Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang苓桂术甘汤

Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes and Licorice Decoction

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

Ingredients4 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

茯Fu Ling茯苓Poria12g君 ChiefThe largest dose — leaches out the gathered rheum and strengthens the Spleen at once 桂Gui Zhi桂枝去皮Cinnamomi Ramulus9g臣 DeputyWarms yang so fluids are transformed, and settles the qi that surges up with the water 白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma6g佐 AssistantStrengthens the Spleen's transport so rheum stops re-forming 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoySupports the middle burner and harmonizes the warming and draining halves

Indications

Warms yang and transforms thin rheumStrengthens the Spleen and leaches out dampSettles the qi that surges upward with waterRelieves dizziness and palpitations

Phlegm-rheum from middle-burner yang deficiency: the Spleen cannot transform fluids, so thin rheum gathers below the heart and, with the qi, surges upward against the chest and head.

Clinical Manifestations

Fullness of the chest and rib-sides from fluid
Dizziness on standing with palpitations
Cough with clear thin sputum
Shortness of breath with a splashing sound in the epigastrium
Chronic dizziness in a patient who feels the cold

TonguePale with a white slippery coating

PulseWiry and slippery, or sinking and tight

Health Categories

Digestive HealthRespiratory HealthHeart & Circulation

Modern Applications

Ménière's disease Vertigo Palpitations Chronic bronchitis Gastric retention Heart failure

Common adjustments

Palpitations and anxiety are marked — add Long Gu 龙骨 and Mu Li 牡蛎
Cough with copious sputum — add Zhi Ban Xia 制半夏 and Chen Pi 陈皮
Kidney yang is also weak — add Fu Zi (Zhi) 制附子, decocted first
Marked oedema — add Ze Xie 泽泻 and Zhu Ling 猪苓
Dizziness predominates — increase Ze Xie 泽泻 and add Tian Ma 天麻

Contraindications

Not for cough or dizziness from yin deficiency with heat — a red tongue with little coating, night sweats, thick sticky sputum — where these warm drying herbs will worsen the dryness. Palpitations with breathlessness may be cardiac in origin and should be investigated before being treated as rheum alone.

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

Pregnancy

Use with caution in pregnancy — Gui Zhi is warm and moves the blood, so it is used in pregnancy only on a practitioner's judgment. The formula is otherwise mild.

Related Formulas

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

References

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

「心下有痰饮，胸胁支满，目眩，苓桂术甘汤主之。」
— 《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）— 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.