Ingredient Mineral (矿物 kuàng wù)

Han Shui Shi

Calcite / Red Gypsum · 寒水石

Calcite (CaCO₃) or Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) · Calcitum / Gypsum Rubrum

Also known as: Ning Shui Shi (凝水石), Bai Shui Shi (白水石), Ling Shui Shi (凌水石),

Han Shui Shi (Calcite / Red Gypsum) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Han Shui Shi is a cold mineral substance used in Chinese medicine to clear intense internal heat and reduce fever. It is commonly used for high fever with intense thirst and restlessness, sore throat, mouth sores, and is also applied externally for burns and skin inflammation. Because of its very cold nature, it is not suitable for people with weak or cold digestive systems.

Category Heat-clearing herbs Herbs that clear Heat and drain Fire (清热泻火药)
Therapeutic focus Fever Management Oral and throat health Burn Care Urinary Health

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Salty (咸 xián)

Channels entered

Heart, Stomach, Kidneys

Parts used

Mineral (矿物 kuàng wù)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Ingredient Does

Every ingredient has a specific set of actions — here's what Han Shui Shi does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Han Shui Shi is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Fever Management Oral and throat health Burn Care Urinary Health

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Han Shui Shi performs to restore balance in the body:

Clears Heat and Drains Fire Eliminates Irritability and Relieves Thirst Opens the Water Pathways Reduces Swelling Cools the Blood and directs Fire downward

How these actions work

'Clears Heat and drains Fire' is the primary action of Han Shui Shi. Its intensely cold, salty, and pungent nature allows it to powerfully clear excess Heat from the Qi level, particularly from the Stomach and Heart. This makes it useful for high fevers during warm-pathogen diseases (febrile infectious illnesses), where the person has a burning sensation throughout the body, intense thirst, and irritability. Its Heat-clearing strength is comparable to Shi Gao (Gypsum), and the two are often combined.

'Eliminates restlessness and relieves thirst' means Han Shui Shi addresses the agitation and intense dry thirst that accompany severe internal Heat. When pathogenic Heat scorches the Stomach fluids, a person becomes desperately thirsty and mentally restless. Han Shui Shi's cold nature quenches this internal fire, settling the mind and restoring comfort.

'Promotes urination and opens the water passages' refers to its ability to drain Heat downward through the urinary tract. Its salty taste has a descending, softening quality that helps move stagnant fluids. This is why classical texts record its use for urinary retention and edema caused by accumulated Heat.

'Reduces swelling' applies to both internal and external use. Taken internally, it reduces swelling caused by Heat toxins. Applied externally as a powder, it can soothe skin inflammation such as erysipelas (a red, hot skin infection) and burns.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Han Shui Shi is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Han Shui Shi addresses this pattern

Han Shui Shi's cold, pungent, and salty nature allows it to powerfully drain excess Heat that has penetrated to the Qi level during febrile (warm-pathogen) diseases. It enters the Stomach channel and clears the intense Yangming-level Heat that produces high fever, profuse sweating, and great thirst. Its mechanism is similar to Shi Gao but with added salty descending action that helps pull the Heat downward and out through the Kidneys, making it especially useful when Qi-level Heat is accompanied by restlessness and urinary difficulty.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

High Fever

High, sustained fever with a burning sensation on the skin

Excessive Thirst

Intense thirst with desire for cold drinks

Irritability

Restlessness and mental agitation from Heat

Dark Urine

Scanty, dark urine

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Han Shui Shi is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Qi Level Heat

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, high fever is understood as the body's struggle against pathogenic Heat that has invaded deeply into the Qi level. At this stage, the Heat is no longer at the surface (the exterior) but has entered the interior, concentrating in the Stomach and Intestines. This produces what classical texts call 'four greats': great Heat, great thirst, great sweating, and a great surging pulse. The intense Heat consumes body fluids, which is why thirst and dryness accompany the fever. If not cleared, this Heat can progress deeper into the Ying (nutritive) and Blood levels, potentially causing delirium and bleeding.

