Formula Formulas that tonify Qi and Blood

Gui Pi Tang

归脾汤

Also known as:

Restore the Spleen Decoction , Ginseng and Longan Combination

Formula Composition

Ren Shen
Ren Shen
Huang Qi
Huang Qi
Bai Zhu
Bai Zhu
Gan Cao
Gan Cao
Long Yan Rou
Long Yan Rou
Dang Gui
Dang Gui
Suan Zao Ren
Suan Zao Ren
Fu Shen
Fu Shen
Yuan Zhi
Yuan Zhi
Mu Xiang
Mu Xiang
Sheng Jiang
Sheng Jiang
Da Zao
Da Zao
View detailed herb information
Kings
Main ingredient
Deputies
Assists main
Assistant
Supports
Envoys
Directs formula

Formula Properties

Main Actions

  1. Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood
  2. Tonifies Heart and Spleen

Patterns Treated

Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Heart Blood Deficiency, Spleen Blood Deficiency, Spleen not controlling Blood, Spleen and Heart Blood Deficiency, Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency, Heart and Spleen Deficiency, Qi and Blood Deficiency, Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency

Historical Origin

Categorized Essentials for Normalizing the Structure (1529 AD)

Explore More About This Formula

TCM Actions & Uses Formula Ingredients Contraindications

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of Gui Pi Tang

Main Actions

Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood
Tonifies Heart and Spleen

Key TCM Concepts

Gui Pi Tang is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Ginseng (Ren Shen), Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi), Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu) and Liquorice (Gan Cao) as principal ingredients.

 

Invented in 1529 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi and Blood. Its main actions are: 1) tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood and 2) tonifies Heart and Spleen.

 

In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.

 

In this case Gui Pi Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency or Heart Blood Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding, heavy menstruation or late menstruation for instance.

TCM Patterns Addressed

  • Qi Deficiency
  • Blood Deficiency
  • Heart Blood Deficiency
  • Spleen Blood Deficiency
  • Spleen not controlling Blood
  • Spleen and Heart Blood Deficiency
  • Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
  • Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
  • Heart and Spleen Deficiency
  • Qi and Blood Deficiency
  • Spleen or Kidney Qi Deficiency

Common Applications

Abnormal uterine bleeding Heavy menstruation Late menstruation Postpartum depression Absence of menstruation Early menstruation Nervous exhaustion Myasthenia gravis Postconcussion headache Anemia Allergic purpura Congestive heart failure Supraventricular tachycardia Cervicitis Peptic ulcers Colitis Depression Anxiety Perimenopausal syndrome Insomnia

Ingredients in Gui Pi Tang

Detailed information about each herb in Gui Pi Tang and their roles

Kings
Deputies
Assistants
Envoys
Ren Shen
Ren Shen

Ginseng

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Lungs, Spleen
Parts Used Dried root
Role in Gui Pi Tang
Ren Shen is a very powerful substances for tonifying the Spleen Qi and so is Milkvetch root (Huang Qi), another key herb in this formula.
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Huang Qi
Huang Qi

Milkvetch roots

Temperature Warm
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Lungs, Spleen
Parts Used Dried root
Role in Gui Pi Tang
In general Huang Qi's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Wei Qi and stops perspiration. Tonifies the Spleen Qi and the Yang Qi of the Earth Element. Tonifies the Qi and Blood. Expels pus and assists in the healing of wounds. Helps to regulate water metabolism in the body and reduce edema."
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Bai Zhu
Bai Zhu

Atractylodes rhizomes

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Sweet
Organ Affinity Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried rhizome
Role in Gui Pi Tang
In general Bai Zhu's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi."

In the context of Gui Pi Tang, it is used because it strengthens the Spleen and dries Dampness.
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Gan Cao
Gan Cao

Liquorice

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried root and rhizome
Role in Gui Pi Tang
Gan Cao tonifies the Spleen and augments the Qi. Together with the 3 other key herbs in this formula it has a strong tonifying effect on the Spleen, which enables it to generate Blood.
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Long Yan Rou
Long Yan Rou

Longans

Temperature Warm
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Spleen
Parts Used Dried flesh of the fruit
Role in Gui Pi Tang
In general Long Yan Rou's main actions are as follows: "Nourishes the Blood. Calms the spirit. Relieves fatigue, especially mental fatigue."

In the context of Gui Pi Tang, it is used because it "roots" and calms the Mind (Shen) by tonifying the Blood.
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Dang Gui
Dang Gui

Dong quai

Temperature Warm
Taste Pungent, Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Liver, Spleen
Parts Used Dried root
Role in Gui Pi Tang
Dang Gui tonifies the Blood and regulates women's menstruations. Its combination with Milkvetch root (Huang Qi), one of the key herbs in this formula, is very effective in generating and tonifying the Blood.
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Suan Zao Ren
Suan Zao Ren

Jujube seeds

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sour, Sweet
Organ Affinity Gallbladder, Heart, Liver
Parts Used Dried ripe seed
Role in Gui Pi Tang
In general Suan Zao Ren's main actions are as follows: "Nourishes the Heart Yin and calms the spirit. Contains Fluid leakage."
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Fu Shen
Fu Shen

Host-wood Poria

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Spleen, Heart
Parts Used The part of the mushroom that is attached to the host-wood, dried
Role in Gui Pi Tang
Fu Shen works together with Jujube seeds (Suan Zao Ren), another deputy in this formula, to calm the Mind (Shen). It also reinforces the Spleen-tonifying action of the four key herbs in this formula.
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Yuan Zhi
Yuan Zhi

Chinese senega roots

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys, Lungs
Parts Used The dried root
Role in Gui Pi Tang
Yuan Zhi calms the Mind (Shen) by facilitating the flow of Qi in the Heart. It is especially effective when it is balanced by the sour properties of Jujube seeds (Suan Zao Ren).
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Mu Xiang
Mu Xiang

Costus roots

Temperature Warm
Taste Bitter, Pungent
Organ Affinity Gallbladder, Large Intestine, Liver, Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried root
Role in Gui Pi Tang
Mu Xiang regulates the Qi and revives the Spleen. It is especially effective in this when combined with Atractylodes rhizome (Bai Zhu), which is one of the key herbs in this formula. Its use also prevents indigestion due to the rich, cloying properties of the other herbs.
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Sheng Jiang
Sheng Jiang

Fresh ginger

Temperature Warm
Taste Pungent
Organ Affinity Lungs, Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Fresh root
Role in Gui Pi Tang
Sheng Jiang works together with Jujube dates (Da Zao), the other envoy in this formula, to improve the appetite and regulate the nutritive and protective Qi, thereby facilitating the actions of the other ingredients. They also assist the four key herbs of this formula in strengthening the Spleen.
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Da Zao
Da Zao

Jujube dates

Temperature Warm
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Spleen, Stomach
Parts Used Dried ripe fruit
Role in Gui Pi Tang
In general Da Zao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula."
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Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for Gui Pi Tang

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any TCM herbal formula.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many TCM formulas, Gui Pi Tang may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in herb-drug interactions.