HERB FORMULAS

GUI ZHI TANG

English: Cinnamon Twig Decoction
Also Known As: Cinnamon Combination

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi 4-9g Releases the exterior, adjusts the Ying and Wei, warms the channels and collaterals to relieve pain, disperses Cold, unblocks Yang, transforms Qi and releases the muscle layer.
With Bai Shao, harmonizes the Ying and Wei and warms and tonifies the Middle Jiao.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 4-9g Astringes the Yin and adjusts the Ying and Wei.
Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang 3-9g Helps release the exterior, treats nausea and vomiting. strengthens the spreading and mobilizing actions of the other herbs and adjusts the Ying and Wei.
 With Zhi Gan Cao, harmonizes and regulates the Spleen and Stomach.
With Da Zao, regulates disharmony between the Ying and Wei. and benefits the Middle Qi.
Fr. Zizyphi Jujube Da Zao 3-12g Helps Bai Shao regulate the Ying and Wei.
With Gan Cao, tonifies and harmonizes the Middle Jiao .
Fried Rx. Glycyrrhizae Zhi Gan Cao 2-6 Resolves Phlegm, stops cough, clears Heat and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of the other herbs.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Releases Wind-Cold from the muscle layer
  • Regulates and harmonizes the Ying and Wei

SYNDROMES

  • Wind-Cold attacking the Exterior with deficiency of Ying and Wei
  • Tai Yang Zhong Feng

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Fever and chills unrelieved by sweating
  • Headache
  • Spontaneous perspiration
  • Decreased body resistance
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Nasal congestion
  • No thirst
  • Dry heaves
  • Stiff neck
  • T: Normal
  • C: White and moist
  • P: Floating and moderate or Floating and weak or slow

TREATS

  • Common cold
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Influenza
  • Postpartum fever
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Angioedema
  • Cerebrovascular spasm
  • Eczema
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Testicular pain
  • Appendicitis
  • Allergic purpura
  • Enuresis
  • Urticaria
  • Morning sickness
  • Frostbite
  • Tinea
  • Neuralgia
  • Abdominal pain due to chills
  • Eclampsia
  • Neurasthenia
  • Atrioventricular blockage
  • Hernia
  • Sciatica
  • Itching
  • Hyperactivity disorder

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Exterior Cold with Interior Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those with Tai Yang Shang Han.
  • Contraindicated for those who drink alcohol frequently.
  • Use caution during the summer or spells of hot weather.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

  • Porridge should be consumed with this formula to strengthen the Interior.

MODIFICATIONS

For more fever that chills: For shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and rough breathing:
+ Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao + 9g Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po
+ Rz. Anemarrhenae
+ 9g Sm. Armeniacae
For a swollen, heavy sensation in the head:
For Wind-Cold Damp Bi:
+ Flos Chrysanthemi Ju Hua
+ Rz. Curcumae Longae
+ Periostracum Cicadae
+ Hb. Asari Xi Xin
For profuse sweating:
+ Rx. Clematidis
+ More Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao + Hb. Asari Xi Xin
+ 1/3 less Ram. Cinnamomi
For severe headache:
+ 1/3 less Glycyrrhizae Zhi Gan Cao
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba
+ Rx. Astragali
 + Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng + Rz. and Rx. Ligustici Gao Ben
For joint pain in the extremities accompanied by fatigue (Dampness):
For severe vomiting:
+ Rx. and Rz. Notopterygii Qiang Huo + more Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng + more Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang
For imbalance or Deficiency of Yin and Yang with nocturnal emission, excessive dreams, coldness of the external genitalia and a Deficient pulse:
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi
+ Fossilia Ossis Mastodi Long Gu + Cx. Magnoliae Hou Po
+ Concha Ostreae Sheng Mu Li
For psoriasis due to Wind-Cold:
For aversion to Cold, and anhidrosis:
+ 3g Rx. et Rz. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ Rx. Ephedrae Ma Huang + I3g Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Rx. Puerariae Ge Gen - Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
For neck and shoulder pain and severe body aches:
+ 12g Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao
+ 9g Rx. Puerariae Ge Gen + 12g Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui
For headache:
+ 12g Cx. Dictamni Bai Xian Pi
+ Rz. et Rx. Ligustici Gao Ben + 6g Rx. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong
+ Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong + 6g Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang
+ Rx. angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi + 6g Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren
For profuse white Phlegm:
For sneezing, runny nose and nasal obstruction:
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao + Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
- Fr. Jujube Da Zao + Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia
or
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi + Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
For convalescing patients:
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua
+ Minor Bupleurum Decoction
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
+ Hb. Schizonepetae Jing JIe
For incessant sweating:
For habitual Qi Deficiency:
+ 6g Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi + 12g Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
For habitual Yin Deficiency:
or
+ 12g Rz. Polygoni Odorati Yu Zhu + 6g Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen