Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang桂枝人参汤

Cinnamon Twig and Ginseng Decoction

Warming the Interior 温里剂Warm the Middle and Dispel Cold 温中祛寒

Ingredients5 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

桂Gui Zhi桂枝别切Cinnamomi Ramulus12gReleases the lingering exterior and warms and unblocks the yang qi 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata9gAugments qi, moderates urgency, and harmonizes the interior and exterior actions 白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma9gStrengthens the Spleen and dries the dampness that loosens the stool 人Ren Shen人参Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma9gTonifies the qi of the middle burner exhausted by repeated purgation 干Gan Jiang干姜Zingiberis Rhizoma9gWarms the middle and dispels the cold driving the diarrhoea

Indications

Warms the middle and strengthens the SpleenReleases a lingering exteriorStops diarrhoea and softens epigastric fullness

Spleen and Stomach cold-deficiency with an unresolved exterior, classically arising when a surface pattern is repeatedly purged. Interior cold drives the diarrhoea while the exterior pattern still generates chills and fever.

Clinical Manifestations

Chronic diarrhoea that persists while chills and fever continue
Hard, uncomfortable fullness below the sternum
Loose stools with undigested food after purgation or cold food
Headache and body aches with a cold, weak digestion

TonguePale with a thin white coating

PulseWeak or floating and weak

Health Categories

Digestive Health

Modern Applications

Chronic diarrhoea Gastroenteritis Functional dyspepsia Epigastric fullness Post-infectious IBS

Common adjustments

Exterior signs prominent — increase Gui Zhi 桂枝 and add it later in the boil
Diarrhoea severe and unremitting — increase Gan Jiang 干姜 and add Fu Ling 茯苓
Epigastric knot pronounced — add Zhi Shi 枳实 sparingly, watching that it does not further weaken the middle

Contraindications

Not for damp-heat or heat-toxin diarrhoea, which typically brings burning, foul stools, thirst and a yellow greasy coating. Not for exterior wind-heat.

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

Pregnancy

Use with caution in pregnancy. Gui Zhi is warm and moves the blood, and Gan Jiang is hot; neither is absolutely forbidden, but this combination should only be given in pregnancy by a practitioner who has judged the cold-deficiency pattern to be clear.

Related Formulas

References

Source Shang Han Lun 《伤寒论》 · Eastern Han

「太阳病，外证未除，而数下之，遂协热而利，利下不止，心下痞硬，表里不解者，桂枝人参汤主之。」
— 《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）— 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.