Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Formula for Relieving Exterior-Gui Zhi Tang
     
                                  Gui Zhi Tang
                           (Cassia Twig Decoction )


SOURCE: Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold-Attack)
INGREDIENTS:
Gui Zhi (Cassia twig) 9 g
Bai Shao (White peony root) 9g
Zhi Gan Cao (Roasted licorice) 6g
Sheng Jiang (Fresh ginger) 9g
Da Zao (Chinese date) 3 pcs.
DIRECTIONS: The above herbs should be decocted in water for oral administration.
EFFECTS: Relieving muscles and the exterior, harmonizing the nutrient and defensive qi.
INDICATIONS: Exogenous attack of wind and cold manifested by headache, fever, sweating, aversion to wind stuffy
nose, retching, absence of thirst, white coating, floating loose or floating feeble pulse.
ANAL YSIS OF FORMULA:
This is a representative formula for treating the exterior deficient syndrome due to exogenous attack of wind and cold.
Being pun gent and sweet flavors and warm nature, acting on the Urinary Bladder Meridian, Gui Zhi (cassia twig) is the
main herb to reinforce the defensive qi and activate the nutrient qi for expelling the exterior wind-cold evil. With sour
and bitter flavors and slight cold nature, Bai Shao (white peony root) act as the assistant herb to nourish the nutrient qi
and astringe yin. The cooperation between Gui Zhi (cassia twig) and Bai Shao (white peony root) is to harmonize the
nutrient and defensive qj by means of dispersing and   astringing simultaneously. Sheng Jiang (Fresh ginger) as an
adjuvant herb assists Gui Zhi (cassia twig) in expelling the exterior evils. Da Zao (Chinese date) helps Bai Saho (white
peony root) harmonize the nutrient blood. Fresh ginger and Chinese date together can also assist Gui Zhi (cassia twig)
and Bai Shao (white peony root) in harmonizing the nutrient and defensive qj. Zhi Gan Cao (Roasted Jicorlcc) acts as
the dispatcher herb to harmonize all the components, besides, it can reinforce yang to relieve muscles by cooperating
with cassia twig as well as nourishing yin to harmonize the nutrient qi by cooperating with Bai Shao (white peony root).
This formula specially harmonize the nutrient and defensive qi and strengthen the genuine to expel evils, so it is different
from the other diaphoretic formulae. In addition to the exterior deficient syndrome due to wind and cold, it can also be
applied to miscellaneous internal diseases, rehabilitation of illness or delivery manifested by symptoms of disharmony
between the nutrient and defensive qi such as fever, sweating, a version to wind, floating loose pulse. However, it cannot
be applied to exterior excessiveness without sweating, or exterior cold with internal heat marked by absence of sweat
but fidget, or the beginning of warm diseases manifested by fever, thirst, sore throat, floating rapid pulse. If it is applied
erroneously to syndromes pertaining to exuberant heat, epistaxis will happen sometimes.
In the present clinic, this formula is usually applied to various skin diseases such as eczema, urticaria, polymorphic
erythema, prurigo and chilblain.
ASSOCIATED FORMULAE:
(1) Gui zhl jia ge gen tang ( Pueraria plus Cassia Twig Decoction) , (Shang Han Lun- Treatise on Cold-Attack) :
Ge Geng (Pueraria root) 12g, Gui Zhi (cassia twig) 6g, Bai Shao (white peony) root 6g, Sheng jiang (fresh ginger) 9g,
Zhi gan Cao (Roasted licorice root) 6g, Da Zao (Chinese date) 3 pcs.
All the above herbs should be decocted in water for oral use. It relieves muscles and the exterior, moistens vessels and
relaxes tendons and is applied to Taiyang diseases with symptoms of tight neck and back, sweating and aversion to
wind.
(2) Gui Zhl jia Hou Po Xing Zi tang (Magnolia and Apricot Kernel plus Cassia Twig Decoction ) , (Shang Han Lun
-Treatise on Cold-Attack) :
Gui Zhi (Cassia twig) 9g, Zhi Gan cao (Roasted licorice) 6g, Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger) 9g, Bai Shao (white peony root)
9g, Da Zao (Chinese date) 3 pcs. ,Hou Po (magnolia bark) 6g,Ku Xin Ren (bitter apricot kernel) 9g.
The above herbs should be decocted in water for oral use. It has the effects of relieving muscles and the exterior,
lowering qi to relieve asthma, so it is suitable to the chronic asthma with attack of wind-cold and symptoms indicated by
Cassia Twig Decoction, or the cases as the exterior syndrome of wind-cold is erroneously purged, the exterior
syndrome is not relieved but mild asthma appears.
NOTES: Both Gui zhl jia ge gen tang  (Pueraria plus Cassia Twig Decoction) and Gui Zhl jia Hou Po Xing Zl tang
(Magnolia and Apricot Kernel plus Cassia Twig Decoction) are modified from Gui Zhi Tang (Cassia Twig
Decoction).They all can be applied to the exterior deficient syndrome due to wind cold. Gui zhl jia ge gen tang  
(Pueraria plus Cassia Twig Decoction) is used for tight neck and back due to the meridian qi of Taiyang failing to
distribute body fluid, so Ge Geng (pueraria root) is added to relieve muscles and the exterior as well as promoting
production of body fluid for relieving tendons. While Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po tang (Magnolia and Ku Xin Ren Apricot
Kernel plus Cassia Twig Decoction) is to treat the remaining of exterior deficient syndrome with asthma, Hou Po
(magnolia bark), and Ku Xin Ren ( bitter apricot kernel) are added to lower qi for relieving asthma.

(3) Gui Zhi Jia Gui Tang (Cassia Twig plus Cassia Twig Decoction), (Shang Han Lin -Treatise on Cold-Attack) :
On the basis of Gui Zhi (Cassia Twig Decoction) additional 6 gram of Gui Zhi (cassia twig) is added. It is used to relieve
the exterior and muscles as well as lowering the rebellious qi. indications: After erroneous use of moxibustion or over
sweating, there appear symptoms such as paroxysmal gas pushing up to chest from the lower abdomen with epigastric
throb, shortness of breath and restlessness.
(4) Gui Zhi Jia Shao Yao Tang (Peony plus Cassia Twig Decoction) (Shang Han Lun- Treatise on Cold-Attack)
On the basis of Gui Zhi Tang (Cassia Twig Decoction) additional 9 gram of  Bai Shao (white peony root) is added. It
has the effects of relieving the exterior and harmonizing the interior. indications: After purgation is erroneously applied to
Taiyang diseases, the evil qi sinks in the Taiyin Meridian marked by abdominal distention and episodic abdominal pain
with staying of exterior syndrome.
NOTES: Both Gui Zhi Jia Gui Tang (Cassia Twig plus Cassia Twig Decoction) and Gui Zhi Jia Shao Yao Tang (Peony
plus Cassia Twig Decoction) are based on Cassia Twig Decoction with certain additional herbs.With 6 grams additional
cassia twig to Cassia Twig Decoction, the formula can not only expel the exogenous cold but also lower the rebellious
qi, so it is used to treat the running piggy syndrome. The purpose of doubling the dosage of Bai Shao (white peony root)
in Gui Zhi Jia Shao Yao Tang (Peony Jia us Cassia Twig Decoction) is to relieve spasm and pain.