Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin桂苓甘露饮

Cinnamon and Poria Sweet Dew Beverage

Dispelling Summer-Heat 祛暑剂

Ingredients9 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

茯Fu Ling茯苓Poria30g佐 AssistantLeaches damp and strengthens the Spleen at the same time 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata60g使 EnvoyProtects the Stomach from the cold minerals and harmonizes the whole 白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma15g佐 AssistantStrengthens the Spleen and dries damp so water is transformed at its source 泽Ze Xie泽泻Alismatis Rhizoma30g佐 AssistantDrains damp downward and clears heat from the lower burner

桂桂去皮15g佐 Assistant

石Shi Gao石膏Gypsum Fibrosum60g臣 DeputyClears blazing heat from the qi level, relieves thirst and irritability 寒Han Shui Shi寒水石Calcitum60g臣 DeputyCold and draining — works with the other minerals to clear summer-heat 滑Hua Shi滑石Talcum120g君 ChiefClears summer-heat and drains damp through the urine 猪Zhu Ling猪苓Polyporus15g佐 AssistantPromotes urination and leaches damp out

Indications

Clears summer-heatPromotes urination and drains dampTransforms qi so water movesStrengthens the Spleen and settles the middle

Summer-heat and damp both severe: the heat drives thirst and irritability while the damp blocks the water passages, so urine is scanty and the stool watery.

Clinical Manifestations

Summer fever with great thirst and scanty urine
Watery diarrhoea in the hot season
Vomiting with a sense of fullness in humid heat
Heat with oedema or urinary difficulty
Headache and irritability in a heat wave

TongueYellow greasy coating

PulseSlippery and rapid

Health Categories

Digestive HealthHeart & CirculationUrinary & Bladder HealthCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Heat stroke Gastroenteritis Dehydration Oedema Oliguria

Common adjustments

Heat clearly dominant over damp — increase Shi Gao 石膏 and reduce or omit Rou Gui 肉桂
Damp dominant with heavy limbs and thick coating — add Huo Xiang 藿香 and Yi Yi Ren 薏苡仁
Vomiting prominent — add Sheng Jiang 生姜 and a little Zhu Ru 竹茹
Fluids clearly injured, dry tongue — the draining is too strong as written — reduce the mineral doses and add Lu Gen 芦根

Contraindications

Not for summer-heat without damp, and not where fluids are already injured — the combination of cold minerals and diuretics will deplete them further. Avoid in Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold and in clear copious urine. Hua Shi and the mineral ingredients need pharmaceutical-grade material and short courses; anyone with impaired kidney function should not take this formula without medical supervision.

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

Pregnancy

Not generally used in pregnancy — it drains water strongly and contains warming, moving Rou Gui. Only if a practitioner judges it necessary, and never self-prescribed.

References

Source Huang Di Su Wen Xuan Ming Lun Fang 《黄帝素问宣明论方》 · Jin

Classical source (public domain), as recorded in the source field.
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）— 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.