桂枝去芍藥湯

Source

The book Shang Han Lun

Ingredients

• Gui Zhi 9 g,
• Gan Cao 6 g,
• Sheng Jiang 9 g,
• Da Zao 12 dates.

Explanation

Gui Zhi: Being pungent and sweet in flavor and warm in nature, expelling pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin by means of diaphoresis, warming the channels to dispel pathogenic cold.

Sheng Jiang: Being pungent in flavor and warm in nature, assisting Gui Zhi in expelling pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin, warming the stomach to prevent vomiting.

Da Zao: Being sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, supplementing Qi and strengthening the middle-Jiao, nourishing the spleen, promoting the production of body fluids.

Zhi Gan Cao: Supplementing Qi and regulating the stomach, together with Gui Zhi aiding in expelling the pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin, tempering the actions of all the other ingredients.

Effect

Relieve exterior syndrome by means of diaphoresis, expel wind and activate yang.

Administration

Decoct in water for oral dose to be taken twice.