Chinese: 黄芪桂枝五物汤
Pinyin: Huáng Qí Guì Zhī Wǔ Wù Tāng
Other names: Astragalus and Cinnamon Twig Five-Substance Decoctionm
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm the Meridians and disperse Cold
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: BedsoreObesitySciatica and twenty four other conditions
- Augments the Qi
- Warms and harmonizes the channels
- Unblocks painful obstruction
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.
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi) and Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm the Meridians and disperse Cold. Its main actions are: 1) augments the Qi and 2) warms and harmonizes the channels.
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 Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Stagnation. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as polyneuritis, scleroderma or dermatomyositis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang helps treat.
The five ingredients in Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Huang Qi is a king ingredient in Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi)
Huang Qi is sweet and warming. It strongly tonifies the original Qi, helping the normal Qi to expel pathogenic Qi while firming up the skin and Exterior. It also strengthens Cinnamon twigs' ability to augment the Qi and stimulate the protective Yang. In combination, the two key herbs synergistically augment the Qi , warm the Yang and harmonize the Blood.
Gui Zhi is a king ingredient in Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)
Gui Zhi warms the Nutritive Qi in the Channels and unblocks the Yang. In this formula, it is also helped by the other key herb Milkvetch root on augmenting the Qi and stimulating the protective Yang. On the other hand, it increases Milkvetch root's capacity of firming up the Exterior without retaining pathogenic Qi . In combination, the two key herbs synergistically augment the Qi , warm the Yang and harmonize the Blood.
Bai Shao is a deputy ingredient in Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao nourishes the Blood, harmonizes the nutritive Qi, and unblocks painful obstruction. In combination with Cinnamon twigs, it harmonizes the Nutritive and Protective Qi. In combination with Milkvetch root, it firms up the Exterior and nourishes the Yin.
Sheng Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
Sheng Jiang is acrid and warming. It opens the Interstices and pores, disperses Wind-Cold from the Exterior. When used together with Cinnamon twigs, It warms and moves the Blood vessels.
Da Zao is an envoy ingredient in Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
5. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Da Zao regulates the formula by means of its sweetness. It assists Cinnamon twigs, Fresh ginger, and White peony root in regulating the Nutritive and Protective Qi.
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang is used to treat Blood Stagnation
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 Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Blood Stagnation" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Blood Stagnation here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Polyneuritis Scleroderma Dermatomyositis Bell's palsy Common peroneal neuropathy Raynaud's disease Takayasu's arteritis Thromboangiitis obliterans Bedsore Urticaria Sciatica Rheumatic arthritis Periarthritis of the shoulder Sequelae of stroke Restless leg syndrome Coronary artery disease Diabetic neuropathy Lower extremity ulcers Idipathic thrombocytopenic purpura Cervical disc disease Focal seizures Facial tics Chronic prostatitis Nephritis Obesity Pneumonia Urinary retention
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang treats polyneuritis" for instance. Rather, Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang is used to treat Blood Stagnation, which is sometimes the root cause behind polyneuritis.
Now let's look at Blood Stagnation, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang.
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
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang 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
Formulas similar to Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Gui Zhi Tang is 80% similar to Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Ge Gen Tang is 57% similar to Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang is 57% similar to Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang is 50% similar to Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Xiao Jian Zhong Tang is 50% similar to Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Juan Bi Tang is 44% similar to Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang