Gui Pi Tang, Restore the Spleen Decoction, is Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Suan Zao Ren, Long Yan Rou, Mu Xiang, Zhi Gan Cao, Dang Gui and Yuan Zhi. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that tonify Qi and Blood.

Herb

Amount

3 g

9 g

9 g

9 g

9 g

6 g

3 g

3 g

6 g

3 g

Actions and indications

Augments Qi and strengthens the Spleen

Heart Blood and Spleen Qi deficiency brought on by worry, overthinking or obsessive deliberation
Exhaustion following long worry, overwork, a long illness or loss of blood
Fatigue, lethargy and weakness, with a weak abdomen
Poor appetite and distension after eating
Pale, wan or sallow complexion
Low-grade fever, excessive sweating or night sweats in a setting of deficiency
Atrophy (Wei) disorder from Qi deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach

Nourishes the Blood and the Heart

Heart Blood deficiency
Palpitations, with or without anxiety, worse with exertion or worry
Insomnia with difficulty falling asleep, dream-disturbed sleep and nightmares
Poor memory, forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, poor concentration and a short attention span
Low spirits, depression and withdrawal; anxiety, fear, phobias and panic attacks
Mild dizziness on changing posture (sitting, rising or lying down) or when tired
Blurred vision and spots before the eyes
Pale lips and nails; dry skin and hair
Tongue pale, possibly swollen, with a thin white coat; pulse thready and weak, or thready and moderate

Strengthens the Spleen to govern the Blood

Spleen failing to hold the Blood in the vessels
Bruising easily and blood in the stool
Early periods with plenty of pale blood; heavy, long or irregular periods
Continuous light flow or spotting, including spotting before a period, and metrorrhagia
Leukorrhea and genital itching
Impotence and nocturnal emissions

Modern uses

Anemia
Neurasthenia
Spermatorrhea
Anxiety
Post-concussion syndrome
Myasthenia gravis
Congestive heart disease
Supraventricular tachycardia
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenic purpura
Allergic purpura
Cervicitis
Functional uterine bleeding
Chronic leukemia
Genital itching
Post illness convalescence
Drug abuse
Hypotension
Insomnia
Dizziness
Vertigo
Choroidopathy
Addiction
Irregular menstruation
Infertility
Premenstrual syndrome
Prolonged menstruation
Eyelid twitch
Premature ovarian failure
Optic atrophy
Atrophy (Wei) syndrome
Multiple sclerosis
Polyneuritis
Guillain-Barre disease
Acute myelitis
Progressive muscular dystrophy
Hematuria
Bi-polar disorder
Fever
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Metrorrhagia
Chronic hepatitis
Viral hepatitis
Neurosis
Schizophrenia
Chronic pancreatitis
Hemorrhoids
Crohn's disease
Forgetfulness
Fatigue
Dysmenorrhea
Congestive Heart failure
Epistaxis
Interstitial cystitis
Spontaneous perspiration
Early menstruation
Indigestion
Dyspnea
Periodontitis
Habitual miscarriage
Dry skin
Ulcerative colitis
Leukopenia
Vaginal prolapse
Diabetes
Fibrocystic breast disease
Impotence
Depression
Menopause
Personality disorders
Gastric ulcer
Duodenal ulcer
Aplastic anemia
Menorrhagia
Uterine cancer
Breast cancer
Chronic bleeding
Chronic gonorrhea
Nervous exhaustion
Melancholy
Endometritis
Postpartum convalescence
Headache
Neurological disorders
Benzene poisoning
Scleroderma
Tourette syndrome
Amenorrhea
Childhood eczema
Nictitation
Alopecia
Uterine fibroids
Vaginal discharge
The sequelae of poliomyelitis
Acute infectious multiple neuritis
Progressive myodystrophy
Hysterical paralysis
Periodic paralysis
Facial paralysis
Cor pulmonare
AIDS/HIV
Palpitations
Anxiety neurosis
Cardiac arrhythmia
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Abdominal fullness and distention
Anorexia
Hemafecia
Memory loss
Weakness
Hematemesis
Chronic nephritis
Hypertension
Obesity
Meniere's disease
Night sweats
Scanty menstruation
Nocturnal emissions
Strangury
Gingivitis
Endocrine dyscrasia with uterine Cold
Sweating from the chest
Premenstrual breast distention
Colitis
Cervical cancer
Dry hair
Vaginal bleeding after intercourse
Insomnia in AIDS/HIV
Psycho-emotional disorders

