshness and is better for weak digestion. (TCM: Lei Xiao)

In Tibetan Medicine, Calcite can under go several processes: “Hot”, “Cold” and “Wild”. The “Hot” processing increases Stomach Heat, the “Cold” process clears excess Stomach Heat and reduces Acid.
1. Purified Calcite (Cong zhi dug ‘don)
Calcite is crushed into small pieces, then boiled in water, changing the water after brief boiling and continuing until the water is clear (usually within 4 washings). This washes and cleans the Calcite of dirt and other impurities. It is then dried. This is purified Calcite which is further processed into either the Hot or Cold preparation.,
2. Cold Processed Calcite:
This is also called “Milk processed” (Cong zhi mdzo ‘o) or “Moon Ray Calcite” (Cong zhi zla ‘od)
The purified Calcite (above) is ground into fine powder. Enough Milk (Yak, Cow or Yak-Cow hybrid) is boiled and the fine powder is mixed well into the Milk. This is done in the Moonlight, especially on the 8th Full Moon of the Tibetan calender (usually August), as this is believed to be the most potent and brightest Moon. The powder is well mixed to allow all the Calcite powder to be exposed to the Moon light. The cool night air and cool Moon rays increase the cooling nature of the Calcite. Traditionally, the Mantra of the Medicine Buddha is recited while the kneading is happening.
Next, the paste is formed into thin round cakes and placed on trays to dry which can also be exposed to Moon light.
Evidently sometimes the Calcite is Milk-processed without exposing to the Moon light, but that which is exposed to Moon light during preparation is regarded as infinitely stronger and is a type of Essence medicine.
This is used for Stomach Heat and excess acidity, and is more potent to clear Heat in general.
3. Hot processed Calcite: (Cong zhi rgod brtul or Cong zhi tsha btul)
Purified Calcite is calcined. One method involves taking Calcite (1 part), Sulphur (5 parts), Long Pepper (3 parts), Powder and seal in a crucible. This is burnt continuously for 3 days. It is then ready for use.
This is used to warm the digestive Fire and is used in many formulas for the Stomach and Digestion in Tibetan Medicine. Taken with Sugar, it is especially useful for Brown Phlegm (Bad kan smug po).
4. Water processed Calcite (Cong zhi ‘dam ‘thag)
Calcite which has been ground with water (levigated)
5. Wine-processed Calcite
Break one handful of Calcite into pieces the size of barley grains and fry in a frying pan, then pour in strong Chang (Barley alcohol) about two cupfuls, and boil until the liquid completely evaporates.
A variation says to fry one handful of Calcite together with three grains of barley until the grains are roasted, then pour about three large spoons of Chang (Barlery alcohol) into a depression made in the center of the Calcite and immediately close the lid, preventing the vapors from escaping.
This warms the Stomach and promotes digestion.

Main Combinations:

1. Strong Heat, High Fever:
i. Calcite is often combined with Gypsum (Shi Gao)
ii. High fever with Delirium, Calcite with Coptis Huang Lian
2. Asthma and Wheezing, Calcite and Gypsum are taken with Decoction of Ginseng (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
3. Epilepsy, Paralysis, Calcite with Rhubarb (Da Huang), Ginger (Gan Jiang), Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi), Fossil Bones (Long Gu) (as in Feng Yin Tang from Jin Gui Yao Lue [Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer])
4. Wind and Heat High Fever, Restlessness, Raving, Calcite with Tabasheer (Tian Zhu Huang), Licorice, Borneo Camphor (Bing Pian) (as in Long Nao Gan Lu Wan from Yao Seng Yuan Ji Yan Fang [Yao Seng-yuan’s Collection of effective recipes]),
5. Fever, Vomiting, Indigestion, Calcite with Chebulic Myrobalan, Safflower, Pomegranate, Cardamon, Ginger (as in Calcite 9 of Tibetan Medicine)
6. Difficulty Urinating, Gravel, Calcite with Talcum, Mallow seed (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
7. Poor appetite and Indigestion, Calcite with Pomegranate, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Emblic Myrobalan, Inula root, Ginger (as in Calcite 11, Tibetan Medicine)
8. Poisoning and Fever, Calcite with Nutmeg, Clove, Safflower, Greater and Lesser Cardamon, Tabasheer, Sandalwood, Swertia, Chebulic Myrobalan (as in Calcite 20, Tibetan Medicine)
9. Burns, Scalds, Calcite with Calamine topically
10. Bleeding Gums, Calcite, Cinnabar, Licorice, Camphor topically (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
11. Erysipelas, Calcite, White Clay and Vinegar, topically (Ben Cao Gang Mu)

Major Formulas:

Balancing Comforter (Bde byed snyoms) (Tibetan)
Blood Medicine 7 (Khrag sman bdun pa) (Tibetan)
Calcite 6 (Tibetan)
Calcite 9 (Cong zhi dgu pa) (Tibetan)
Calcite 25 (Cong zhi nyer lnga) (Tibetan).
Cantharide 37 (Tibetan)
Cinnabar 3 (Chog la gsum sbyor) (Tibetan)
Clarifying Lloydia 15 (Gsal byed a wa bco lnga) (Tibetan)
Conqueror of Brown Phlegm (Smug po gyul rgyal) (Tibetan)
Golden Pacific (Zhi gser) (Tibetan)
Lotus Stem White Pills (Ril dkar pad sdong) (Tibetan)
Nectar 3 (Bdud rtsi gsum sbyor) (Tibetan)
Pacific 6 (Zhi byed drug pa) (Tibetan)
Pacific 11 (Zhi byed bcu gcig) (Tibetan)
Pomegranate All Inclusive Pill (Se ‘bru kun ‘dus) (Tibetan)
Saint’s White Pill (Grub ril) (Tibetan)
Six White Formula (Dkar po drug sbyor) (Tibetan)
Zi Xue Dan (TCM)