气寒，味甘、辛，微寒。大寒。无毒。
入手太阴经、少阳经，足阳明经。
《象》云∶治足阳明经中热，发热，恶热，燥热，日晡潮热，自汗，小便浊赤，大渴引
饮，肌肉壮热，苦头痛之药，白虎汤是也。善治本经头痛，若无此有余证，勿用。
《心》云∶细理白泽者良，甘寒。胃经大寒药，润肺除热，发散阴邪，缓脾益气。
《珍》云∶辛甘，阴中之阳。止阳明经头痛。胃弱不可服。下牙痛，须用香白芷为引。
《本草》云∶主中风寒热，心下逆气，惊喘，口干舌焦，不能息，腹中坚痛，除邪鬼，
产乳金疮。除时气头痛，身热，三焦大热，皮肤热，肠胃中膈气。解肌发汗，止消渴烦逆，
腹胀，暴气喘息，咽热。亦可作浴汤。
太上云∶石膏发汗。辛寒，入手太阴也。
《东垣》云∶微寒，足阳明也。又治三焦皮肤大热，手少阳也。仲景治伤寒阳明证，身热，
目痛鼻干，不得卧。身
已前，胃之经也；胸，胃肺之室。邪在阳明，肺受火制，故用辛寒以清肺，所以号为白虎汤
也。鸡子为之使。恶莽草、
马目毒公。
《药性论》云∶石膏，使。恶巴豆。《唐本》注∶疗风去热，解肌。
气寒，味甘。大寒。无毒。
入足太阳经。
《象》云∶治前阴不利，性沉重，能泄上气令下行。故曰滑则利窍。不可与淡渗同用。
白者佳。杵细、水飞用。
《本草》云∶主身热泄 ，女子乳难，癃闭。利小便，荡肠胃积聚寒热，益精气。通九
窍六腑津液，去留结，止渴，令人利中。入足太阳。滑能利窍，以通水道，为至燥之剂。猪
苓汤，用滑石与阿胶同为滑利，以利水道。葱、豉、生姜同煎去渣，澄清以解利。淡味渗泄
为阳，解表、利小便也。若小便自利，不宜以此解之。
《衍义》云∶暴吐逆，不下食，以生细末二钱匕，温水调服，后以热面压之。
【石膏】
气味：气寒，味甘、辛，微寒（部分版本认为其性大寒）。无毒。
归经：入手太阴肺经、手少阳三焦经，足阳明胃经。
《李杲（东垣）》云：治疗足阳明胃经中的热证，如发热、怕热、燥热、日晡时（下午3-5点）潮热、自汗、小便浑浊色赤、极度口渴想喝水、肌肉壮热、剧烈头痛的药物，就是白虎汤。善于治疗本经（足阳明胃经）引起的头痛；如果没有这些有余的实热证候，不要使用。
《王好古（海藏）》云：纹理细密、色泽洁白润泽的石膏品质较好，味甘甜而性寒。它是胃经的大寒药，能润肺除热，发散阴邪，缓和脾急并益气。
《张元素（洁古）》云：味辛甘，属于阴中之阳。能止住阳明经的头痛。胃气虚弱者不可服用。治疗下牙痛时，必须以香白芷作为引经药。
《本草》云：主治中风引起的寒热，心下逆气，惊悸气喘，口干舌焦，呼吸急促，腹中坚硬疼痛，驱除邪鬼（指精神异常或怪病），治疗产后及金疮。去除时行感冒引起的头痛、身体发热、三焦大热、皮肤热、肠胃中的膈气。能解肌发汗，止消渴烦逆，腹胀，突发的气喘，咽喉热痛。也可以用来制作洗浴用的汤剂。
《李杲（东垣）》云：性微寒，入足阳明胃经。又治疗三焦和皮肤的严重热证，入手少阳三焦经。张仲景治疗伤寒阳明证，症状为身体发热、眼睛痛、鼻子干、无法安卧。身以前部，是胃的经脉所过之处；胸部，是胃和肺所在的部位。邪气在阳明经，肺受到火邪制约，所以用辛寒之药来清肺，因此该方被称为白虎汤。鸡蛋清是它的使药。忌与莽草、马目毒公同用。
《药性论》云：石膏为使药。忌与巴豆同用。《唐本草》注：治疗风邪去除热邪，解肌发表。
【滑石】
气味：气寒，味甘。大寒。无毒。
归经：入足太阳膀胱经。
《李杲（东垣）》云：治疗前阴排尿不利，药性沉重，能泄降上部的逆气使其下行。所以说“滑则利窍”。不可与淡渗利湿药同用。白色的为佳。需研成细粉，水飞后使用。
《本草》云：主治身体发热伴腹泻，女子乳汁不通，尿闭。通利小便，荡涤肠胃中积聚的寒热邪气，补益精气。通利九窍和六腑的津液，去除停留的结滞，止渴，使人通利。入足太阳膀胱经。滑性能利窍，以通水道，是极燥的药剂。猪苓汤中，使用滑石与阿胶配合，共同起到滑利的作用，以通利水道。与葱、豆豉、生姜同煎，去渣澄清后服用以解表利水。淡味渗泄属于阳，能解表、利小便。如果小便自然通畅，不宜用此药来通利。
[Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum)]
Properties and Flavor: Cold in nature, sweet and acrid in flavor, slightly cold (some versions consider it extremely cold). Non-toxic.
