Guì Zhī Tāng

Cinnamon Twig Decoction

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

AboutChinese MedicineCaution/Notes
Category: Release Exterior ⌕ 
Subcategory: Wind Cold               Source: Shang Han Lun 
Actions: Release pathogens from muscle layer • Harmonize Ying and Wei Qi [35]
Diagnosis
Tongue: thin, white      Pulse: floating, slow    Other: 
Patterns: Tai Yang Wind Attack, Exterior Wind Cold Deficiency, Wind Cold Hives 
Indications: Exterior Wind-Cold of deficiency type [35] • SWEATING, cold and flu symptoms, aversion to wind, fever, headache, sneezing, nausea, slow/floating pulse [31] • Deficient type of Wind Cold, stiff neck, nasal congestion, dry heaves, no particular thirst[35]
Contraindications: Exterior wind cold with NO sweating • Wind heat • Damp heat • Interior heat • spicy/cold/greasy food • alcohol • hot weather
Description
Name Variations: Gui Zhi Tang, 桂枝汤, Cinnamon Twig Decoction,
Herb List: Gui Zhi(K, 9g) • Bai Shao(M, 9g) • Sheng Jiang(A, 9g) • Da Zao(A, 12P) • Zhi Gan Cao(E, 6g)
Commentary: 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) • MODIFICATIONS: Severe Wind-cold: Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Dan Dou Chi; For weak body constitution: Huang Qi; With cough, wheezing: Xing Ren, Su Zi, Jie Geng
Related Formulas:
NCCAOM: The 6 NCCAOM formulas for Wind Cold are Má Huáng Tāng, Guì Zhī Tāng, Gé Gēn Tāng, Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Tāng, Xiāng Sū Sǎn, and Rén Shēn Bài Dú Sǎn. • Ma Huang Tang is for excess type with NO SWEATING, aversion to COLD, headache, body ache, wheezing, poor appetite, and cold/flu symptoms. • Ge Gen Tang is for excess type with NO SWEATING, stiff neck and upper back, nasal bleeding, scanty urine. • Xiao Qing Long Tang is for Wind Cold + congested phlegm fluid in the lungs, profuse watery phlegm, aversion to cold, NO SWEATING, white tongue coat. • Xiang Su San is for Wind Cold + Qi Stagnation, NO SWEATING, oppressed sensation in the chest and epigastric areas. Thin white coat. • Ren Shen Bai Du San is for Wind Cold + Qi Deficiency with aversion to cold, NO SWEATING, pale tongue, and external Wind Cold Damp. • Gui Zhi Tang is for deficient type with SWEATING, aversion to WIND, stiff neck, nasal congestion, dry heaves, cold/flu symptoms. Gui Zhi Tang seems to be the only formula for Wind Cold of the deficiency type.
Herbs Cat/Dosage Actions Attributes
Gui ZhiCinnamon Twig • 桂枝 Release Exterior Wind Cold Activate yang qi, warm yang, open channels, expel Wind Cold from muscle layer • warm Middle Jiao • regulate Wei Qi • improve circulation • relieve pain • thin mucus • treat chest BiPAIRS with Shao Yao and Fu Ling diuretic, anticoagulant, vasodilation, diaphoretic, antipyretic, emmenagogue, antiparasitic, cardiotonic, antibiotic, hypoglycemic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, sedative
Bai ShaoWhite Root Peony • 白芍♥ Tonify Blood
9g
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
Sheng Jiang • Ginger (Raw) • 生姜 Release Exterior Wind Cold
9g
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
Da ZaoJujube • 大枣 Tonify Qi
5g - 12g
Tonify spleen • Tonify qi • Calm the spirit • Harmonize other herb's properties • Nourish blood  antibaterial • antidepressant • anti-inflammatory • anodyne • antifungal • hepatoprotective • hypotensive • sedative
Zhi Gan CaoHoney Fried Licorice • 炙甘草 Tonify Qi
6g
Increase the effectiveness of Gan Cao, particularly with: Tonify middle • Tonify Heart and Spleen Qi • Harmonize other herbs Honey is a cardiotonic. Zhi Gan Cao is different from Gan Cao in that it nourishes the heart. Hypoglycemic • Antiarrhythmic • Expectorant • Antidiarrheal • Antiulcer • Hepatoprotective • Antiulcer • Immunostimulant • Antitussive • Antiviral • Detox • Demulcent • Anti-inflammatory • Laxative • Emmenagogue • Antimicrobial • Spasmolytic
King/Chief    ♥ Minister/Deputy      Assistant     ♦ Envoy
Directions:
Modifications For
+ Fang Feng + Xin Yi Hua Heavy nasal congestion, sneezing
+ Hou Po Shortness of breath and wheezing
Bai Shao + Chi Shao + Gao Ben Sever headache
+ Qiang Huo + Fang Feng Joint pain, fatique
+ Bai Shao + Sheng Jiang + Chen Pi + Hou Po Heavy vomiting
+ Qiang Huo + Fang Feng Joint pain, fatique 
+ Fang Feng + Jing Jie + Dan Dou Chi Severe Wind Cold 31
+ Huang Qi Weak body constitution 31
+ Xing Ren + Su Zi + Jie Geng Cough, wheezing 31

Caution

ALERT: Contraindications of each herb - use with caution under these conditions:
Huai Niu Xi: Pregnancy, Spleen deficiency diarrhea, Kidney Qi deficiency, profuse menstrual bleeding, spematorrhea
Dai Zhe Shi: pregnancy, not for long term use
Long Gu: Damp heat • Externally contracted excess • Bradycardia • Extrasystoles • Fire induced nocturnal discharge • Fish
Mu Li: damp heat • constipation
Gui Ban Jiao: pregnancy • damp cold • diarrhea
Bai Shao: Deficiency cold • Breast feeding • Pregnancy • Bleeding Disorder • Scheduled Surgery
Xuan Shen: Li Lu • Spleen and stomach damp cold • Antagonizes Huang Qi, Gan Jiang, Da Zao, Shan Zhu Yu
Tian Men Dong: Deficiency cold diarrhea
Yin Chen Hao: Blood deficiency • Vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea • Diuretic drugs • Blood pressure pills • Anticoagulant medication
Chuan Lian Zi:
Mai Ya:
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. 

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