Page 8 - Acupuncture Times Nov. 2021

8 광고 Nov 1, 2021 Vol. 32 Hani Times
Herbal Medicine

Finding A Guiding Herb Makes Easier to Find the Most Efficient Formula ④ Shi Gao(石膏)

Shi Gao Could Be Used for Inflammation, Thirst

and Psychotic Symptoms

By Hyunchang Cho, L.Ac., Ph.D

★Shi Gao
Symptom Indicator Score+
Frequency of Use++

Possible Symptoms
①Localized redness and heat due to acute inflammation
②Thirst
③Psychotic symptoms due to elevated body temperature and ex-
citement of cranial nerves
△ Shi Gao. image©blog.naver.com/dongmu61.
④Excessive Heat Pattern: energetic, with a reddish face and an
aversion to heat (heat intolerance) 1) Shi Gao's main ingredients are and other minerals.
TIP ⑤Only Possible symptoms exist. Shi Gao's Indicator Score is calcium compounds (CaSO4/2H2O,
low, which means its clinical tips are obscure and hard to find.
95% or more) and are thought to Shi Gao's therapeutic effects can
have therapeutic effects on selective also be explained with hyperactive
symptoms of hypocalcemia. body and thermal mechanisms for
1. Pharmacological Hypothesis of Shi Gao -Hyperthermia: polyuria, polydipsia, symptoms such as Excessive Heat
polyphagia patterns, febrile coma, and acute
-Neuromuscular symptoms: whole inflammation, other than just the
Hypocalcemia model: Shi Gao's main in- body seizures (local, minor and major hypocalcemia model.
Hyperactive body mecha- gredients are calcium compounds seizures)
nism leading to increased (CaSO4/2H2O, 95% or more) -Neurological symptoms and Shi Gao's pattern seems to be caused
thermogenesis →Some hypocalcemia symptoms are
treatable with Shi Gao signs: mental instability, anxiety, by hyperactive body mechanisms
aggressiveness and resulting hyperactive thermal
-Mental issues: mental changes, mechanisms. This is especially true
↓ ↓ disorientation, stupor, confusion, for Bai Hu Tang, which is comprised
and such of Shi Gao, Zhi Mu, Jing Mi, Gan Cao,
with Shi Gao as the main ingredient.
-Excessive Heat Type: 2) Shi Gao's pattern seems to be Bai Hu Tang patients are Excessive
strong-built, with a reddish caused by hyperactive body and Heat Types who are strong, reddish
complexion, aversion to thermal mechanisms. This is how complexion, aversion to heat (heat
heat (heat intolerance), pref- -Hyperthermia: polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia
erence for cold food and -Neuromuscular symptoms: whole body sei- Bai Hu Tang is used for people who intolerance), thirst, and preference
water, thirst zures (local, minor and major seizures) are Excessive Heat Types: strong- for cold/cool food and water.
-Acute inflammation: local- -Neurological symptoms and signs: mental built, energetic, aversion to heat
ized redness instability, anxiety, aggressiveness (heat intolerance), with a reddish An increase in body temperature
and heat -Mental issues: mental changes, disorientation, face, thirst, and preference for cold/ seems to cause excitement of the
-Febrile coma: Yang-type stupor, confusion, and such cool food and water. cranial nerves, just as in a febrile
psychological symptoms coma. This is why Shi Gao patients
due to increased body 3) Febrile coma: the excitement of can show signs of Yang-type
temperature and excitement cranial nerves due to increased body psychological symptoms such as
of cranial nerves temperature seems to cause Yang- delirium and psychotic tantrums.
type psychological symptoms such
↓ ↓ as delirium and psychotic tantrums. Five major symptoms of acute
inflammation are pain, redness,
4) Shi Gao may treat acute inflammation. immobility, swelling, and heat
Disagreement: Shi Gao decoctions only con- When the patient shows signs of (PRISH). When the patient shows
tain a small amount of calcium, much less acute inflammation such as redness signs of acute inflammation such as
than the RDA (Recommended Daily Allow- and heat in clinical practice, we can redness and heat, we can consider
-Excessive Heat Types ance)
who are strong-built, with ☞ Therapeutic effects of Shi Gao are from consider Heat Clearing herbs such Heat Clearing herbs such as Shi Gao,
reddish complexion and combined effects of main ingredients and oth- as Shi Gao, Zhi Zi, Huang Lian, Chai Zhi Zi, Huang Lian, Chai Hu, Huang
aversion to heat (heat er minerals contained in Shi Gao rather than Hu, Huang Qin, Gan Sui, and such. Qin, Gan Sui, etc. Shi Gao seems to
intolerance) the single effect of calcium compounds alone. have therapeutic effects of treating
-Thirst Some say that the hypocalcemia model acute inflammation.
-Localized redness and Some say the hypocalcemia model does not does not offer enough explanation
heat due to acute inflam- offer enough explanation for the therapeutic for the therapeutic effects of Shi Shi Gao's therapeutic effects are
mation effects of Shi Gao. Although Shi Gao's main Gao. Although Shi Gao's main on the opposite end of Fu Zi's,
-Delirium and psychotic ingredients are calcium compounds, Shi Gao ingredients are calcium compounds, summarized as a hypoactive body
tantrums due to increased decoctions contain minuscule calcium, much Shi Gao decoctions will only contain and thermal mechanism. But this
body temperature and ex- less than the RDA (Recommended Daily miniscule amount of calcium, much model is insufficient to explain the
citement of cranial nerves
Allowance). Therefore, I would like to suggest less than the RDA (Recommended therapeutic effects of Shi Gao formulas
that the therapeutic effects of Shi Gao, Long Daily Allowance). Therefore I suggest such as Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang and
Gu, and Mu Li may come from combined that the therapeutic effects of Shi Mu Fang Yi Tang, in which patients
effects of main ingredients and other minerals. Gao, Long Gu, and Mu Li come from are not that strong-built and don't

combined effects of main ingredients show strong aversions to heat.