Meridian Tropism: Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian.
Li Dongyuan stated: It is used to treat heat in the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, such as fever, aversion to heat, dryness-heat, tidal fever at Dingwu time (3-5 PM), spontaneous sweating, turbid and dark urine, extreme thirst with desire to drink, intense heat in muscles, and severe headache. The formula is Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). It effectively treats headaches caused by this meridian; if these excess heat syndromes are absent, it should not be used.
Wang Haogu stated: Gypsum with fine texture and bright white luster is of good quality. Sweet and cold in nature. It is an extremely cold herb for the Stomach Meridian, capable of moistening the Lungs and clearing heat, dispersing Yin pathogens, relaxing the Spleen and boosting Qi.
Zhang Congzheng stated: Acrid and sweet in flavor, belonging to Yang within Yin. It stops headaches in the Yangming Meridian. It should not be taken by those with weak Stomach Qi. For lower toothache, Xiangbaizhi (Aucklandiae Radix) must be used as a guiding herb.
Bencao states: It mainly treats wind-stroke with alternating chills and fever, rebellious Qi below the heart, palpitations and wheezing, dry mouth and scorched tongue, dyspnea, firm and painful abdomen, expelling evil spirits (referring to mental abnormalities or strange diseases), and treating postpartum conditions and metallic wounds. It removes headaches and body heat caused by epidemic febrile diseases, excessive heat in the Sanjiao, skin heat, and diaphragmatic Qi in the stomach and intestines. It releases the muscle layer and induces sweating, stops polydipsia and irritability, abdominal distension, sudden asthma, and hot throat. It can also be used to make bathing decoctions.
Taishang stated: Gypsum induces sweating. Acrid and cold, enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian.
Li Dongyuan stated: Slightly cold, enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It also treats severe heat in the Sanjiao and skin, entering the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. Zhang Zhongjing treated Yangming syndrome in Shanghan (Cold Damage) with symptoms of body heat, eye pain, nasal dryness, and inability to sleep. The anterior part of the body is where the Stomach meridian passes; the chest is the residence of the Stomach and Lungs. When pathogenic factors are in the Yangming Meridian, the Lungs are constrained by Fire, so acrid-cold herbs are used to clear the Lungs; hence the formula is named Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). Ji Zi (Egg White) serves as its assistant herb. It is incompatible with Mangcao (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata? Note: Context suggests specific incompatibility, likely referring to specific toxic herbs or misinterpretation of ancient texts, but strictly translating "Mangcao" and "Ma Mu Du Gong") and Ma Mu Du Gong.
Yaoxing Lun stated: Gypsum acts as a guiding herb. Incompatible with Badou (Crotonis Fructus). Tang Bencao annotation: Treats wind and removes heat, releases the muscle layer.
[Huaishi (Talcum)]
Properties and Flavor: Cold in nature, sweet in flavor. Extremely cold. Non-toxic.
Meridian Tropism: Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian.
Li Dongyuan stated: It treats difficulty in urination from the anterior yin. Its nature is heavy, capable of draining rebellious Qi from the upper body and directing it downward. Thus it is said that "slippery substances open orifices." It should not be used together with bland diuretics. White ones are preferred. It should be pounded into fine powder and processed by water flotation (shui fei).
Bencao states: It mainly treats body heat with diarrhea, difficulty in lactation in women, and stranguria. It promotes urination, sweeps away accumulated cold and heat in the stomach and intestines, and benefits Essence and Qi. It unblocks the fluids of the nine orifices and six fu organs, removes stagnation, stops thirst, and promotes smoothness. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The slippery property opens orifices to unblock water passages, acting as a very drying agent. In Zhuling Tang, Huashi (Talcum) is used with Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) to provide slipperiness and promote water passage. Decocted with Congbai (Scallion Stem), Chichi (Fermented Soybean), and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), filtered, clarified, and taken to release the exterior and promote urination. Bland and draining properties belong to Yang, capable of releasing the exterior and promoting urination. If urination is already free, it is not suitable to use this herb to promote drainage.
Kou Zongshi stated: For sudden vomiting and regurgitation with inability to eat, take two qianbi of raw, finely powdered Talcum, mix with warm water and ingest, then follow with hot noodles to suppress the medication's effect.