Symptoms

Abdominal distention

Anxiety

Apathy

Blood in stools

Blurred vision

Depression

Dizziness

Dream-disturbed sleep

Dry hair

Dry skin

Early menstruation

Easy bruising

Fatigue

Fear

Floaters

Impotence

Insomnia

Irregular menstruation

Low-grade fever

Menorrhagia

Metrorrhagia

Night sweats

Pale lips

Pale menstrual blood

Pale nails

Pallor

Palpitations

Panic attacks

Poor appetite

Poor concentration

Poor memory

Sallow complexion

Spermatorrhea

Spotting

Sweating

Vaginal discharge

Vulvar itching

Weakness

Modifications

Oedema: + yi yi ren, + ze xie

To strengthen the Blood-tonifying effect: + shu di huang

Numb arms: + qiang huo, + chuan xiong

Numb lower back and legs: + wei ling xian, + du huo, + xiang fu, + huai niu xi

Period pain with clots: + yu jin

Very dark menstrual blood: + hong hua, + mu dan pi, + zhi zi

Irregular periods, heavier flow of pale blood: + e jiao, + sang ji sheng, + he shou wu

Sudden changes in menstrual volume: + shan zhu yu, + wu wei zi

Sore, weak lower back and knees: + sang ji sheng, + gou qi zi, + he shou wu

Indigestion with a full, distended epigastrium and abdomen: + shen qu, + mai ya, + shan zha

Prolonged bleeding from the Spleen failing to govern Blood: + e jiao, + ai ye, + lu jiao jiao

