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Hua Shi (Talcum) possesses the functions of unblocking orifices, promoting water metabolism, having a heavy weight, and purging fire.
Its bland nature promotes dampness leaching; its slippery nature facilitates orifice patency; its cold nature clears heat.
Being white, it enters the Lung meridian, clearing the source of transformation and descending to the Bladder to promote urination.
It unblocks the fluid circulation of the Six Fu organs and the Nine Orifices.
It is the principal herb for the Foot-Taiyang (Bladder) meridian. (Bladder)
It treats accumulated heat from summerheat, vomiting, restlessness, and thirst. (Note: It is not used merely to quench thirst, but to unblock orifices and leach out damp-heat, thereby harmonizing the Spleen and Stomach so that thirst ceases naturally. If there is no dampness, yet urination is free and thirst persists, this indicates internal dry-heat, which should be treated with moistening methods. Misuse of this herb will further deplete body fluids, worsening thirst; thus, Li Shizhen considered it an extremely drying agent.)
It treats jaundice, edema, Hong Kong foot (podagra/foot swelling), strangury, and urinary retention. (Primarily indicated for lithiasis/stone strangury.)
It treats watery diarrhea and dysentery with heat. (For cold dysentery, it may be combined with Gan Jiang/Dried Ginger to treat white dysentery.)
It treats hematemesis and epistaxis.
It treats various sores, ulcers, and toxic swellings.
It is a crucial herb for sweeping away heat and eliminating dampness. (Li Shizhen stated: Hua Shi unblocks the orifices of the skin and interstices above, thereby clearing damp-heat in the Upper and Middle Jiao; it unblocks the orifices of semen and urine below, thereby clearing damp-heat in the Middle and Lower Jiao. Once damp-heat is removed, the Three Jiao become tranquil, the interior and exterior harmonize, the Lanmen (gate between small and large intestines) opens, and Yin and Yang flow smoothly. Liu Hejian's Yi Yuan San can treat various diseases of the interior, exterior, upper, and lower levels, based on this principle. Yi Yuan San, also known as Tian Shui San or Liu Yi San, takes its name from the theory "Heaven generates Water One, Earth completes it Six." The formula consists of 6 qian of Hua Shi and 1 qian of Gan Cao, sometimes added with Chen Sha/Cinnabar.)
It has the effects of dissipating summerheat, descending fire, resolving nodules, promoting lactation, and facilitating childbirth.
It is contraindicated in cases of Spleen Qi sinking and seminal emission/spermatorrhea.
It is especially taboo when the disease requires diaphoresis (sweating to release the exterior). (Li Shizhen and Shen Shicai both claimed it could release the exterior, and Zhang An believed its light qi could resolve the muscle layer, merely because it unblocks hair follicles. However, they failed to realize that when exterior pathogens encounter such draining and heavy-descending herbs, they are likely to sink deeper into the interior, leading to critical conditions. Do not believe this to be true.)
The white and moist variety is superior.
Shi Wei (Leaves of Pyrrhosia) serves as an assistant herb. It is best combined with Gan Cao. (Due to its draining and dispersing nature, it should be harmonized with sweet herbs. Yu Jiayan stated: Tian Shui San embodies the principle of one sweet and one cold herb. For dampness and sweating in the genital area, use 1 liang of Hua Shi, 0.5 liang of Shi Gypsum, and 5 fen of Ku Bai Fan/Stewed White Alum, ground into powder for external application. For maceration between toes, the same formula applies.)