Gui Zhi Jia Shao Yao Tang桂枝加芍药汤

Cinnamon Twig Decoction with Extra Peony

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release Wind-Cold 辛温解表

Ingredients5 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

桂Gui Zhi桂枝去皮Cinnamomi Ramulus9gWarms and frees yang in the middle so the cold pain lifts

芍Bai Shao芍药Paeoniae Radix Alba18gDoubled, it softens the Liver and unlocks cramping abdominal pain

甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata6gWith Bai Shao forms the sour-sweet pair that relaxes spasm 大Da Zao大枣擘Jujubae Fructus3枚Supplements the Spleen and moderates the pain 生Sheng Jiang生姜切Zingiberis Rhizoma recens9gWarms the stomach and stops nausea

Indications

Warms and harmonizes the middle burnerSoftens the Liver, relieves cramping painRelaxes abdominal tension and fullness

Taiyin pattern from a mistakenly purged taiyang disease: the middle is weakened, wood overwhelms earth, and the abdomen becomes full with pain that waxes and wanes.

Clinical Manifestations

Cramping abdominal pain that comes and goes
Abdominal fullness after a cold was purged too early
Griping pain relieved by warmth and pressure
Functional bowel pain with a weak, cold middle

TonguePale with a thin white coating

PulseModerate and weak, or wiry and thin

Health Categories

Digestive HealthStress & Emotional Balance

Modern Applications

Abdominal cramping Irritable bowel syndrome Functional dyspepsia Colic Post-infectious bowel pain

Common adjustments

Pain severe and persistent — add Da Huang 大黄 in a small dose — the classical Gui Zhi Jia Da Huang Tang
Marked deficiency and cold in the middle — add Yi Tang 饴糖, which moves the formula toward Xiao Jian Zhong Tang

Contraindications

Not an exterior formula despite its place in this chapter — do not use it for an unresolved wind-cold. Not for abdominal pain from damp-heat or from food stagnation with foul belching, which need draining rather than warming and relaxing.

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

Pregnancy

Generally acceptable in pregnancy under practitioner supervision — a mild warming and relaxing formula with no Ma Huang and no purgatives. Abdominal pain in pregnancy must always be assessed medically before any herb is given.

Related Formulas

References

Source Shang Han Lun 《伤寒论》 · Eastern Han

「本太阳病，医反下之，因而腹满时痛者，属太阴也，桂枝加芍药汤主之。」
— 《伤寒论》(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 under 桂枝汤, 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.