- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Mineral; mined in China and elsewhere
- Traditions
- Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Mineral · № 702
Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)
Mineral · Asia
Talc (hua shi)
Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.
Safety notes
Talc can be contaminated with asbestos and inhaled powder is harmful: do not use internally yourself, not during pregnancy. For the skin use only tested, asbestos-free talc. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Preparation
Powder, boiled in a bag. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that drain dampness'. Talc (hua shi) is the softest mineral. It drains damp and summer heat and is part of Liu Yi San, 'six-to-one powder', with liquorice. Externally it is used as a powder for itching and chafing; talc can be contaminated with asbestos.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, cold
- Meridians
- stomach, bladder
Attributed effects
Promotes urination and drains damp heat in painful, dark, scanty urination (also with bladder gravel), cools summer heat with thirst, fever and restlessness, and externally dries weeping skin and eczema.
Preparation and amount
Deliberately no dosage is given here: only under the supervision of a qualified therapist.
Combinations
- With licorice (6:1) for summer heat
- With akebia, plantain seed and gardenia for cystitis
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionPowder and kitchen