Why Han Shui Shi Helps

Han Shui Shi is intensely cold and directly enters the Stomach channel, making it well suited to drain the fierce Yangming-level Heat that produces high fevers. Its pungent taste disperses the accumulated Heat outward, while its salty taste draws it downward through the Kidneys and urinary tract. This dual action of dispersing and descending helps the body eliminate the Heat. Classical texts describe its use alongside Shi Gao (Gypsum) and Hua Shi (Talcum) in formulas like San Shi Tang (Three Stones Decoction) for exactly this type of severe Qi-level fever with intense thirst.

Also commonly used for

Excessive Thirst

Intense thirst due to internal Heat scorching fluids

Sore Throat

Acute sore throat and pharyngitis from Heat toxin

Toothache

Toothache from Stomach Fire

Skin Burns

Burns and scalds, applied externally as a powder

Edema

Edema related to Damp-Heat with urinary difficulty

Urinary Difficulty

Urinary retention from Heat accumulation

Bleeding Gums

Gingival bleeding from Stomach channel Heat

Skin Rashes

Erysipelas and acute hot skin conditions

Ingredient Properties

Every ingredient has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Salty (咸 xián)

Channels Entered

Heart Stomach Kidneys

Parts Used

Mineral (矿物 kuàng wù)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Han Shui Shi — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

9-15g

Maximum dosage

Up to 30g (approximately 1 liang) in decoction for acute high fever with strong excess Heat, under practitioner supervision. Must be decocted first.

Dosage notes

Standard decoction dose is 9-15g. For acute high fever with marked excess Heat patterns, the dose may be increased up to 30g. When used in powdered form for oral administration (pills or powder), the dose is considerably smaller, typically 1-3g per serving. External use has no strict dose limit; the calcined powder is applied as needed to burns, sores, or inflamed skin. Because of its extreme cold nature, internal use should generally be short-term. Combining with ginger-processed forms or warm herbs helps protect the Stomach from cold damage.

Preparation

As a mineral, Han Shui Shi should be crushed into pieces and decocted first (先煎) for 20-30 minutes before adding other herbs. This extended decoction is necessary to extract its active mineral components. It may also be ground into fine powder for use in pills and powders, or calcined (煅) for external application. Calcined Han Shui Shi (煅寒水石) is prepared by heating in a fire-resistant vessel until red-hot, then cooling. Ginger-processed Han Shui Shi (姜寒水石) is prepared by cooking with fresh ginger juice until the liquid is fully absorbed, which tempers its cold nature.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same ingredient can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Han Shui Shi does

Processing method

The raw mineral is placed in a fireproof container and heated with strong, smokeless fire (calcination) until it glows red-hot throughout, then removed and allowed to cool. It is then ground into powder.

How it changes properties

Calcination reduces the intensely cold nature of the raw mineral, which lessens its tendency to damage the Spleen and Stomach. It also makes the mineral porous and crumbly, easier to grind into fine powder, and increases the release of calcium ions. The processed form gains an astringent, wound-healing quality useful for external application, while its internal Heat-clearing action becomes milder and gentler.

When to use this form

Primarily for external use: burns and scalds (sprinkled as powder on the wound to reduce oozing and pain), skin sores, boils, and hot swellings. Also used when internal Heat-clearing is needed but the patient has a somewhat weak digestive system that cannot tolerate the raw mineral's full cold intensity.

Common Ingredient Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Han Shui Shi for enhanced therapeutic effect

Shi Gao
Shi Gao 1:1 (equal parts, as in San Shi Tang and Zi Xue Dan)

Both are cold minerals that clear Qi-level Heat, but Shi Gao is sweet and cold while Han Shui Shi is salty and cold. Together, they create an intensified Heat-clearing effect: Shi Gao clears Yangming Stomach Heat and generates fluids with its sweet quality, while Han Shui Shi's salty nature adds a descending, softening action that pulls Heat downward through the Kidneys. The combination covers a broader range of channels and mechanisms than either mineral alone.

When to use: Severe Qi-level Heat with high fever, intense thirst, profuse sweating, and irritability, as seen in acute febrile diseases and summer Heat conditions.

Hua Shi
Hua Shi 1:1 to 1:2 (Han Shui Shi to Hua Shi)

Han Shui Shi and Hua Shi (Talcum) together clear Heat and promote urination. Han Shui Shi drains Fire from the Stomach and Heart, while Hua Shi clears Heat through the Bladder and promotes the smooth flow of urine. The combination channels excess Heat out of the body through the urinary tract, simultaneously clearing interior Heat and resolving Dampness.

When to use: Summer Heat patterns with fever, thirst, and urinary difficulty, or Damp-Heat conditions with edema and scanty dark urine.

Huang Lian
Huang Lian 1:1 (equal parts, as in Que Shi San from Ben Shi Fang)

Han Shui Shi provides powerful mineral-based Fire-draining, while Huang Lian (Coptis rhizome) clears Heat and drains Fire from the Heart and Stomach with its intensely bitter quality. Together they tackle extreme Heat generating mental agitation, delirium, or mania. Han Shui Shi's salty descending force complements Huang Lian's bitter descending and drying action.

When to use: Febrile disease with delirium, mania, or agitation caused by extreme Heart and Stomach Fire, as in the classical formula Que Shi San for fever-induced madness.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Han Shui Shi in a prominent role

Zi Xue Dan 紫雪丹 Deputy

Zi Xue Dan (Purple Snow Special Pill) is one of the 'three treasures' of emergency Heat-clearing medicine. Han Shui Shi is used at a large dose (three jin) alongside Shi Gao and Hua Shi as the main Heat-clearing mineral trio, showcasing its power to drain extreme interior Fire. This formula treats the most severe febrile conditions with high fever, delirium, convulsions, and coma.

Feng Yin Tang 風引湯 Deputy

Feng Yin Tang (Wind-Pulling Decoction) from the Jin Gui Yao Lue treats Heat-type epilepsy and convulsions. Han Shui Shi serves at a high dose (six liang) alongside five other minerals, contributing its cold, descending nature to clear internal Heat and calm the spirit. This formula exemplifies how mineral-heavy prescriptions use Han Shui Shi to settle extreme Heat-generated Wind.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Shi Gao
Han Shui Shi vs Shi Gao

Both are cold minerals used to clear Qi-level Heat and treat high fever with thirst. However, Shi Gao (Gypsum) is sweet and pungent, which means it also generates fluids and is considered the primary herb for clearing Yangming channel Heat. Han Shui Shi is salty and pungent, giving it a stronger descending and softening quality that also enters the Kidney channel and cools the Blood. Shi Gao is far more commonly used in everyday practice, while Han Shui Shi is reserved for situations needing additional descending force or for external application.

Zhi Mu
Han Shui Shi vs Zhi Mu

Both clear Heat from the Qi level and relieve thirst. Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena rhizome) is bitter, sweet, and cold, and it also nourishes Yin and moistens dryness, making it better suited when Heat has begun to damage fluids or when there is underlying Yin Deficiency. Han Shui Shi is purely Heat-draining with no nourishing action, and is more appropriate for acute excess Heat conditions where the priority is rapid Fire-clearing rather than Yin preservation.

