Chái Gé Jiě Jī Tāng

柴葛解肌汤

Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction to Release the Muscle Layer

Disclaimer    For educational purposes only.  Do not use as medical advice

AboutChinese MedicineCaution/Notes
Health Benefits
For:
Atributes:
Products
 

Tablets

  

Pills

  

Capsules

  

Granules
Other Names:
Research 

Category: Release Exterior ⌕ 
Subcategory: Wind Heat  Source: Shang Han Liu Shu  
Actions: Release pathogenic factor from the muscle layer and clears interior heat . [31]
Diagnosis
Tongue: thin, yellow coat      Pulse: floating, mild flooding    Other: 
Patterns: Wind Cold (Tai Yang/Yang Ming combination) 
Indications: Exterior Wind-Cold (Taiyang) transforming into interior Heat (Yangming) [35] • External W-C attack, enters interior and transform into Heat: Aversion to cold getting milder, fever severer, no sweating, headache; Interior Heat of Shaoyang and Yangmin starts: Painful eyes and eye pit, dry nose, restlessness, insomnia, dry throat, deaf, thin yellow tongue coating, floating and a bit flooding pulse.[31] • Treats Tai Yang, Yang Ming, and Shao Yang [42]
Contraindications: Not for Exterior pathogen hasn’t enters interior or with Yangming Fu-organ excessive syndrome [31] • Not for pure Wind Heat disorders[42]
Description
Name Variations: Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, 柴葛解肌汤, Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction to Release the Muscle Layer,
Herb List: Ge Gen(K) • Chai Hu(K) • Bai Zhi(M) • Qiang Huo(M) • Huang Qin(M) • Shi Gao(M) • Jie Geng(A) • Bai Shao(A) • Da Zao(A) • Sheng Jiang(A) • Gan Cao(E)
Commentary: Half and half or 2nd stage of Wind Cold. Less chills and fever but start to have muscles ache, headache, feels heavy and fatigued, no longer Wind Cold but call cold and damp. You will feel warm inside, cold outside. Most are Wind Damp Cold herbs. Stages: Wind Cold -->Wind Damp Cold-->Internal Heat. Only Huang Qin and Shi Gao clears heat.[31] • Wind Cold (first 24 hours) - Gui Zhi Tang, then can becomes deeper with headaches (Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San), then even deeper with whole muscle ache (Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang), then deeper with different pathways. If high fever (Bai Hu Tang); Chills and Fever (Xiao Chai Hu Tang); If moves to Yang Ming the use (Da Chai Hu Tang)[42] • MODIFICATIONS: Taiyang pathogen severe: (-) Huang Qin, (+) Ma Huang, Su Ye (for Summer and Autumn); Severe heat injures body fluid: Tian Hua Fen ; Not obvious aversion to cold, but excessive interior heat: Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, Increase Shi Gao. [31]
Related Formulas:
NCCAOM: The 5 NCCAOM formulas for Wind Heat are Yín Qiào Sǎn, Sāng Jú Yǐn, Chái Gé Jiě Jī Tāng, Shēng Má Gě Gēn Tāng, and Jiā Jiǎn Wēi Ruí Tāng. • Yin Qiao San is for a severe early-stage infection with obvious heat and toxicity. • Sang Ju Yin is for mild Wind-Heat causing cough and eye disorders, slight thirst. • Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang is for when Wind Cold transforms into interior Yang Ming channel heat, causing severe fever, no sweating, painful eyes, dry nose, dry throat, thin yellow tongue coating. Treats Tai Yang, Yang Ming, and Shao Yang channel symptoms. • Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang is for early stage of rashes due to externally contracted Heat (initial measle stage or measles unable to vent) • Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang is for exterior Wind-Heat with Yin deficiency.
Herbs Cat/Dosage Actions Attributes
Ge Gen • 
Kudzu Root •  葛根 		Release Exterior Wind Heat Generate fluid • Release muscle layer heat • Raise clear yang of yang brightness • Vent rashes • Treats diarrhea • Release Exterior • Guide herbs to Yang Ming and Tai Yin JingBest for treating stiffness in upper back and neck. Ge Fen (葛粉)is a powdered form used as an antacid, stomach discomfort from poor dietary habits • Good for acute eye issues with heat related symptoms -12-15g raw, up to 24g Antidiabetic • Antidiarrheal • Antiplatelet • Antipyretic • Antispasmodic • Hypotensive • Vasodilative
Chai Hu • 
Thorowax • 柴胡 		Release Exterior Wind Heat Harmonize interior and exterior • Reduce fevers • Reduce chills • Soothe liver Qi • Clear muscle layer heat • Tonify stomach Qi • Guide herbs to Shao Yang Jing Antibiotic • Antipyretic • Anti-inflammatory • Antibaterial • Antiviral • Analgesic • Hepatoprotective • Immunemodulatory • Chemoprotective • Anti-tumor • Cholagogic • Sedative • Immunostimulate
Bai Zhi • 
Dahurian Angelica • 白芷 		Release Exterior Wind Cold release exterior, expel wind cold, dissolve pus, relieve nasal/sinus congestion and frontal headaches, reduce swelling, reduce vaginal discharge, guide herbs to yang ming jingThis herb is drying. antimicrobial • analgesic • anti-inflammatory • antibaterial • laxative • sedative
Qiang Huo • 
Notopterygium Root • 羌活 		 Release Exterior Wind Cold relieve occipital headaches • ease bi zheng in upper body • dispel cold • release exterior • dry superficial dampness • guide herbs to Tai Yang jingBest for occipital headaches antipyretic, analgesic, vasodilator
Huang Qin •  
Baical Skullcap Root • 黄芩 		 Clear Heat Dry Dampness Clear heat • Dry dampness • Stop bleeding • Calm fetus • Calm liver yang rising • Clear damp heat • Guide herbs to Shao Yang Jing Antibiotic • Anti-inflammatory • Antioxidative • Antipyretic • Cholagogic • Hepatoprotective • Hypoglycemic • Hypotensive • Neuroprotective • Sedative
Shi Gao • Gypsum • 石膏  Clear Heat Drain Fire Clear heat • Drain fire • Clear High fever • Stop thirst • Promote flesh healing [18] antipyretic • Immunostimulant
Jie Geng  •
Platycodon Root • 桔梗  		 Phlegm Cold Disperse Lung qi • Expel mucus • Soothe sore throat • Guide other herbs to upper body • Treat abscesses • Move Qi upward • Guide herbs upward Expectorant • Hypoglycemic • Anticholesterol • Antifungal
Bai Shao •
White Root Peony • 白芍  		 Tonify Blood Nourish blood • Regulate menses • Soothes liver • Relieve pain • Preserve yin • Reduce spasms • Harmonize Ying and Wei QiDao Di: Zhe Jiang • AKA Shao Yao analgesic • antibacterial • anti-inflammatory • hepatoprotective • immune system boost • sedative
Da Zao •
Jujube • 大枣  		 Tonify Qi Tonify spleen • Tonify qi • Calm the spirit • Harmonize other herb's properties • Nourish blood  antibaterial • antidepressant • anti-inflammatory • anodyne • antifungal • hepatoprotective • hypotensive • sedative
Sheng Jiang •
Ginger (Raw) • 生姜  		 Release Exterior Wind Cold Release exterior • Stops vomiting • Relieve Nausea • Stops cough • Reduce herb toxicity • Regulate central flow of Qi Expectorant • Cough Suppressant • Digestive • Hypotensive • Antiplatelet • Stimulant • Analgesic • Anti-inflammatory • Antipyretic • Cholagogic • Antiemetic • Antimutagenic
Gan Cao •
Licorice Root • 甘草  		 Tonify Qi Tonify Spleen Qi • Tonify Heart qi • Clear heat • Resolve toxicity • Stop cough • Dispel phlegm • Lubricate lungs • Stop wheezing • Reduce spasm • Relieve pain • Harmonize other herb effects • enters 12 channelsEnters all 12 channels, often serve as envoy in a formula. Hypoglycemic • Antiarrhythmic • Hypertensive • Expectorant • Antidiarrheal • Antiulcer • Hepatoprotective • Immunostimulant • Antitussive • Antiviral • Detox • Demulcent • Anti-inflammatory • Laxative • Emmenagogue • Antimicrobial • Spasmolytic • Corticosteroidal
♠ King/Chief    ♥ Minister/Deputy     ♣ Assistant     ♦ Envoy
Directions: 
Modifications For
- Huang Qin + Ma Huang + Zu Su Ye Severe Tai Yang pathogens 31
+ Tian Hua Fen Severe heat injures body fluid 31
+ Jin Yin Hua + Lian Qiao + Shi Gao Excessive interior heat, no aversion to cold 31

