Chinese: 柴胡桂姜汤
Pinyin: Chái Hú Guì Jiāng Tāng
Other names: Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, and Ginger Decoction, Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that vent membrane source
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MalariaScrofulaInsomnia and twenty three other conditions
- Harmonizes and releases the Lesser Yang
- Removes Stagnation
- Warms the Interior
- Dispels Cold
Contraindications: This formula treats a pattern of mixed Excess and Eeficiency. It should not be... This formula treats a pattern of mixed Excess and Eeficiency. It should not be prescribed for patterns of pure Excess or Eeficiency. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu) and Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that vent membrane source. Its main actions are: 1) harmonizes and releases the Lesser Yang and 2) removes Stagnation .
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 Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Interior Cold. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as common cold, malaria or hepatitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the seven ingredients in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang helps treat.
The seven ingredients in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang
Chai Hu is a king ingredient in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Bupleurum Roots (Chai Hu)
In general Chai Hu's main actions are as follows: "Harmonizes exterior and interior. Smoothes the Liver and upraises the Yang."
In the context of Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang, it is used because it removes Qi Stagnation in the Exterior. Bupleurum root vents the Lesser Yang.
Gui Zhi is a king ingredient in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)
In general Gui Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood."
In the context of Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang, it is used because it removes Qi Stagnation in the Exterior. Cinnamon twigs disperse newly-contracted Wind-Cold.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
Huang Qin assists the action of the key herbs by focusing on the lurking Heat in the Interior. It also drains Heat from the Lesser Yang.
Mu Li ke is a deputy ingredient in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Oyster Shells (Mu Li ke)
Part used: The shell
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Salty
Meridian affinity: BladderGallbladderKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the SpiritHerbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
Mu Li ke assists the action of the key herbs by focusing on the lurking Heat in the Interior. It has a long history in the treatment of malarial disorders. Its cooling action is of undoubted importance, its ability to soften and thereby remove constraint is equally useful. It is also recommended for expelling pathogens from the Greater Yang, Lesser Yang, and Terminal Yin Channels.
Gan Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)
Gan Jiang promotes Qi circulation in the Middle Burner. It also warms the Yang Qi of the Spleen, and enables it to transform accumulated Body Fluids.
Tian Hua Fen is an assistant ingredient in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Snake Gourd Roots (Tian Hua Fen)
Tian Hua Fen promotes Qi circulation in the Middle Burner. Snake gourd root enriches the Fluids of the Stomach, which have been damaged by Heat constraint.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
7. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao harmonizes the opposing flavors and qualities of the herbs in the formula, enabling them to disperse the pathogens that are at the root of this disorder while replenishing the body's own true Qi.
Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang is used to treat Interior Cold
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Interior Cold" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Interior Cold here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Common cold Malaria Hepatitis Meningitis Pulmonary tuberculosis Pneumonia Urinary tract infection Bacillary dysentery Allergic colitis Chronic hepatitis Cholecystitis Gastritis Peptic ulcers Fibrocystic breast disease Cirrhosis Scrofula Perimenopausal syndrome Postpartum fever Leukorrhea Erectile dysfunction Sinus tachycardia Gastric ptosis Insomnia Meniere's disese Diabetes Postcholecystectomy diarrhea
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang treats common cold" for instance. Rather, Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang is used to treat Interior Cold, which is sometimes the root cause behind common cold.
Now let's look at Interior Cold, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang.
The Interior in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Interior in Chinese Medicine
Interior Cold
Pulse type(s): Hidden (Fu), Weak (Ruo), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Flank pain Hernial pain Cold abdominal Postpartum abdominal pain abdominal pain relieved by presure and warmth
Chai Hu Gui Jiang Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Interior Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as postpartum abdominal pain, cold abdominal, hernial pain and flank pain. Patients with Interior Cold typically exhibit hidden (Fu), weak (Ruo) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
This pattern, particularly seen in the context of postpartum conditions or in individuals with constitutional Blood Deficiency, is characterized by a Deficiency of Blood and Essence leading to Interior Coldness.
After childbirth, women are especially susceptible due to the significant loss of Blood... read more about Interior Cold
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