Gui Zhi Tang, Cinnamon Twig Decoction, is Gui Zhi, Bai Shao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that release Exterior Cold, and records it as releasing the muscle layer and expelling Wind-Cold. A great many formulas in the collection are built on it.

Herb

Amount

9 g

9 g

9 g

12 g

6 g

Actions and indications

Releases the muscle layer and expels Wind-Cold

Tai Yang Zhong Feng: mild Exterior Wind-Cold with deficiency of Ying and Wei
Fever and chills that carry on even though the patient is sweating
Aversion to Wind, stronger than aversion to cold, with headache and a stiff or tight neck
Blocked nose, dry retching or slight nausea, no thirst, lowered resistance
Tongue normal with a thin, moist white coat; pulse floating and moderate, or floating and weak, or slow

Harmonizes Ying and Wei

Sweating that comes on by itself, without exertion or heat, in constitutionally weak people with Ying-Wei disharmony
Children who catch one cold after another
Low-grade fever with sweating and aversion to Wind after an illness or after childbirth

Harmonizes the Middle

Modern uses

Common cold
Influenza
Fever
Puerperal fever
Postpartum recovery care
Upper respiratory tract infection
Cough
Bronchitis
Bronchial asthma
Pneumonia
Allergic rhinitis
Headache
Unilateral pain
Neuralgia
Sciatica
Cerebrovascular spasm
Atrioventricular block
Neurasthenia
Hyperactivity disorder
Spontaneous perspiration
Hemilateral sweating
Angioedema
Allergic purpura
Eczema
Urticaria
Itching
Psoriasis
Tinea
Frostbite
Gastritis
Appendicitis
Abdominal pain from chills
Hernia
Testicular pain
Enuresis in children
Uterine fibroids
Endometriosis
Morning sickness
Eclampsia

Modifications

Fever stronger than chills: + shi gao, + zhi mu

Cough and wheezing with short, harsh breathing: + hou po, + xing ren

Head feels heavy and swollen: + ju hua, + chan tui

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi: + jiang huang, + xi xin, + wei ling xian

Heavy sweating: + bai shao, + gui zhi, + zhi gan cao, + huang qi, + fang feng

Severe headache: + chi shao, + gao ben, − bai shao

Aching limb joints with tiredness, from Dampness: + qiang huo, + fang feng

Severe vomiting: + bai shao, + sheng jiang, + chen pi, + hou po

Yin and Yang deficient or out of balance: wet dreams, heavy dreaming, cold genitals, empty pulse: + long gu, + sheng mu li

Psoriasis from Wind-Cold: + qiang huo, + fang feng, + chi shao, + dang gui, + bai xian pi, + chuan xiong, + ma huang, + xing ren, − bai shao

Aversion to cold with no sweating: + ma huang, + ge gen

Neck and shoulder pain with marked body aches: + ge gen

Show all 53 modifications

Headache: + gao ben, + chuan xiong, + bai zhi
Copious white Phlegm: + zhi ban xia, + chen pi, − bai shao, − da zao
Sneezing with a blocked, runny nose: + fang feng, + xin yi hua
Sneezing with a blocked, runny nose, alternative: + fang feng, + xin yi hua, + jing jie
Convalescence (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang)
Sweating that will not stop: + zhi fu zi
Long-standing Qi deficiency: + dang shen
Long-standing Yin deficiency: + yu zhu
Long-standing Yin deficiency, alternative: + ren shen
Bronchial asthma: + hou po
Atrioventricular block: + san qi, + huang qi
Atrioventricular block with palpitations: + san qi, + huang qi, + suan zao ren
Atrioventricular block, oppressed chest: + san qi, + huang qi, + yu jin, + gua lou pi
Testicular pain: + chuan lian zi, + guan zhong
Severe testicular pain: + chuan lian zi, + guan zhong, + ju he, + yan hu suo
Red, swollen, burning testicular pain: + chuan lian zi, + guan zhong, + long dan cao, + mu tong, + cang zhu
Testicular pain after injury, with Blood stasis: + chuan lian zi, + guan zhong, + tao ren, + hong hua, + mu xiang
Testicular pain with tiredness: + chuan lian zi, + guan zhong, + dang shen
Sciatica: + chuan xiong, + mu gua
Sciatica with cold legs: + chuan xiong, + mu gua, + zhi fu zi, + xi xin
Sciatica with Qi deficiency: + chuan xiong, + mu gua, + huang qi
Sciatica with marked low back pain: + chuan xiong, + mu gua, + du zhong, + wei ling xian
Sciatica, long-standing pain or Blood stasis: + chuan xiong, + mu gua, + ji xue teng, + di long
Allergic purpura: + dan shen
Itching: + fang feng, + ji xue teng, + dang gui
Frostbite: + chi shao, + grain-based alcohol
Frostbite with excess Cold: + chi shao, + grain-based alcohol, + ma huang, + xi xin
Frostbite with Qi deficiency: + chi shao, + grain-based alcohol, + huang qi
Frostbite with excess Cold, second option: + chi shao, + grain-based alcohol, + dan shen, + hong hua
Frostbite with cold intolerance from Yang deficiency (with Ma Bo in sesame oil applied to the skin): + chi shao, + grain-based alcohol, + zhi ban xia, + xi xin, + gui zhi
Enuresis: + yi zhi ren, + tu si zi, + wu yao, + mu gua
Bedwetting in children (combined with Suo Quan Wan)
Painful periods with fever (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang)
Cough or panting: + jiang hou po, + xing ren
Severe body aches: + ge gen, + zhi fu zi
Sweating on one side of the body in a weak constitution (combined with Sheng Mai San)
Unilateral pain: + qiang huo
Unilateral pain with headache: + qiang huo, + chuan xiong
Unilateral pain with stiff neck: + qiang huo, + ge gen
Severe one-sided pain that feels cold: + qiang huo, + gan jiang, + yan hu suo
One-sided pain plus joint pain: + qiang huo, + du huo, + chuan shan long

Cautions

contraindication Cold in the Exterior combined with Heat in the Interior

contraindication Tai Yang Shang Han (Exterior excess): with a floating, tight pulse, fever and no sweating, Ma Huang Tang is the formula, not this one

contraindication Wind-Heat, Damp-Heat or internal Heat, which its warm, acrid herbs can aggravate

contraindication Frequent drinkers; alcohol is to be avoided during the course

caution Take care in summer or during hot spells

caution While taking it, avoid raw, cold, greasy, heavily spiced or strongly aromatic foods and dairy

caution Because it contains licorice, it is traditionally not combined with Hai Zao, Yuan Hua, Da Ji or Gan Sui

caution Regular, heavy licorice intake calls for care in hypertension and when potassium or fluid balance is being watched

Pinyin

gui zhi tang

English Name

Cinnamon Twig Decoction

gui zhi tang

About gui zhi tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Releases the muscle layer and expels Wind-Cold

Harmonizes Ying and Wei

Harmonizes the Middle

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification