HERB FORMULAS

GUI ZHI SHAO YAO ZHI MU TANG

English: Cinnamon Twig, Peony, and Anemarrhena Decoction
Also Known As: Cinnamon and Anemarrhena Combination

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi 3-12g Releases the Exterior, warms the channels and collaterals to relieve pain, disperses Cold, unblocks Yang, transforms Qi and releases the muscle layer.
 With Ma Huang, for Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
With Bai Shao,for External Wind-Cold with disharmony between the Ying and Wei, with spontaneous sweating.
With Zhi Fu Zi, for chills and painful extremities due to Yang Deficiency with Wind-Cold-Damp Bi and backache due to Wind-Cold Damp Bi.
Rx. Ephedrae Ma Huang 3-9g Releases the Exterior, disperses Cold, promotes urination and reduces edema.
Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi 0.5-15g Disperses Cold., warms the channels, warms the Spleen and dispels Dampness.
With Bai Zhu, for Wind-Damp Bi.
Rx. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu 3-12g Nourishes Yin, moistens Dryness, generates Fluids and ameliorates the dryness of tonifying or warming herbs.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 3-9g Nourishes Blood, astringes Yin and alleviates pain.
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu 4-15g Tonifies the Spleen, tonifies Qi, dries Dampness and stabilizes the exterior.
Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng 3-12g Releases the exterior, expels External Wind-Cold and Heat, expels Wind-Cold-Dampness and alleviates pain.
Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang 3-15g Strengthens the spreading and mobilizing actions of the other herbs.
With Zhi Gan Cao, harmonizes and regulates the Spleen and Stomach.
Baked Rx. Glycyrrhizae Zhi Gan Cao 1.5-6g Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Unblocks Yang Qi
  • Promotes the movement of Qi
  • Dispels Wind
  • Eliminates Dampness
  • Clears Heat
  • Unblocks the channels and collaterals
  • Stops pain

SYNDROMES

  • Recurrent Wind-Cold-Damp Bi
  • Wind-Damp Bi with formation of Heat
  • Wind-Phlegm-Dampness with formation of Heat

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Swollen painful joints (especially lower limbs)
  • Joints are warm to the touch (may be burning and swollen)
  • The pain is worse at night
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Chills
  • Anhidrosis
  • Weight loss
  • Shortness of breath
  • Muscular atrophy
  • Difficulty walking and moving
  • Thirst
  • Hemiplegia
  • Rigidity of the limbs
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Edema
  • Emaciation
  • Swollen feet
  • Numbness of the extremities
  • Paralysis
  • Fatigue
  • T: Normal
  • C: White and greasy or Thin, yellow and greasy
  • P: Wiry and slippery or Slippery and rapid

TREATS

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Connective tissue disorders
  • Gouty arthritis
  • Severe migratory arthralgia
  • Chronic arthritis
  • Periarthritis of the shoulder
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Cor pulmonare
  • Arthritis
  • Sequelae of cerebrovascular accident
  • General pain
  • Hyperpnea
  • Paresthesia
  • Muscular atrophy in the lower limbs
  • Psoriasis
  • Sciatica
  • Erythema nodosum
  • Sequelae of cerebrovasculitis with hemiplegia

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For severe pain and restricted movement that responds to warmth: For a heavy sensation throughout the body and worse in affected joints:
+ More Rx. Aconiti Preparata Zhi Fu Zi + More Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu
+ More Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang
or
or
+ More Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu
+ More Rx. Aconiti Preparata Zhi Fu Zi + More Rx. Aconiti Preparata Zhi Fu Zi
+ More Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang
For Blood and Yin Deficiencies:
+ More Ram Cinnamomi Gui Zhi + Rx. Rehmanniae Sheng Di Huang
For frequent recurrence of pain due to Qi Deficiency:
 + Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi
+ Rx. Astragali
Huang Qi
For more severe Dampness:
For Damp-Heat:
+ Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren
+ Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao + Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu
+ Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai
For Blood Stasis:
For pronounced Heat in the joints:
 + Olibanum Ru Xiang
+ More Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao + Myrrh Mo Yao
+ More Rx. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu
For symptoms that worsen at night:
+ Ram Mori Sang Zhi - Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ Ramus Lonicerae Ren Dong Teng + Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
For burning pain that is less during the day and worse at night:
For Blood Deficiency:
+ More Rx. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu + Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui
+ Rx. More Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao + Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong
+ More Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao + Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang
For paralysis and palsy:
+ Rx. Astragali
Huang Qi
+ Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae Han Fang Ji + Poria Fu Ling
+ Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen
For arthritis of the arms and shoulders:
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin + Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong + Hb. Asari Xi Xin
+ Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren + Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae Han Fang Ji
For fibromyalgia due to Qi and Blood Stagnation:
 + Poria Fu Ling
+ Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Coicis and Licorice Decoction
Ma Xing Yi Gan Tang
   
+ Major Saposhnikovia Decoction
Da Feng Fang Tang