Chinese: 桂枝茯苓丸
Pinyin: Guì Zhī Fú Líng Wán
Other names: Cinnamon and Poria Decoction, Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill, Cinnamon Twig and Poria Combination
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: InfertilityCystic acneAmenorrhoea and twelve other conditions
- Promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation
- Softens and resolves hard lumps such as cysts and fibroids
Contraindications: Use with extreme caution during pregnancy or postpartum and only when there is... Use with extreme caution during pregnancy or postpartum and only when there is a confirmed diagnosis of Blood Stagnation. 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.
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) and Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation. Its main actions are: 1) promotes Blood and lymphatic circulation, thus eleminates Blood Stagnation and 2) softens and resolves hard lumps such as cysts and fibroids.
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 Zhi Fu Ling Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Stagnation, Qi And Blood Stagnation or Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as menopausal syndrome, infertility or dysmenorrhea for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan helps treat.
The five ingredients in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Gui Zhi is a king ingredient in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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 Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, it is used because it unblocks the Blood vessels and reduces Blood Stagnation by promoting circulation.
Fu Ling is a king ingredient in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling helps promote the downward circulation of Blood in cases of Blood Stagnation. It also nourishes the Qi of the Heart and Spleen, quiets the Heart, and calms the Mind (Shen), all of which helps calm the fetus in case this formula is taken by a pregnant woman. Poria-cocos mushrooms also have a strong diuretic action and hence help eliminate any Phlegm / Dampness that would complicate the Blood Stagnation.
Chi Shao is a deputy ingredient in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Red Peony Roots (Chi Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Liver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Chi Shao promotes the circulation of Blood to alleviate stagnation. It's also a diuretic, helping drain Dampness which facilitates the action of the key herbs in regulating the Blood.
Mu Dan Pi is an assistant ingredient in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi)
Part used: Root barks
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Mu Dan Pi works, together with Peach Kernels (the other assistant in this formula), to cool and invigorate the Blood (thereby breaking Stagnation), reduce abdominal masses and disperse accumulations.
Tao Ren is an assistant ingredient in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Peach Kernels (Tao Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seed
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: HeartLarge intestineLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Tao Ren works, together with Mudan peony bark (the other assistant in this formula), to cool and invigorate the Blood (thereby breaking Stagnation), reduce abdominal masses and disperse accumulations.
Conditions and patterns for which Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan may be prescribed
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 Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat four different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Menopausal syndrome Infertility Dysmenorrhea Postpartum bleeding Retained placenta Cervical erosion Polycystic ovaries Pelvic inflammatory disease Endometriosis Ectopic plancenta Prostatic hypertrophy Intestinal polyps Cystic acne Amenorrhoea Restless fetus
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan treats menopausal syndrome" for instance. Rather, Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind menopausal syndrome.
Now let's look at the four patterns commonly treated with Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Firm (Lao), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Symptoms: Lumps Tremor Numbness Dark face Dizziness Purple lips Purple nails Blotchy skin Restlessness Itching scalp Painful period Abdominal mass Scanty periods Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Skin capillaries Hesitant periods Tendency to bleed Premenstrual pain Dark colored blood Traumatic swelling Shoulder stiffness Absence of menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Frequent bleeding episodes Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal distention and fullness
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dark face, purple lips, boring fixed stabbing pain and abdominal masses. Patients with Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), firm (Lao) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as Purple tongue .
Blood Stagnation - also often referred to as "Blood Stasis" - is where the Blood flow is heavily restricted in all or parts of the body. It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the... read more about Blood Stagnation
Qi is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Qi in Chinese Medicine
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Insomnia Dark face Moodiness Dizziness Chest pain Depression Amenorrhea Purple lips Mood swings Breast pain Hot flushes Purple nails Irritability Blotchy skin Restlessness Breast lumps Restlnessness Chest fullness Painful period Scanty periods Clots in blood Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Lochia retention Breast distention Dark colored blood Abdominal fullness Intense period pain High blood pressure Swelling of the feet Lower abdominal pain Dark menstrual blood Flooding and leaking Abdominal distension Pre-menstrual tension Black and tarry stools Irregular menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Pre-menstrual irritability Dark clots in menstrual blood Menstruation decreases gratually Feeling of fullness in the chest Abdominal distention and fullness Pain relief after clots discharge
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Qi And Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as chest fullness, chest pain, boring fixed stabbing pain and dark face. Patients with Qi And Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen) or fine (Xi) pulses.
The typical symptoms of Qi stagnation are distension, oppression and swelling. There are also emotional issues like mood swing, depression or irritability. However, the Blood Stagnation is more on pains and purple color manifestation on skin, face, lips and nails.
Qi Stagnation can cause the... read more about Qi And Blood Stagnation
The Uterus is a so-called "Extraordinary" Organ. Learn more about the Uterus in Chinese Medicine
Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus
Symptoms: Painful period Abdominal pain Lochia retention Irregular menstruation Fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen Persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood Lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus. This pattern leads to symptoms such as persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood, lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure, fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen and painful period.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
Symptoms: Anxiety Breast pain Irritability Restlessness Breast lumps Painful period Umbilical pain Lochia retention Abdominal masses Breast distention Tendency to worry Dark colored blood Lower abdominal pain Irregular menstruation Brown vaginal discharge Dark clots in menstrual blood
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels. This pattern leads to symptoms such as irregular menstruation, brown vaginal discharge, dark clots in menstrual blood and painful period. Patients with Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels typically exhibit choppy (Se) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
Learn more about Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
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