Stalactite
Aliases：Dī Rǔ Shí (Dripping Milk Stone), Zhōng Rǔ É Guǎn Shí (Stalactite Goose-Quill Stone); Shān Hú É Guǎn Shí (Coral Goose-Quill Stone).
É Guǎn Shí is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It has two sources: one is the calcareous skeleton of Balanophyllia sp., a coral animal belonging to the family Dendrophylliidae (Coelenterata); the other is the fine tubular aggregate of Calcite (Stalactite), a mineral belonging to the calcite group of carbonates (i.e., the slender tip portion of stalactite). The product appears as cylindrical or conical, hollow tubular pieces, 3–7 cm in length and 0.5–1.3 cm in diameter, with a wall thickness of 1–4 mm. It is white or pale yellowish-white, with a smooth or rough surface, hard and brittle, and easily broken, with a white, glassy fractured surface. It is named “É Guǎn Shí” (Goose-Quill Stone) because of its resemblance to a goose feather quill. É Guǎn Shí was first recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu).
Efficacy & Actions
Warms the Lung, invigorates Yang, and promotes lactation.
Indications
Indicated for chronic cough due to lung cold, consumptive cough and wheezing, impotence and premature ejaculation, nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea, cold and painful lower back and legs, and blocked lactation. It may also be used for pulmonary tuberculosis with cough and wheezing, chest tightness, hemoptysis, and weakness of the lower back and knees.
Modern Pharmacology
Modern research has shown that É Guǎn Shí is mainly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), with small amounts of magnesium, strontium, barium, and other trace elements. It contains volatile oils, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and other components, exhibiting antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, expectorant, antiasthmatic, antihypertensive, and antitumor activities. As É Guǎn Shí contains calcium carbonate, it may decompose under the action of gastric juice to produce carbon dioxide gas, which may cause gastrointestinal bloating. The acute toxicity (intravenous) LD₅₀ is 28.30 g/kg.
Ingredients
The main component is calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). It also contains small amounts of magnesium, strontium, barium, and other trace elements. The main components of É Guǎn Shí are consistent with those of stalactite, with only slight differences in trace element composition.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 9–15 g, crush and decoct first; or grind into powder, 0.3–1.5 g or 0.3–15 g; may also be made into pills.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with Yin deficiency and fire excess. Contraindicated in patients with lung-heat cough. Contraindicated in patients with excess heat patterns. Contraindicated in pregnant women and children.
Selected Formulas
For all types of consumptive diseases with cough congestion and chest fullness (Xuanming Lun Fang, Fenxiang Touge San) Take equal parts of Eguan Shi (stalactite), Xionghuang (Realgar), Fo'ercao (a local herb), and Kuandonghua (Farfara flower). Grind into powder. For each dose, take 5g of the powder, place it on an incense burner, ignite it, and inhale the smoke through the mouth into the throat. For lung atrophy with consumptive cough and chronic cough (Zhizhi Fang, Qibao San) Take 2 qian each of Renshen (Ginseng), Kuandonghua, Zhongrushi (Stalactite), Eguan Shi (all ground raw), and calcined Mingfan (Alum), plus 1 qian each of Lagu (Cassia twig) and Gancao (Licorice). Grind into fine powder. Take a small amount twice before bedtime and swallow. For bronchial asthma (empirical formula, Eguan Shi Tang) Take 30g of Eguan Shi, 10 walnut kernels, 9g of Xingren (Apricot kernel), 12g of Laifuzi (Radish seed), and 3g of Gancao. Decoct in water and drink. For pulmonary tuberculosis (empirical formula) Take 15g each of Xiyangshen (American ginseng), Zhenzhu (Pearl), Beimu (Fritillaria), Yiren (Coix seed), Eguan Shi (stalactite), and Baihe (Lily bulb). Grind together into fine powder. Take 6g each time with boiled water, morning and evening.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for oral administration: Take 9–15 g of É Guǎn Shí, crush it and decoct first, then strain and drink the liquid. This is the most common method. Powder for oral administration: Grind É Guǎn Shí into fine powder. Take 0.3–1.5 g each time with warm water. Pills: Prepare into pills according to prescription and take.
Medicinal Parts
Calcareous skeleton (animal source) or fine tubular aggregate (mineral source).
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a dry place, protected from dust.
