Home   ›  Back To Chinese Formulas

Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)

Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)

‹ PREVIOUS NEXT ›

Formula 4 of 25 in Formulas that Release the Exterior

Buy This Formula
Get free shipping from
our partners at CHD

Sub-Category:

  • Formulas that Release Early-Stage Exterior Disorders

Pattern:

  • Exterior Wind-Cold from Deficiency

Actions:

  • Harmonizes the Ying and Wei Qi, releases the muscle layer

Indications:

  • Deficient Wind Cold condition, chills and fever that are not alleviated by sweating, stiff neck, headache, aversion to wind

Possible Tongue Appearance:

  • Thin white tongue coat

Possible Pulse Patterns:

  • Floating and Moderate
  • Frail pulse

Western Uses:

  • Common Cold
  • Influenza
  • Postpartum Care
  • Morning Sickness
  • Skin Diseases such as Frostbite, Eczema, and Tinea

Cautions, Contraindications, Herb Drug Interactions:

  • Not for exterior excess Wind Cold patterns or Wind Heat patterns
  • Not for damp heat or internal heat patterns.
  • Do not use while consuming alcohol.

Originally Appeared In:

  • On Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun)

Notes:

  • This formula is best used when there is sweating with an exterior cold condition, the Wei (protective) Qi is unable to protect the exterior and the Ying (nutritive) Qi can not nurture the interior.

Combined Channels of all herbs in this formula:

  • Lungs, Heart, Bladder, Spleen, Liver, Stomach

There are 5 Substances in this Chinese Medicne

Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig, Cassia Twig)
Quantity = 9 grams
Warm Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae)
Channels:
HT, LU, BL
Properties:
Spicy, Sweet, Warm
Latin:
Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae
Chinese:
桂枝
Tone Marks:
guì zhī
Bai Shao (White Peony Root)
Quantity = 9 grams
Cool Bai Shao (Radix Albus Paeoniae Lactiflorae)
Channels:
LIV, SP
Properties:
Bitter, Sour, Cool
Latin:
Radix Albus Paeoniae Lactiflorae
Chinese:
白芍
Tone Marks:
bái sháo
Alt Names:
Bai Shao Yao
Translation:
White Peony
Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome)
Quantity = 9 grams
Warm Sheng Jiang (uncooked Rhizoma Zingiberis)
Channels:
LU, SP, ST
Properties:
Spicy, Warm
Latin:
uncooked Rhizoma Zingiberis
Chinese:
生姜
Tone Marks:
shēng jiāng
Da Zao (Date, Jujube)
Quantity = 5-12 pieces
Warm Da Zao (Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae)
Channels:
SP, ST
Properties:
Sweet, Warm
Latin:
Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae
Chinese:
大枣
Tone Marks:
dà zăo
Alt Names:
Hong Zao, Hei Da Zao, Hei Zao
Translation:
Big Date
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root)
Quantity = 6 grams
Warm Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae)
Channels:
All 12 Channels
Properties:
Sweet, Warm
Latin:
Radix Glycyrrhizae
Chinese:
炙甘草
Tone Marks:
zhì gān căo

Find Similar Chinese Formulas

Sacred Lotus can compare the Chinese herbs in this formula to all other formulas on the website. Formula archetypes will list of formulas that have similar herbs, ranked by the number of herbs that match:

Get Formula Archetypes

References Used

The TCM information presented here has been referenced from numerous sources; including teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the following books, as well as other sources. If you have benefited from this information, please consider supporting the authors and their works by purchasing the books below.

Chinese Formulas Books/References

Browse All Chinese Medicine Reference Texts ▶

Live Search

Search results appear here.

General Formulas

Chinese Formulas Home Chinese Formulas Alphabetical Chinese Formulas Archetypes Chinese Formulas Preparation