Hua Shi
Han Shui Shi vs Hua Shi

Both are cold minerals that clear Heat, but their routes differ. Hua Shi (Talcum) is sweet, bland, and cold, and primarily promotes urination and clears Damp-Heat through the Bladder. Han Shui Shi is pungent, salty, and cold, and focuses on draining Fire from the Stomach, Heart, and Kidneys. Hua Shi is preferred when Dampness is the main concern alongside Heat, while Han Shui Shi is chosen when blazing Fire and thirst are dominant.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Han Shui Shi

The identity of Han Shui Shi has been confused for over a thousand years. The two main commercial forms (Red Gypsum and Calcite) are themselves regional substitutes for the original substance (a naturally crystallized salt mineral). Key distinctions: 1. Red Gypsum (红石膏, CaSO4·2H2O) vs. Calcite (方解石, CaCO3): These are chemically different minerals used interchangeably under the same name. Red Gypsum is soft, fibrous, and pinkish. Calcite is harder, crystalline, colourless or white, and fizzes vigorously with dilute hydrochloric acid. 2. Shi Gao (石膏, Gypsum Fibrosum): White gypsum and Han Shui Shi have overlapping Heat-clearing functions and have been confused since the Tang dynasty. White gypsum is white and fibrous; Red Gypsum (Han Shui Shi) is pinkish. 3. Chang Shi (长石, Feldspar): Sometimes mistakenly sold as Han Shui Shi. Feldspar is much harder and does not share the same medicinal properties. The Ben Cao Jing Feng Yuan notes that if authentic Han Shui Shi is unavailable, Rong Yan (戎盐) or Xuan Jing Shi (玄精石) can substitute, as they share the salty-cold descending action.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any ingredient.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Han Shui Shi

Non-toxic

Classical sources consistently describe Han Shui Shi as non-toxic (无毒). However, the Lei Gong Pao Zhi Yao Xing Jie warns that because its nature is extremely cold, overconsumption will cause cold damage to the intestines and stomach, resulting in inability to eat. This is not chemical toxicity but rather an adverse effect of the herb's strongly cold thermal nature overwhelming digestive function. Both mineral forms (calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate) are chemically inert and non-toxic at standard doses. Processing with ginger juice (as recommended in the Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun) helps temper the extreme cold nature and protect the Stomach.

Contraindications

Situations where Han Shui Shi should not be used or requires extra caution

Avoid

Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold (脾胃虚寒): Han Shui Shi is intensely cold in nature and will further damage already deficient Spleen and Stomach Yang, worsening symptoms like diarrhea, poor appetite, and abdominal cold pain.

Avoid

Yin deficiency with deficiency-Heat (阴虚火旺): The Ben Cao Jing Shu warns against use in cases of Yin-deficient fire with cough, blood in sputum, tidal fever, or steaming bone sensation. This herb only clears excess Heat and will further damage Yin in deficiency patterns.

Avoid

Chronic diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency: The herb's cold nature and downward-directing action will worsen Spleen-deficiency diarrhea. The Ben Cao Jing Shu specifically warns that Spleen-type dampness with distension should not be treated with this herb.

Caution

Deficiency-type floating Heat (虚人热浮): The Ben Cao Qiu Zhen states this is strictly contraindicated. People who are constitutionally weak with superficial Heat signs need tonifying and anchoring treatment, not cold-natured minerals that will further deplete them.

Caution

Prolonged or excessive internal use: The Lei Gong Pao Zhi Yao Xing Jie warns that overconsumption causes cold damage to the intestines and stomach, leading to inability to eat. Internal use should be short-term and carefully dosed.

Classical Incompatibilities

Traditional Chinese pharmacological incompatibilities — herbs or substances to avoid combining with Han Shui Shi

Han Shui Shi does not appear on the classical Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反) or Nineteen Mutual Fears (十九畏) lists. However, the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (《本草经集注》) by Tao Hongjing notes that Han Shui Shi "fears Di Yu" (畏地榆, Sanguisorba root). This is a traditional caution rather than a strict incompatibility from the formal lists.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

No specific pregnancy contraindication is listed in classical or modern Chinese Materia Medica sources for Han Shui Shi. However, its strongly cold nature means it should be used with caution during pregnancy, as excessively cold medicinals can potentially impair Spleen and Stomach function and disturb the fetus. Use only under professional guidance and only when there is clear excess Heat requiring treatment.

