Restore the Spleen Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Gui Pi Tang
English Translation: Restore the Spleen Decoction
Formula Type: Tonifies Qi and Blood
Actions: Augments the qi, tonifies the blood, strengthen the Spleen, & nourishes the Heart.
Indications: Forgetfulness, palpitation (with or without anxiety), insonnia, dream-distrubed sleep, anxiety & phobia, feverishness, withdrawal, reduced appetite, a pallid & wan complexion, a pale tongue with a thin, white coating, & a thin, frail pulse. Chronic bleeding syndromes may also be part of the presentation. Women may experience early periods with copious, pale blood or prolonged, almost continuous periods with little flow.
Contraindications: Unknown.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 3g (3-6g) |
view: Huang Qi |
Dry-fried Astragalus | 3g (9-12g) |
view: Bai Zhu |
White Atractylodes | 3g (9-12g) |
view: Fu Ling |
Poria | 3g (9-12g) |
view: Suan Zao Ren (Chao) |
Dry-fried Jujube-Zizyphus Seed | 3g (9-12g) |
view: Long Yan Rou |
Longan | 3g (6-9g) |
view: Mu Xiang |
Aucklandia / Saussurea | 1.5g (3-6g) |
view: Zhi Gan Cao |
Honey-fried Licorice | 0.9g (3-6g) |
view: Dang Gui |
Angelica Sinensis | 3g (6-9g) |
view: Yuan Zhi |
Polygala | 3g (3-6g) |
Ren Shen / Panax Ginseng | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage1-9g, up to 30 grams (hemorrhagic shock) |
ActionsRen Shen / Panax Ginseng is used in treating patterns of qi, yang & yin deficiency.1. Strongly tonifies the basal qi: for extreme collapse of the qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow respiration, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, & a minute or weak pulse. The herb is used alone for this condition after severe loss of blood. 2. Tonifies the Lungs & augments the qi: for wheezing, shortness of breath, & labored breathing with exertion caused by Lung qi deficiency. There is usually also a concurrent failure of the Kidneys to grasp the qi. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & tonifies the Stomach: for lethargy, lack of appetite, chest & abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea, & in severe cases, prolapse of the stomach, uterus, or rectum. 4. Generates fluids & stops thirst: for wasting & thirsting disorders, as well as in cases when the qi & fluids have been injured by high fever & profuse sweating. 5. Benefits the Heart qi & calms the spirit: for palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, & restlessness due to qi & blood deficiency. Notes: Red Ginseng is more warming than White Ginseng. American Ginseng is considered cool and is better suited for those patients having a tendency towards heat signs. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, heat excess, or in the absence of significant qi deficiency. Contraindicated for hypertensive patient with ascendant Liver yang, & in cases of very high blood pressure (systolic over 180mmHg). Overdose can lead to headache, insomnia, palpitations, & a rise in blood pressure. The traditional antidote is mung bean soup. This herb may antagonize wu ling zhi & may be incompatible with li lu. Patients taking this herb are advised to abstain from drinking tea & eating tunips, as this may reduce the effect of the herb. |
Huang Qi / Astragalus | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage9-30g, 30-60g exceptional cases |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen deficiency presenting with lack of appetite, fatigue, & diarrhea.2. Raises the yang qi of the Spleen & Stomach: for prolapse disorders such as prolapsed uterus, stomach, or rectum; also for uterine bleeding. 3. Augments the protective qi & stabilizes the exterior: for deficiency with spontaneous sweating, as the herb stabilizes the protective qi. It also tonifies the Lungs & is used for frequent colds or shortness of breath. Depending on the combination of herbs, it may be used for excessive sweating associated with qi, yang, or yin deficiency. Its action in stabilizing the exterior may be used to produce a therapeutic sweat when diaphoretics do not work. 4. Tonifies the qi & blood: for post partum fever due to qi & blood deficiency. Also used in the recovery stage from severe loss of blood. 5. Promotes urination & reduces edema: for edema from deficiency. 6. Promotes the discharge of pus & generates flesh: for chronic ulceration & sores due to deficiency that have formed pus but have not drained or healed well. 7. In appropriate circumstances, for wasting & thirsting disorder, numbness of the limbs, paralysis, & painful obstruction. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsSince this herb raises the yang, tonifies the qi, & stabilizes the exterior, it should no be used in cases of exterior excess, qi stagnation, damp obstruction, food stagnation, yin deficiency with heat signs, or skin lesions neither in their early stages nor where there is heat toxin. |
Bai Zhu / Atractylodes (White) Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen or Stomach deficiency with such symptoms as diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, & vomiting.2. Strengthens the Spleen & dries dampness: for digestive disorders due to Spleen yang failing to rise, with loss of its ability to transform & subsequent accumulation of dampness. Also for edema & reduced urination associated with Spleen deficiency. Used as an auxiliary herb for damp painful obstruction. 3. Stabilizes the exterior & stops sweating: for spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency. 4. Strengthens the Spleen & calms the fetus: for restless fetus disorder, especially when due to Spleen deficiency. Also for other types of this disorder when combined with appropriate herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or injured fluids. |