Blood in the stool from deficiency Cold: + pao jiang, − yuan zhi

Show all 161 modifications

Blood in the stool from deficiency Cold, other option: + shan zhu yu, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi
Forgetfulness: + shi chang pu
Severe forgetfulness, palpitations and anxiety from marked Blood deficiency: + shi chang pu, + shu di huang, + bai shao, + e jiao, + sha ren
Forgetfulness with pronounced Spleen Qi deficiency: + shi chang pu, − long yan rou, − dang gui
Forgetfulness with severe insomnia: + shi chang pu
Forgetfulness with Liver Heat: + shi chang pu, + zhi zi, + chai hu
Forgetfulness with severe insomnia: two or three of these herbs: + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren, + ye jiao teng, + he huan pi, + long chi, + mu li, + mai ya
Forgetfulness with Damp: full abdomen and epigastrium, no appetite, greasy or glossy tongue coat: + shi chang pu, + chen pi, + zhi ban xia, + rou gui, + gan jiang
Very weak Spleen: loose stools, bloated abdomen, poor appetite (or combined with Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan): + chao dang gui, + mu xiang, + shan yao, + shen qu
Frequent colds with spontaneous sweating: + huang qi, + ma huang (gen), + wu wei zi
Bleeding with Blood deficiency: + shu di huang, + e jiao
Fever (or combined with Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang): + chai hu, + zhi zi
Insomnia from fear or fright: + gou teng, + bai zi ren
Poor appetite: + chen pi, + zhi ban xia
Tiredness with reduced eating: + sha ren, + cang zhu
Cough: + zi wan, + jie geng
Coughing up blood: + xiao ji, + ou jie
Uterine bleeding: + e jiao, + ai ye, + bai shao
Heavy menstrual bleeding: + di yu, + e jiao
Flooding and spotting from deficiency Cold: + pao jiang, + ai ye, + xue yu tan, + wu wei zi
Flooding and spotting from Heat: + shu di huang tan, + e jiao
Allergic rhinitis from weak Wei Qi together with Blood deficiency: + dang shen, + zhi ban xia, + chen pi, + yuan zhi, + fang feng, + mu xiang, − ren shen
Fibromyalgia from Blood deficiency (combined with Ma Xing Yi Gan Tang and Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang)
Scleroderma: + dang shen, + chi shao, + dan shen, + ji xue teng, + chen pi, + sha ren, − suan zao ren, − yuan zhi, − ren shen
Eczema in children with Damp-Heat: + ku shen
Eczema in children with stagnant Damp-Heat: + bai xian pi
Excessive worry: + bu gu zhi, + xiang fu, + chen pi, − mu xiang, − dang gui
Itchy eczema in children: + di fu zi
Heart depression: + mai men dong, + lu rong
Anxiety and depression: + bai shao, + chai hu
Fever with wasting: + mu dan pi, + zhi zi, + di gu pi, + bai shao
Metrorrhagia trickling on from Blood stasis: + yi mu cao
Irregular menstruation: + dang shen, + wu wei zi, + chen pi
Metrorrhagia with heavy bleeding: + san qi
To stop bleeding: + xue yu tan, + zong lu pi, + mu li
Premature ovarian failure (combined with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan)
Blood in the urine: + xian he cao, + xiao ji
Combined with Jiao Ai Tang
Optic atrophy: + fu shen, + shu di huang, − fu ling, − zhi gan cao, − sheng di huang
Blood in the urine with Spleen Yang deficiency: + xian he cao, + xiao ji, + pao jiang
Insomnia with Liver Fire: + long dan cao, + chai hu, + zhi zi
Neurasthenia: + chai hu, + bai shao, + yin chen hao, + shi chang pu, + she xiang, + bo he, + feng mi, − long yan rou
Insomnia with Phlegm-Heat: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi
Yin-deficiency Heat causing insomnia: + xuan shen, + zhi mu, + mai men dong
Yin-deficiency Fire causing insomnia: + huang lian, + zhi zi, + sheng di huang
Heart and Spleen deficiency causing insomnia: + bai zi ren, + shu di huang
Flooding and spotting from Heat, other option: + di huang tan, + e jiao
Insomnia from Phlegm-Heat on a weak Spleen: + zhu ru, + huang lian, + chen pi
Insomnia from Phlegm-Heat on a weak Spleen, other option: + xian he cao, + shu di huang, − dang gui, − yuan zhi, − mu xiang
Choroidopathy: + gou qi zi, + gu jing cao, + mi meng hua, − yuan zhi, − long yan rou
Choroidopathy with Yin deficiency of Liver and Kidney: + gou qi zi, + gu jing cao, + mi meng hua, + tai zi shen, + shan zhu yu, + mu dan pi, + ju hua, − yuan zhi, − long yan rou, − mu xiang, − ren shen
Choroidopathy with stagnant Liver Qi: + gou qi zi, + gu jing cao, + mi meng hua, + chai hu, + yu jin, + bai shao, + chuan xiong, − yuan zhi, − long yan rou, − ren shen, − huang qi
Thrombocytopenic purpura, cold limbs from deficient Qi and Yang: + lu jiao, + rou cong rong, + yin yang huo
Thrombocytopenic purpura, nosebleeds or bleeding gums from Heat or Yin deficiency: + sheng ma, + huang qin, + zhi zi, + bai mao gen
Thrombocytopenic purpura, coughing blood from Heat: + yu jin, + ou jie, + e jiao, + qian cao gen
Thrombocytopenic purpura, blood in stool or vomit: + san qi, + bai ji, + di yu, + huai hua mi
Thrombocytopenic purpura, blood in the urine: + xiao ji, + pu huang, + dan zhu ye, + mu tong
