Gui Zhi Jia Fu Zi Tang 桂枝加附子湯 - Cinnamon Twig plus Aconite Root
Cinnamon Twig plus Aconite Accessory Root Decoction
also known as Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang 桂枝附子湯
Key Symptoms:
- Joint pain that worsens with movement
- Muscle soreness and spasms
- Excessive sweating
- Aversion to wind and cold
- Mental fatigue
- Physical exhaustion
- Weak and fine pulses
Key Functions:
- Nourish blood and relax muscle spasms
- Strengthen the middle jiao and harmonize blood (ying) and defensive (wei) qi
- Warm the interior and expel cold to relieve joint pains
- Regulate excessive sweating by harmonizing the exterior
Formula Notes:
Often in the Gui Zhi Tang presentation excessive sweating leads to body fluid depletion. This can then lead to an accumulation of dampness in the exterior muscles and joints causing heaviness pain, a pulling type pain and stiffness (if this is severe and includes swelling then Fu ling and Bai Zhu can be added making another formula GUI ZHI JIA LING ZHU FU TANG). The addition to gui zhi tang of 15% Aconite Zhi Fu Zi here treats the body fluid deficiency and strongly warms the interior and expels cold treating acute or chronic rheumatic joint disorders with sweating aversion to wind and cold and pain with difficulty moving the body and limbs.
GUI ZHI JIA FU ZI TANG Ingredients
| Cinnamon twig | Gui Zhi | 15% |
| White Peony root | Bai Shao | 15% |
| Fresh Ginger rhizome | Sheng Jiang | 15% |
| Sour date | Da Zao | 25% |
| Honey-fried Licorice root | Zhi Gan Cao | 15% |
| Prepared Aconite | Zhi Fu Zi | 15% |
GUI ZHI JIA FU ZI TANG Precautions
Use with caution in patients with strong pulses, who have heat or redness or are not cold,
Pregnant or nursing women should consult their health care provider before taking any supplement. This formula is generally contraindicated in Pregnancy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is powerful and reliable, but it can be complex. As TCM is not based on symptoms alone, self-diagnosis and self-treatment aren't recommended. Best to start a low cost online-herbal-consultation before using.
GUI ZHI JIA FU ZI TANG Safety
This formula contains Aconite which is toxic when raw. When safely dosed, cooked and prescribed it is no longer toxic.
If you are ordering Raw herbs the Aconite (Fu Zi) is given separately and must be cooked separately and ahead of adding the other herbs. Make sure you or your patient follows the instructions given.
In the case of granules the Aconite (Fu Zi) has already been cooked for the proper time and no further cooking is needed, however the dosage should not exceed practitioners suggestion.
*As a precaution stop taking the formula if the patient feels numbing or tingling sensation of the mouth or limbs. A fresh ginger tea can be taken as an antidote and emergency services (911) should be called immediately if this occurs.