Breastfeeding

No specific breastfeeding contraindication is documented in classical or modern sources. As a mineral substance (calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate), significant transfer through breast milk is unlikely. However, because of its strongly cold nature, prolonged or excessive use could impair the mother's digestive function and potentially affect milk production. Use only when clinically indicated and at the lowest effective dose.

Children

Han Shui Shi has classical paediatric applications, particularly for childhood erysipelas (丹毒) applied externally as a powder mixed with vinegar or pig bile. For internal use in children, the dosage should be significantly reduced from the adult range and used only for short periods under professional supervision. The herb's strongly cold nature makes it especially likely to damage a child's developing digestive system. It is more commonly used externally (as calcined powder for burns or skin conditions) than internally in paediatric practice.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Han Shui Shi

As a mineral composed primarily of calcium salts (calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate), Han Shui Shi may interact with certain medications:

  • Tetracycline and fluoroquinolone antibiotics: Calcium can chelate these antibiotics in the gut, reducing their absorption and effectiveness. Separate administration by at least 2 hours.
  • Thyroid hormones (levothyroxine): Calcium supplements are known to reduce absorption of thyroid medications. Separate by at least 4 hours.
  • Iron supplements: Calcium may interfere with iron absorption when taken simultaneously.
  • Bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate): Calcium can impair absorption of these osteoporosis medications.
  • Cardiac glycosides (digoxin): Excessive calcium intake may potentiate the effects and toxicity of digoxin.

These interactions apply primarily to the calcite (calcium carbonate) form and to a lesser degree to the red gypsum (calcium sulfate) form, which has lower solubility.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Han Shui Shi

While taking Han Shui Shi internally, avoid cold, raw, and frozen foods, as the herb's extremely cold nature already places strain on digestive function. Warm, easily digestible foods such as congee and cooked vegetables are preferable to support the Spleen and Stomach. Avoid greasy or heavy foods that further burden digestion. If taking the calcite form, be aware of calcium-rich food timing relative to any concurrent medications.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Han Shui Shi source mineral

Han Shui Shi is not a plant but a mineral substance. In modern Chinese pharmacy, there are two distinct minerals sold under this name depending on region:

Northern Han Shui Shi (北寒水石, Red Gypsum): This is a naturally occurring hydrated calcium sulfate (CaSO4·2H2O) from the sulfate mineral family. It forms as fibrous aggregates in flat or thick plate-like masses, typically 0.5 to 3.5 cm thick. The mineral has a characteristic pale pink to reddish colour with a silky lustre, and a white streak. It forms through chemical sedimentation in marine or lacustrine basins, often appearing in layers alongside limestone, red shale, and marl.

Southern Han Shui Shi (南寒水石, Calcite): This is a trigonal-system calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from the calcite mineral family. It forms regular crystalline blocks, often as rhombohedral prisms with distinct angles. The crystals are colourless, white, or yellowish-white, transparent to semi-transparent, with a glassy lustre. Calcite is widely distributed in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Han Shui Shi is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Can be mined year-round (全年均可采挖). After excavation, the mineral is cleaned of soil and impurities.

Primary growing regions

Northern Han Shui Shi (Red Gypsum): Primarily produced in Liaoning, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, and Gansu provinces. Also found in Xinjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet. Southern Han Shui Shi (Calcite): Primarily produced in Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Jiangxi, Hubei, and Guangdong. Historically, the original Han Shui Shi (Ning Shui Shi) came from saline earth regions in what is now Hebei province, specifically Changshan (常山), Zhongshui county (中水县), and Handan (邯郸), areas described as salty and alkaline terrain.