Thrombocytopenic purpura, uterine bleeding: + lian fang tan, + zong lu pi, + ce bai ye (tan)
Blood stasis after bleeding in thrombocytopenic purpura: purpura, haematoma, enlarged spleen, purplish tongue: + tao ren, + hong hua, + san qi
Anxiety where Heart Blood deficiency predominates: + shu di huang, + e jiao, + bai shao, + sha ren
Anxiety with marked Spleen deficiency: + long yan rou, + dang gui
Anxiety with Heat: + zhi zi, + chai hu
Anxiety with severe insomnia (two or three of these herbs): + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren, + ye jiao teng, + he huan pi, + long chi, + mu li, + mai ya
Anxiety with a full abdomen and epigastrium, no appetite, greasy or glossy tongue coat: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi
Anxiety, anaemia, chronic fatigue and neurasthenia: + du zhong, + gou qi zi, + shu di huang, + shan zhu yu
Severe palpitations: + hu po, + zhu sha
Palpitations with very deficient Heart Blood: + shu di huang, + bai shao, + e jiao
Palpitations with Liver Heat: + zhi zi, + chai hu
Palpitations with severe insomnia: + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren, + ye jiao teng, + he huan pi, + long chi, + mu li
Palpitations with severe insomnia, other option: + shu di huang, + sheng di huang, + zhi zi
Palpitations with a full abdomen and epigastrium, no appetite, greasy or glossy tongue coat: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi
Severe insomnia (two or three of these herbs): + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren, + ye jiao teng, + he huan pi, + long chi, + mu li, + mai ya
Palpitations with poor memory and concentration: + shi chang pu
Insomnia with Liver Heat: + zhi zi, + chai hu
Insomnia with a full abdomen and epigastrium, no appetite, greasy or glossy tongue coat: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi
Insomnia with marked Blood deficiency: + shu di huang, + bai shao, + e jiao, + sha ren
Heavily bleeding haemorrhoids: + e jiao, + huai hua mi, − fu ling, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − da zao
Chronic pancreatitis: + bai shao, + dan shen, + chai hu, − fu ling, − yuan zhi
Haemorrhoids: + chen pi, + xian he cao, + zhi huang jing, − suan zao ren, − long yan rou, − yuan zhi, − da zao, − zhi gan cao, − sheng jiang
Blood in the stool: + fu shen, + pao jiang, + xian he cao, + san qi, − fu ling
Dizziness and vertigo from Spleen Yang deficiency: + rou gui, + gan jiang
Nosebleed: + ce bai ye, + di yu tan, + e jiao, − bai zhu, − dang gui
Vomiting blood: + pao jiang, + e jiao
Persistent nosebleed: + ce bai ye, + di yu tan, + e jiao, + xian he cao, + chao pu huang, + mo han lian, − bai zhu, − dang gui
Nosebleed with Cold or Yang deficiency (with two or three of the warming herbs): + ce bai ye, + di yu tan, + e jiao, + zhi fu zi, + gan jiang, + rou gui, + yin yang huo, + ba ji tian, − bai zhu, − dang gui
Nosebleed with Cold or Yang deficiency, other option: + ce bai ye, + di yu tan, + e jiao, − bai zhu, − dang gui
Nosebleed, other option: + xian he cao, − suan zao ren, − long yan rou, − yuan zhi
Insomnia with many dreams: + hu po
Thrombocytopenic purpura: + han lian cao, + bai shao, + e jiao, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Insomnia with poor memory: + ren shen, + shi chang pu, − dang shen
Thrombocytopenic purpura, persistent spots slow to fade, enlarged spleen: + han lian cao, + bai shao, + e jiao, + san qi, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, persistent spots slow to fade, enlarged spleen, second option: + dang gui, + bai shao, + han lian cao, + e jiao, + zhi gan cao, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, persistent spots slow to fade, enlarged spleen, third option: + dang gui, + bai shao, + han lian cao, + e jiao, + zhi gan cao, + san qi, + zhi fu zi, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, spleen not enlarged: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + xian he cao, + zi cao, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, bleeding gums: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + xian he cao, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, blood in the urine, other option: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + da ji, + xiao ji, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, heavy periods: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + pu huang, + ai ye, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Interstitial cystitis: + yi zhi ren
Meniere's disease with Damp, such as loose stools or diarrhoea: + fu ling, + bai zhu, + yi yi ren, + ze xie, + bai bian dou
Night sweats: + bai zi ren, + wu wei zi
Spermatorrhoea: + dang shen, + mu xiang, + lian zi, + mu li, − ren shen
Food stagnation with a peptic ulcer: + bai shao, + shen qu, + shan zha, + mai ya, − yuan zhi
Peptic ulcer, blood in the stool: + bai shao, + zào xīn tŭ, + bai ji, − yuan zhi
Post-concussion syndrome, Liver Qi stagnant: + yi zhi ren, + shi chang pu, + chai hu
Gingivitis and periodontitis: + xian he cao, + bai ji, + ce bai ye, − yuan zhi
Post-concussion syndrome, Heat stagnating in the Lungs, Stomach and Intestines: + yi zhi ren, + shi chang pu, + huang qin
Post-concussion syndrome, Heat stagnating in the Lungs, Stomach and Intestines, other option: + ce bai ye, + e jiao, − bai zhu, − dang gui
Post-concussion syndrome, bland taste and thick white tongue coat: + yi zhi ren, + shi chang pu, + pei lan
Habitual miscarriage: + zong lu pi (tan), + xue yu tan, + guan zhong
Fibrocystic breasts and premenstrual breast swelling: + dan shen
HIV/AIDS, Kidney Yang deficiency: + yin yang huo, + ba ji tian, + du zhong, + rou cong rong
HIV/AIDS, Lung Yin deficiency: + mai men dong, + sheng di huang, + bei sha shen
Long-standing thrombocytopenic purpura with loose stools, low back pain, cold limbs and aversion to cold: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + zhi fu zi, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
HIV/AIDS/ARC: + fu shen, + shu di huang, + chen pi, + long gu, − fu ling
Thrombocytopenic purpura, nosebleeds: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + ai ye, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, vomiting blood: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + pao jiang, + bai ji, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Thrombocytopenic purpura, blood in the stool: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + zào xīn tŭ, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Palpitations: + fu shen, − fu ling
Thrombocytopenic purpura, loose stools and poor appetite: + mo han lian, + bai shao, + e jiao, + shen qu, + mai ya, + shan zha, + sha ren, − suan zao ren, − mu xiang, − yuan zhi, − sheng jiang
Meniere's disease, body and limbs cold: + gui zhi, + gan jiang
Meniere's disease with marked Blood deficiency: + shu di huang, + e jiao, + zi he che
Peptic ulcer: + bai shao, − yuan zhi
Peptic ulcer, vomiting blood: + bai shao, + bai ji, + san qi, − yuan zhi
Peptic ulcer, stagnant Liver Qi: + bai shao, + chai hu, + chuan lian zi, + yan hu suo, − yuan zhi
Peptic ulcer, heavy bleeding in vomit or stool: + bai shao, + xian he cao, + di yu, − yuan zhi
Endocrine disorder with a cold uterus: + zi he che
Post-concussion syndrome: + yi zhi ren, + shi chang pu
Post-concussion syndrome, Blood stasis: + yi zhi ren, + shi chang pu, + tao ren, + hong hua, + dan shen
Post-concussion syndrome, Heat stagnating in the Stomach and Heart: + yi zhi ren, + shi chang pu, + huang lian
Post-concussion syndrome, Heat stagnating in the Liver: + yi zhi ren, + shi chang pu, + zhi zi, + mu dan pi
Night sweats, other option: + long gu, + mu li, + wu wei zi
Sweating on the chest from deficient Spleen Qi and Heart Blood: + long gu, + mu li
HIV/AIDS, Lung Qi deficiency: + e jiao, + bai he
HIV/AIDS, Kidney Yin deficiency: + nu zhen zi, + gou qi zi, + han lian cao
Cervical cancer: + sheng ma, + e jiao, + chen pi, + he shou wu, + long gu, + mu li, + xu duan, − zhi gan cao, − mu xiang
Vaginal bleeding after intercourse: + zào xīn tŭ
Diabetes from Qi and Blood deficiency (combined with Sheng Yu Tang)
Diabetes from Qi and Blood deficiency, mainly Blood (combined with Sheng Yu Tang): + e jiao, + huang qi, + zi he che
Diabetes of Qi and Blood deficiency type, with loose stools and poor appetite
Neurosis: + dang shen, − ren shen
Combined with Sheng Yu Tang: + ze xie, + yi yi ren, + sha ren
Neurosis with frequent insomnia: + dang shen, + wu wei zi, + ye jiao teng, − ren shen
Neurosis with poor appetite: + dang shen, + ji nei jin, − ren shen
Neurosis with poor appetite, other option: + dang shen, + bai zi ren, + long gu, + mu li, − ren shen
Insomnia in HIV/AIDS: + fu shen, − fu ling
Insomnia with marked Heart Blood deficiency: + shu di huang, + e jiao, + bai shao
Light sleep: + wu wei zi, + bai zi ren, + ye jiao teng, + he huan hua, + mu li, + long gu
Premenstrual tension: + dang shen, + fu shen, + yi yi ren, + ze xie, − ren shen, − fu ling, − zhi gan cao
Mild Liver constraint or Heat on top of the same pattern, with irritability and a bitter taste (Jia Wei Gui Pi Tang): + chai hu, + zhi zi

Cautions

contraindication Interior Heat of an excess type

contraindication Yin deficiency with Heat signs, such as a thin, rapid pulse; its warm tonics can make the Heat worse

contraindication Bleeding caused by Heat pushing Blood out of the vessels (heavy bright red bleeding, red tongue, rapid pulse); the formula is for pale bleeding with deficiency signs

caution During an acute exterior illness such as a cold or flu, tonifying too soon can trap the pathogen

caution Where Damp or Phlegm-Damp predominates, with a greasy tongue coat, the rich tonics can add to the Damp

caution Heart disease, arrhythmia, anaemia and purpura need medical diagnosis and management; the formula is at most a traditional adjunct to that care

Pinyin

gui pi tang

English Name

Restor the Spleen Decoction

gui pi tang

About gui pi tang

Ingredients