Guī Pí Tāng
Guī Pí Tāng (归脾汤, “Restore the Spleen Decoction”) comes from Ji Sheng Fang (1253 CE). Tones Qi and Blood of the Spleen and Heart, calms the Mind.
Main action
Tones Qi and Blood of the Spleen and Heart, calms the Mind
Formula that simultaneously nourishes the Spleen (source of Blood) and the Heart (which houses the Mind). Ideal when excessive thinking damages both organs.
Indications
- Insomnia due to excessive worry
- Palpitations
- Anxiety
- Memory leak
- Uterine deficiency bleeding
- mental fatigue
- Tongue
- Pale, thin white coating
- Pulse
- thin and weak
Composition
| Herb | Role | Dose | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huáng Qí 黄芪 | Emperor (君 jūn) | 12g | Tonifies spleen and defensive qi |
| Rén Shēn 人参 | Emperor (君 jūn) | 9g | Tonifies primordial Qi, calms mind |
| Bái Zhú 白术 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Tones Spleen |
| Fú Líng 茯苓 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Calms the mind, strengthens the spleen |
| Suān Zǎo Rén 酸枣仁 | Minister (臣 chén) | 12g | Nourishes Heart, calms Mind, treats insomnia |
| Lóng Yǎn Ròu 龙眼肉 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Nourishes Blood, calms Mind |
| Dāng Guī 当归 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 9g | Nourishes Blood |
| Yuǎn Zhì 远志 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 6g | Calm Mind, communicate Heart and Kidney |
| Mù Xiāng 木香 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 6g | Moves Qi, avoids stagnation due to tonics |
| Zhì Gān Cǎo 炙甘草 | Envoy (使 shǐ) | 6g | Harmonize ingredients |
The emperor–minister–assistant–envoy hierarchy (君臣佐使) describes the role of each herb in the formula.
Preparation
Decoction with ginger 3 slices and dates 5 pieces. Boil 40 min, take 2 times/day
Classical modifications
Add: Xian He Cao (仙鹤草) 15g, E Jiao (阿胶) 9g
Current uses being studied
- Psychosomatic insomnia
- Generalized anxiety
- Functional uterine hemorrhages
- Anemia
- Chronic mental fatigue
Precautions
- Avoid if there is heat, fullness or stagnation of the Liver
- Do not use in insomnia due to Liver-Fire
Formulas must be prescribed by qualified professionals; they can interact with medications.
Profile
- Chinese name
- 归脾汤
- English name
- Restore the Spleen Decoction
- Source
- Ji Sheng Fang (1253 CE)
- Dynasty
- Song
- Category
- Tonify Qi and Blood
- Constitutions
- Qi Deficiency Constitution
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
