Gan Cao Gan Jiang Fu Ling Bai Zhu Tang甘草干姜茯苓白术汤

Licorice, Dried Ginger, Poria and White Atractylodes Decoction (Kidney-Fixity Decoction)

Expelling Dampness 祛湿剂Warm and Transform Cold-Damp 温化寒湿

Ingredients4 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata6gWarms and supports the middle burner and harmonizes the formula 干Gan Jiang干姜Zingiberis Rhizoma12gReplaces Gui Zhi and is doubled — warms the middle burner and drives out settled cold 茯Fu Ling茯苓Poria12gAlso doubled — leaches the cold-damp out through the urine 白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma6gStrengthens the Spleen and dries the damp that has settled in the flesh

Indications

Warms the Spleen and dispels cold-dampRelieves cold, heavy lumbar painDrains damp through the urineWarms the middle burner

Kidney fixity from cold-damp: cold-damp settles in the muscles and channels of the lumbar region, not in the Kidney organ itself, so the waist is cold and heavy while eating and urination are unaffected.

Clinical Manifestations

Cold heavy aching of the lower back
Lumbar pain aggravated by cold and damp weather
A feeling of carrying weight at the waist
Low back pain after working in wet clothes or a cold damp place
Cold heaviness of the lower body with normal appetite

TonguePale with a white slippery coating

PulseSinking, slow or moderate

Health Categories

Bone & Joint Health

Modern Applications

Low back pain Lumbago Sciatica Chronic pelvic pain Myofascial pain

Common adjustments

Cold is severe — add Fu Zi (Zhi) 制附子, decocted first, and Rou Gui 肉桂
Long-standing with Kidney deficiency — add Du Zhong 杜仲 and Xu Duan 续断
Pain is fixed and stabbing from stasis — add Dang Gui 当归 and Chuan Xiong 川芎
Wind-damp with roaming pain — add Du Huo 独活 and Sang Ji Sheng 桑寄生

Contraindications

Not for lumbar pain from damp-heat, with a burning quality, dark urine and a yellow greasy coating. Not for Kidney yin deficiency with a sore weak back, night sweats and a red tongue. Sudden severe back pain, or back pain with leg weakness, numbness or bladder changes, needs urgent medical assessment rather than herbs.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Generally compatible in pregnancy at a practitioner's discretion — the four herbs are mild and none is restricted — but back pain in pregnancy should still be assessed rather than assumed to be cold-damp.

Related Formulas

Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang苓桂术甘汤

References

Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han

「肾着之病，其人身体重，腰中冷，如坐水中……腰以下冷痛，腹重如带五千钱，甘姜苓术汤主之。」
— 《金匮要略》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— 附方 note and pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.