HERB FORMULAS

LING GUI ZHU GAN TANG

English:	Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes and Licorice Decoction
Also Known As:	Atractylodes and Hoelen Formula

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin	*Pin Yin*	Dosage	Actions
Poriae	*Fu Ling*	6-15g	*Strengthens the Spleen, drains Dampness, harmonizes the Middle Jiao* and transforms Phlegm.** With Gui Zhi, warms and transforms Fluids, unblocks Yang and promotes urination. With Bai Zhu, strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness. With Gui Zhi and Bai Zhu, for Dampness Obstruction causing Lin syndrome, edema, heaviness of the body, and irritability. With Zhi Gan Cao, for Spleen and Heart Deficiency causing facial edema, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Ram. Cinnamomi	*Gui Zhi*	4-10g	*Warms the Yang, disperses Cold and helps to resolve congested fluids and descend rebellious Qi.* With Zhi Gan Cao, for palpitations and shortness of breath due to injured Yang of the chest. With Fu Ling, unblocks the Yang and facilitates the removal of congested fluids associated with Yang Deficiency edema. With Fu Ling, Bi Zhu and Zhi Gan Cao, for Phlegm accumulation with dizziness, fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, vertigo and palpitations.
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae	*Bai Zhu*	3-12g	Strengthens the transformative and transportive functions of the Spleen and dries Damp. With Fu Ling and Gui Zhi, for Spleen Deficiency with chest distention and edema. With Fu Ling and zhi Gan Cao, for Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata	*Zhi Gan Cao*	2-6g	*Augments Middle Jiao Qi,resolves Phlegm and strengthens the Spleen and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.*

FORMULA ACTIONS

Warms and transforms Phlegm and congested Fluids
Strengthens the Spleen
Resolves Dampness
Improves metabolic function

SYNDROMES

Heart Yang Not Vigorous: Water Qi Insults the Heart with Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency
Congested Fluids in the epigastrium
Phlegm Stagnation due to Spleen Yang Deficiency
Tan Yin
Injury from Cold due to improper use of purgatives or emetics

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

Fullness in the chest and hypochondrium
Palpitations
Shortness of breath
Coughing up clear, watery sputum
Dizziness
Vertigo (when standing)
Dyspnea
Anxiety
Tinnitus

Difficult urination
Mild edema
Cold feet
Headache
Migraine
Weak abdomen
T: Pale and swollen
C: White and slippery or greasy
P: Slippery and wiry or soggy or Soft or Deep and tight

TREATS

Meniere’s disease
Neurosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Chronic nephritis
Chronic gastritis
Chronic bronchitis
Bronchial asthma
Pulmonary emphysema
Cardiac edema
Nephritic edema
Hyperpnea
Dysuria
Neurasthenia
Hysteria
Instability of the autonomic nervous system
Coronary heart disease
Cor pulmonale
Myocarditis
Gastroptosis
Functional Stomach disorders
Pleurisy
Central serous retinopathy
Renal calculus
Pediatric inguinal hernia
Pediatric rhinitis
Motor dysfunction
Hydronephrosis
Polyhydramnios
Keshan disease
Migraine
Muscle Bi
Obesity

Motion sickness
Valvular disease
Cardiac asthma
Basedow's disease
Viral conjunctivitis
Chronic optic nerve disorders
Optic nerve atrophy
Nebulae
Anasarca
Renal atrophy
Hypertension
Hypotension
Sinusitis
Anemia
Rhinitis
Flushing up due to water poisoning
Basilar insufficiency
Mitral valve prolapse
Pericardial effusion
Peptic ulcer
Pertussis
Cataracts
Nephritis
Ascites
Hydrocele
Cardiac failure
Nephrotic syndrome
Anxiety
Hysteria
Vegetative nerve disturbance
Skin Bi

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated for those with congested Fluids due to Damp-Heat.
Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency or Body Fluid Insufficiency patterns.
Contraindicated for those with Liver Yang Rising patterns.

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For vomiting :		For vomiting with water and sputum:
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum	Zhi Ban Xia	+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum	Zhi Ban Xia
For severe belching and vomiting:		+ Per. Citri Reticulatae	Chen Pi
+ Calyx Kaki	Shi Di	For Spleen Qi Deficiency with fatigue and lethargy:
+ Fr. Amomi	Sha Ren	+ Rx. Codonopsis	Dang Shen
For asthma due to Lung Qi Deficiency:		For distention and pain in the epigastrium:
+ Rx. Astragalus	Huang Qi	+ Fr. Aurantii	Zhi Ke
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum	Zhi Ban Xia	+ Cx. Magnoliae	Hou Po
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae	Chen Pi	For Meniere’s disease or vertigo from hypotension:
+ Cx. Cinnamomi	Rou Gui	+ True Warrior Decoction Zhen Wu Tang
+ Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata	Zhi Fu Zi	For severe Spleen Qi Deficiency and abdominal pain due to Deficiency Cold:
For nausea or vomiting from profuse Phlegm Accumulation:		+ Regulate the Middle Pill Li Zhong Tang
+ Two-Cured Decoction Er Chen Tang		For diarrhea due to Spleen Deficiency and Damp Accumulation:
For generalized weakness and fatigue :		+ Calm the Stomach Powder Ping Wei San
+ Minor Construct the Middle Decoction Xiao Jian Zhong Tang		For epigastric distention or gurgling water sounds in the abdomen:
For cough with profuse sputum:		+ Fr. Aurantii Immaturus	Zhi Shi
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum	Zhi Ban Xia	For edema of the limbs with reduced urination:
+ Rx. Codonopsis	Dang Shen	+ Polyporus	Zhu Ling
For edema:		+ Rz. Alismatis	Ze Xie
+ Rx. Astragali	Huang Qi	For profuse sputum:
+ Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae	Han Fang Ji	+ Sm. Perillae	Zi Su Zi
+ Rz. Alismatis	Ze Xie	+ Sm. Lepidii/ Descurainiae	Ting Li Zi
For skin Bi:		+ Fr. Jujube	Da Zao
- Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata	Zhi Gan Cao	For muscle Bi:
+ 15g Sm. Coicis	Yi Yi Ren	- Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata	Zhi Gan Cao
+ 9g Cx. Acanthopanacis	Wu Jia Pi	+ 10g Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae	Du Huo
+ 6g Sm. Sinapis	Bai Jie Zi	+ !0g Rx. Puerariae	Ge Gen
+ 9g Fr. Chaenomelis	Mu Gua	+ 6g Rx. Aconiti Preparata	Zhi Chuan Wu
+ 9g Rx. Aucklandiae	Mu Xiang	+10g Fr. Chaenomelis	Mu Gua
+ 9g. Sm. Raphani	Lai Fu Zi	+ 10 g Fr. Liquidamberis	Lu Lu Tong
		+ 0.3g Sm. Strychni Preparatum	Zhi Ma Qian Zi