苓桂術甘湯

Name

Decoction of Poria, Bighead, Atractylodes Cinnamom and Licorice

Source

The book Jin Gui Yao Lue

Ingredients

• Fu Ling (Poria) 12 g,
• Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) 9 g,
• Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 6 g,
• Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 6 g.

Explanation

Fu Ling: The principal drug, being sweet and tasteless in flavor and neutral in nature, strengthening the spleen, removing dampness, dissolving phlegm.

Gui Zhi: Warming up Yang to induce diuresis, descending the adverse flow of Qi.

Bai Zhu: Strengthening the spleen and removing dampness.

Gan Cao: Invigorating Qi to regulate the stomach.

Effect

Warming and dissolving phlegm, strengthening the spleen, inducing diuresis.

Indications

Syndrome of retention of phlegm due to insufficiency of Yang of the middle-Jiao, marked by fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, vertigo, palpitation, or shortness of breath, cough, whitish slippery tongue coating, and taut slippery pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma and chronic nephritis.

Administration

Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken 3 times.