Fu Ling / Poria, Hoelen, Tuckahoe | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bland • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Drain Damp • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage9-15g, up to 60g |
Actions1. Promotes urination & leaches out dampness: for urinary difficulty, diarrhea, or edema due to stagnation of fluids or dampness. Also used in cases of scanty urine due to damp-heat (more often in its red form).2. Strengthens the Spleen & harmonizes the middle burner: for Spleen deficiency compounded by dampness with such symptoms as loss of appetite, diarrhea, & epigastric distention. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & transforms phlegm: for Spleen deficiency with congested fluids in which phlegm moves upward with such symptoms as palpitations, headache, dizziness, & a thick, greasy tongue coating. 4. Quites the Heart & calms the spirit: for palpiations, insomnia, or forgetfulness. |
MeridiansHeart, Spleen, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of frequent, copious urine due to cold from deficiency. May counteract di yu, qin jiao & bie jia. Taking this herb in large doses or long-term is discouraged. |
Suan Zao Ren (Chao) / Jujube (Sour) Seed, prepared | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Sour, Bitter • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Nourish Heart | |||
Dosage9-18g decoction, 1.5-3g powder |
Actions1. Nourishes the Heart yin, augments the Liver blood, & quites the spirit: for irritability, insomnia, & blood palpitations with anxiety due to either blood deficiency (inability to nourish the heart) or yin deficiency (with upward-rising fire).2. Prevents abnormal sweating: for both spontaneous sweating & night sweats. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Heart, Liver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of severe diarrhea or heat excess. |
Long Yan Rou / Longan Fruit Flesh | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage6-15g, large dose up to 30g, often eaten alone or infusion |
ActionsTonifies & augments the Heart & Spleen, nourishes the blood, & calms the spirit: for insomnia, heart palpitations, forgetfulness, or dizziness due to Heart & Spleen deficiency. Commonly used for problems associated with an excess of pensiveness or overwork.Chinese Longan Fruit is sweeter than the Thailandese Longan Fruit |
MeridiansHeart, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of phlegm-fire or dampness in the middle burner. |
Mu Xiang / Saussurrea or Aucklandia Root | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Promotes the movement of qi & alleviates pain: for Speen or Stomach stagnant qi with such symptoms as lack of appetite, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea, & vomiting. Also used for stagnant Liver or Gallbladder qi with such symptoms as flank pain, distention, or soreness.2. Adjusts & regulates stagnant qi in the Intestines: for diarrhea & dysentric disrders, or for abdominal pain & tenesmus. Because of its slightly astringent property, this is a common herb for treatnig tenesmus. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & prevents stagnation: used with tonifying herbs to ameliorate their side effects. Especially useful when the transformative & transportive functions of the Spleen are weak. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency or depleted fluids. |
Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |
Dang Gui / Angelica (Chinese) Root | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage3-15g |
Actions1. Tonifies the blood & regulates the meses: for patterns of blood deficiency with such symptoms as a pallid, ashen complexion, tinnitus, blurred vision, & palpitations. Also very commonly used fro blood deficiency associated with menstrual disorders such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, etc.2. Invigorates & harmonizes the blood & disperses cold: an important herb for stopping pain due to blood stasis. Commonly used for abdominal pain, traumatic injury, & carbuncles due to blood stasis, especially when there is also cold from deficiency. Also used in the treatment of blood deficiency with chronic wind-damp painful obstruction. 3. Moistens the Intestiones & unblocks the bowels: for dry Intestines due to blood deficiency. 4. Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh, & alleviates pain: used in treating sores & abscesses where its ability to both tonify & invigorate the blood leads to improvement. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of diarrhea or abdominal distention due to damp obstruction. Contraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. |
Yuan Zhi / Polygala Root | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Slighty warm • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Nourish Heart | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Calms the spirit & quiets the Heart: for insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness, & disorientation. Most effective in cases related to excessive brooding or constrained, pent-up emotions.2. Expels phlegm & clears the orifices: used when phlegm envelopes the orifices of the Heart with such manifestations as emotional & mental disorientation or seizures. 3. Expels phlegm from the Lungs: for coughs with copious sputum, especially when difficult to expectorate. 4. Reduces abscesses & dissipates swellings: for boils, abscesses, sores, & swolllen & painful breasts. Used in powdered form & applied topically or taken with wine. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. Use with caution in cases with ulcers or gastritis. May counteract with zhen zhu & li lu. |