Gu Biao Zhi Han Tang

Author: Huang Wen-Dong

Source: Case Histories of Huang Wen-Dong (2001)

Category: Formulas that Stabilise and Bind

Pattern: Heart Qi and Wei Deficiency with Yin Deficiency and Empty Heat due to chronic TB.

Key Symptoms: Chronic sweating associated with tuberculosis that does not abate despite antibiotic treatment associated with sensations of heat when lying down.

Tongue: Pale
Pulse: Thin and rapid

Ingredients

Huang Qi

10g

Pinyin: Huang Qi Chinese: 黄芪 Pharmaceutical: Radix Astragali Taxonomy: Astragalus membranaceus English: Astragalus Root / Mongolian Milkvetch Root
Tastes: Sweet, warm Meridians Entered: Lung and Spleen
Actions & Indications: Tonifies Qi and Blood Postpartum fever due to Qi and Blood Deficiency Recovery from severe Blood loss Strengthens the Spleen and raises the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach Spleen Qi Deficiency with anorexia, fatigue and diarrhoea Central Qi Sinking (prolapse) