Gui Zhi Shao Yao Zhi Mu Tang, Cinnamon Twig, Peony and Anemarrhena Decoction, is those three with Ma Huang, Zhi Fu Zi, Bai Zhu, Fang Feng, Sheng Jiang and Gan Cao.

Herb

Amount

12 g

6 g

6 g

12 g

9 g

15 g

12 g

15 g

6 g

Actions and indications

Dispels Wind, eliminates Damp and unblocks the channels and collaterals

Chronic, recurring Wind-Cold-Damp Bi
Wind-Damp or Wind-Phlegm-Damp Bi that has started to turn to Heat, over an underlying deficiency of Qi and Yin
Swollen, painful joints, mostly of the legs, with limited movement and trouble walking
Stiff or numb limbs, swollen feet and edema; in some cases hemiplegia or paralysis
Chills with no sweating

Unblocks Yang Qi and moves Qi

Tiredness and breathlessness

Clears Heat and nourishes Yin

Joints warm or burning to the touch even though the body as a whole runs cold and weak
Wasting and weight loss, muscle atrophy, thirst
Dizziness or vertigo, headache, nausea and vomiting
Coat white and greasy, or thin, yellow and greasy; tongue body normal; pulse wiry and slippery, or slippery and rapid

Stops pain

Joint pain that gets worse at night and with movement

Modern uses

Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Chronic arthritis
Severe migratory arthralgia
Arthralgia
Painful obstruction
Gout
Gouty arthritis
Periarthritis of the shoulder
Connective tissue disorders
Low back pain
Sciatica
General pain
Numbness
Paresthesia
Wasting of the leg muscles
Paralysis
Sequelae of cerebrovascular accident
Hemiplegia after cerebrovasculitis
Deep vein thrombosis
Cor pulmonale
Hyperpnea
Edema
Erythema nodosum
Psoriasis

Modifications

Severe pain and stiffness that warmth relieves: + zhi fu zi, + ma huang

Heaviness of the whole body, worst in the affected joints: + bai zhu

Heaviness of body and joints, second option: + bai zhu, + zhi fu zi

Heaviness of body and joints, third option: + zhi fu zi, + ma huang, + gui zhi

Deficiency of Blood and Yin: + sheng di huang, + huai niu xi

Pain that keeps returning because Qi is deficient: + huang qi

Heavier Dampness: + yi yi ren, + cang zhu

Damp-Heat: + shi gao, + huang bai

Blood stasis: + ru xiang, + mo yao

Joints markedly hot: + bai shao, + zhi mu, + sang zhi, + ren dong teng

Symptoms that get worse at night: + chi shao, − bai shao

Burning pain, milder by day and worse at night: + zhi mu, + bai shao, + gan cao

Show all 36 modifications

Blood deficiency: + dang gui, + chuan xiong, + shu di huang, + huang qi, + fu ling
Paralysis and palsy: + han fang ji, + ren shen, + huang qin, + chuan xiong, + xing ren
Arthritis of the shoulders and arms: + qiang huo, + xi xin, + han fang ji, + fu ling
Fibromyalgia from stagnant Qi and Blood (combined with Ma Xing Yi Gan Tang)
Rheumatoid arthritis with Heat and Cold mixed (combined with Da Fang Feng Tang): + chi shao, + zhi chuan wu, + zhi cao wu, + dang gui, + wu shao she, + sheng di huang, + jiang can, + di long, − ma huang, − zhi fu zi, − bai zhu, − fang feng, − sheng jiang
Rheumatoid arthritis, mixed Heat and Cold, Heat dominant: + gui zhi, + chi shao, + zhi chuan wu, + zhi cao wu, + dang gui, + wu shao she, + sheng di huang, + jiang can, + di long, + hu zhang, + han shui shi, + lu cao, + huang bai, − ma huang, − zhi fu zi, − bai zhu, − fang feng, − sheng jiang
Rheumatoid arthritis of mixed Cold-Heat type, Yin deficient with internal Heat: + chi shao, + zhi chuan wu, + zhi cao wu, + dang gui, + wu shao she, + sheng di huang, + jiang can, + di long, − ma huang, − zhi fu zi, − bai zhu, − fang feng, − sheng jiang
Feverish rheumatoid arthritis of Wind-Cold-Damp type with internal Heat: + shi gao
Rheumatoid arthritis, Wind-Cold-Damp with internal Heat, Blood deficient: + ji xue teng
Rheumatoid arthritis, Wind-Cold-Damp with internal Heat, heavy Damp and swollen limbs: + han fang ji, + bei xie
Rheumatoid arthritis, Wind-Cold-Damp with internal Heat, Qi deficient: + huang qi
Mental and physical tiredness: + huang qi
Yin deficiency with strong internal Heat: + sheng di huang
Poor appetite: + chen pi, + shen qu
Fever: + shi gao, + huang bai
Swollen limb joints from Blood deficiency: + ji xue teng, + lu xian cao
Swollen joints from marked Dampness: + bei xie, + ze xie, + guang fang ji, + yi yi ren
Rheumatoid arthritis with fever: + shi gao, + yi yi ren
Rheumatoid arthritis, swollen joints, Blood deficient: + ji xue teng, + lu xian cao, + bai zhi
Rheumatoid arthritis, swollen joints, excess Damp: + bei xie, + ze xie, + han fang ji
Qi-deficient rheumatoid arthritis: + huang qi
More pronounced heat and swelling in the joints: + yi yi ren
Wind-Damp settled in the upper body: + qiang huo
Wind-Damp settled in the lower body: + du huo

Cautions

caution Contains Fu Zi, which is toxic to the heart and nerves if poorly processed, overdosed or wrongly combined: use only the prepared form, decoct it correctly, and leave the dosing to a qualified practitioner

caution Stop the formula and seek care at any sign of aconite poisoning: numb or tingling mouth, tongue or limbs, palpitations or an irregular heartbeat

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy because of Fu Zi and Ma Huang

caution Aconite herbs are traditionally incompatible with Bai Ji, Bai Lian, Bei Mu, Gua Lou and Ban Xia; do not combine them

caution Because Ma Huang stimulates and can push up blood pressure and pulse rate, take care or avoid it with hypertension, arrhythmia, anxiety or insomnia

caution With MAOIs and other stimulant or heart medicines: use cautiously or avoid, because of Ma Huang

contraindication Pure excess-Heat Bi with acutely red, hot, inflamed joints and no underlying deficiency, or an Exterior condition that does not involve the joints

Pinyin

gui zhi shao yao zhi mu tang

English Name

Cinnamon Twig, Peony, and Anemarrhena Decoction

gui zhi shao yao zhi mu tang

About gui zhi shao yao zhi mu tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Dispels Wind, eliminates Damp and unblocks the channels and collaterals

Unblocks Yang Qi and moves Qi

Clears Heat and nourishes Yin

Stops pain

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names