Gui Zhi Tang桂枝汤
Cinnamon Twig Decoction (Cinnamon Combination)
Ingredients5 herbs
Indications
Exterior deficiency wind-cold: the wei qi cannot secure the surface, so sweat escapes while the pathogen stays. Sweating that brings no relief is the sign that separates this pattern from the Ma Huang Tang one.
Clinical Manifestations
- Wind-cold cold with sweating and aversion to wind
- Fever that persists although the patient is sweating
- Spontaneous sweating with no exterior invasion
- Postpartum or convalescent aversion to drafts
- Recurrent low-grade fever of ying-wei disharmony
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Stiff neck and upper back — add Ge Gen 葛根 — Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang
- Wheezing in a patient with an old cough — add Hou Po 厚朴 and Xing Ren 杏仁 — Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po Xing Zi Tang
- Abdominal pain from deficiency cold — double Bai Shao 白芍 — Gui Zhi Jia Shao Yao Tang; adding malt sugar gives Xiao Jian Zhong Tang
- Sweating profuse with cold limbs — add Zhi Fu Zi Fu Zi (Zhi) — Gui Zhi Jia Fu Zi Tang, a practitioner-only adjustment
Contraindications
Not for exterior cold without sweating — that is the Ma Huang Tang pattern — and not for wind-heat or damp-heat with thirst and a red tongue. Classically avoided in heavy drinkers, and while taking it, cold, raw, greasy and strongly pungent food is set aside.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Generally compatible — practitioner judgment applies. It is one of the gentler exterior-releasing formulas and is classically among those used during pregnancy.
Related Formulas
References
Source Shang Han Lun 《伤寒论》 · Eastern Han
「太阳中风，阳浮而阴弱……啬啬恶寒，淅淅恶风，翕翕发热，鼻鸣干呕者，桂枝汤主之。」
- 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.