Witnessed by: TCM
Stalactite (Calcite), of the carbonate mineral (speleothem) family. Tapering conical or tubular pendants of banded white to yellowish carbonate, radiating-fibrous within, hollow at the growing tip; native range: limestone caves, where lime-charged water drips from the roof and leaves its stone behind. Globally recognized as 鐘乳石 zhong ru shi, 石鐘乳 shi zhong ru in Chinese, and stalactite, dripstone in English. The part used is the stone, broken and ground. Chalky white to buff, faintly translucent at the tip, showing concentric rings on a broken face; fizzes in vinegar.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
STALACTITE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- stalactite
- Scientific name
- Calcite (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃ — the stalactitic form)
- Family
- carbonate mineral (speleothem)
Form
- Part used
- the stone, broken and ground
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet
Temperature
- TCM
- warm
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Kidney · Stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- warms the Lung and directs qi downward to stop cough and wheezing, warms Kidney yang and strengthens the sinew and bone, promotes lactation, and settles a cold and painful Stomach
Cautions
- Contraindications
- cough from Lung heat or yin deficiency, and any pattern with heat signs; not for long use
- Toxicity
- prolonged use is warned against in the old texts, which hold that it accumulates and breeds heat and stone; cave carbonate may carry heavy metals from the ground it drips through
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