Guī Pí Tāng

(Restore the Spleen Decoction)

Sub-Category:

• Formulas that Tonify the Qi

Pattern:

• Spleen Qi deficiency with Heart Blood and Yin deficiency

Actions:

• Tonifies Blood and Qi
• Nourishes the Heart and strengthens the Spleen.

Indications:

• Fatigue, poor memory, palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, phobias, poor sleep or dream disturbed sleep, poor appetite, sallow complexion, withdrawal, low-grade fever, and night sweating
• Early periods with loss of excess pale blood, continuous spotting, blood in the stool, leukorrhea, metrostaxis, and metrorrhagia.

Possible Tongue Appearance:

• Pale tongue with a thin white coat, possibly swollen

Possible Pulse Patterns:

• Thin and weak pulse

Western Uses:

• Neurasthenia
• Psycho-Emotional Disorders
• Post concussion Syndrome
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Congestive Heart Disease
• Supraventricular Tachycardia
• Anemia
• Thrombocytopenic or Allergic Purpura
• Cervicitis
• Functional Uterine Bleeding

Cautions, Contraindications, Herb Drug Interactions:

• Do not use in cases of interior full heat, or Yin deficient heat with a rapid and thin pulse

Preparation Notes:

• Decoction. Ren Shen is commonly replaced by 2-3 times the dosage of Dang Shen, and Fu Shen is often substituted for Fu Ling.

Originally Appeared In:

• Formulas to Aid the Living (Ji Sheng Fang)

Combined Channels of all herbs in this formula:

• Lungs, Spleen, Stomach, Heart, Gall Bladder, Liver, Large Intestine

Substances in this Formula (12 Total):

	Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) 人参 Qty: 3-6 grams Chan: LU, SP Prop: Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Warm Latin: Radix Ginseng Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi
	Huang Qi (Astragalus) 黄芪 Qty: 9-12 grams Chan: LU, SP Prop: Sweet, Slightly Warm Latin: Radix Astragali Membranacei Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi
	Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes Rhizome) 白术 Qty: 9-12 grams Chan: SP, ST Prop: Bitter, Sweet, Warm Latin: Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi
	Fu Ling (Sclerotium of Tuckahoe, China Root, Poria, Hoelen) 茯苓 Qty: 9-12 grams Chan: HT, SP, LU Prop: Sweet, Bland, Neutral Latin: Scierotium Poriae Cocos Cat: Herbs that Regulate Water and Drain Dampness
	Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed, Zizyphus - Raw Herb Shown) 酸枣仁 Qty: 9-12 grams Chan: GB, HT, LIV, SP Prop: Sweet, Sour, Neutral Latin: Semen Zizyphi Spinosae Cat: Herbs that Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit
	Long Yan Rou (Flesh of the Longan Fruit) 龙眼肉 Qty: 6-9 grams Chan: HT, SP Prop: Sweet, Warm Latin: Arillus Euphoriae Longanae Cat: Herbs that Tonify Blood
	Mu Xiang (Costus Root, Saussurea) 木香 Qty: 3-6 grams Chan: GB, LI, SP, ST Prop: Spicy, Bitter, Warm Latin: Radix Auklandiae Lappae Cat: Herbs that Regulate the Qi
	Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root) 炙甘草 Qty: 3-6 grams Chan: All 12 Channels Prop: Sweet, Warm Latin: Radix Glycyrrhizae Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi
	Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica Root) 当归 Qty: 6-9 grams Chan: HT, LIV, SP Prop: Sweet, Spicy, Bitter, Warm Latin: Radix Angelicae Sinensis Cat: Herbs that Tonify Blood
	Yuan Zhi (Chinese Senega Root) 元志 Qty: 3-6 grams Chan: HT, LU, LIV Prop: Bitter, Spicy, Slightly Warm Latin: Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae Cat: Herbs that Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit
	Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome) 生姜 Qty: 5 pieces Chan: LU, SP, ST Prop: Spicy, Warm Latin: uncooked Rhizoma Zingiberis Cat: Warm, Spicy Herbs that Release the Exterior
	Da Zao (Date, Jujube) 大枣 Qty: 1 piece Chan: SP, ST Prop: Sweet, Warm Latin: Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi

Comments

The views and opinions expressed in the "Comments" section are posted by anonymous visitors to the sacredlotus.com website, and do not neccessarily reflect the views or opinions of Sacred Lotus Arts.

This is a great formula for nourishing the heart.

References

Formulas

• 15. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies (First Edition) - Dan Bensky
• 18. Handbook of Chinese Herbal Formulas (First Edition) - Him Che. Yeung
• 16. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Study Guide (First Edition) - Qiao Yi

Herbs

• 13. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Revised Edition) - Dan Bensky
• 25. Lancet 2000 January 8;355(9198):134-138 (Article) - Fugh-Berman A.
• 17. Handbook of Chinese Herbs (Second Edition) - Him Che. Yeung
• 12. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology (First Edition) - John K. Chen, Tina T. Chen
• 26. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals (Third Edition) - Max Wichtl

Only use Chinese herbs or formulas under the direct care and supervision of a licensed Acupuncturist/Herbalist. Some of the substances included on this website are no longer used, and are included for historical reference only.