Quality indicators

Northern Han Shui Shi (Red Gypsum): Good quality pieces are pale pink with fine silky fibrous texture and a distinct silken lustre. They should be free of mixed rock or soil. The pieces should break cleanly to reveal straight fibrous cross-sections in pink. Southern Han Shui Shi (Calcite): Good quality is colourless or white, transparent to semi-transparent, with clear glassy lustre. Pieces should be regular crystalline blocks that break into neat rhombohedral (square or rectangular) fragments. Adding dilute hydrochloric acid to calcite produces vigorous effervescence (CO2 bubbles), which is a simple identification test. The classical text Ben Cao Qiu Zhen states that the best quality is bright white and dissolves when held in the mouth. An older test from the Ming Yi Bie Lu describes high quality as resembling mica and easily cleavable.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Han Shui Shi and its therapeutic uses

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》)

Chinese: 主身热，腹中积聚邪气，皮中如火烧，烦满，水饮之。

English: It treats body heat, accumulation of pathogenic Qi in the abdomen, burning sensation under the skin as if on fire, irritability and fullness. Take it dissolved in water.

Ming Yi Bie Lu (《名医别录》)

Chinese: 除时气热盛，五脏伏热，胃中热，烦满，口渴，水肿，小腹痹。

English: It eliminates epidemic seasonal Heat, latent Heat in the five organs, Stomach Heat, irritability and fullness, thirst, oedema, and lower abdominal obstruction.

Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》, Li Shizhen)

Chinese: 凝水石其气大寒，其味辛咸，入肾走血，除热之功，同于诸盐。古方所用寒水石是此石，唐、宋诸方寒水石是石膏，近方寒水石则是长石、方解石。用者详之。

English: Ning Shui Shi [the original Han Shui Shi] is greatly cold in nature, acrid and salty in flavour. It enters the Kidney and courses through the Blood, clearing Heat in a manner similar to the various salts. Ancient formulas used this stone as Han Shui Shi; Tang and Song dynasty formulas used Shi Gao [gypsum] under the same name; more recent formulas use Calcite or Feldspar. Users should carefully distinguish between them.

Ben Cao Jing Feng Yuan (《本经逢原》)

Chinese: 寒水石，治心肾积热之上药，《本经》治腹中积聚，咸能软坚也；身热皮中如火烧，咸能降火也。《金匮》风引汤，《局方》紫雪，皆用以治有余之邪热也。

English: Han Shui Shi is a superior medicine for treating accumulated Heat in the Heart and Kidney. The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing uses it for abdominal accumulation because its salty taste softens hardness; and for body heat with skin burning like fire because saltiness descends fire. The Jin Gui Yao Lue's Feng Yin Tang and the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang's Zi Xue both use it to treat excess pathogenic Heat.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Han Shui Shi's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Han Shui Shi has one of the most complex and confusing histories of any substance in Chinese Materia Medica. First recorded in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing under the name Ning Shui Shi (凝水石, "congealing water stone"), the original substance was a naturally crystallized salt mineral from saline earth, described by Tao Hongjing as resembling Pu Xiao (crude mirabilite) when broken. Its name derives from the belief that its powder, when placed in water during summer, could produce ice, reflecting its intensely cold nature.

The identity of Han Shui Shi became increasingly muddled over centuries. Li Shizhen devoted considerable effort in the Ben Cao Gang Mu to untangling the confusion, noting that ancient formulas used the true salt-derived Ning Shui Shi, Tang and Song dynasty physicians substituted Shi Gao (gypsum), and later practitioners used Fang Jie Shi (calcite) or Chang Shi (feldspar) instead. Wang Yinjun further confused matters by claiming Han Shui Shi was another name for calcite. Li Shizhen wrote that this "thousand-year error" regarding Shi Gao was first corrected by Zhu Danxi, while the confusion over the original salt-mineral form of Ning Shui Shi had persisted until his own clarification.

In modern practice, the commercial product sold as Han Shui Shi remains split regionally: Northern China primarily uses Red Gypsum (a calcium sulfate mineral), while Southern China uses Calcite (a calcium carbonate mineral). Both share the broad function of clearing Heat and draining Fire, though their chemical compositions are quite different. The herb appears in famous classical formulas including Feng Yin Tang (from the Jin Gui Yao Lue) and Zi Xue Dan (from the He Ji Ju Fang).