Caution

ALERT: Contraindications of each herb - use with caution under these conditions:
Ge Gen:
Chai Hu: Dries Yin and can exacerbate the Yin deficiency • Do not use as intramuscular injections • Liver fire • Hyperactive liver yang • Cytochrome P450, 2C9, 2E1, 2D6, and 3A4 • Greater than 19g may lead to liver injury
Bai Zhi: Yin deficiency • Blood heat • Blood deficiency • Anticoagulant drugs • Blood pressure medication • Anti-depressant drugs • Terfenadine (antihistamine)
Qiang Huo: Yin deficiency • Blood deficiency, Bi Zheng with red tongue and light/no coat
Huang Qin: Pregnancy • Children • Breast feeding • Deficiency heat in lungs • Middle burner cold • Restless fetus from cold • Edema • Blood deficiecy abdominal pain • Spleen deficiency • Kidney deficiency diarrhea • Poor appetite • Blood deficiency • High risk pregnancy • Fetal heat
Shi Gao: Cold and deficiency of Spleen and Stomach • Qi Deficiency • Yin Deficiency
Jie Geng : Blood-stained mucus • Hypoglycemia • Tuberculosis • Anti-diabetic drugs
Bai Shao: Deficiency cold • Breast feeding • Pregnancy • Bleeding Disorder • Scheduled Surgery
Da Zao: Epigastric discomfort and bloating • Food stagnation • Damp excess • Damp Phlegm • Intestinal worms
Sheng Jiang: Lung heat • Dry cough • Phlegm heat • Full heat • Yin deficiency with heat • Vomiting from stomach heat • Gallstones • Exterior deficiency with unexplained sweating • Horse meat
Gan Cao: High blood pressure • Low potassium • Seaweed • Medications: Gan Cao can interact with various medication. See Pharma Interaction section.
Notes

 

Bibliography: [3], [8], [9], [14]

Information in this post came from many sources, including class notes, practitioners, websites, webinars, books, magazines, and editor's personal experience.  While the original source often came from historical Chinese texts,  variations may result from the numerous English translations.   Always consult a doctor prior to using these drugs.  The information here is strictly for educational purposes. 

Go to Bibliography

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *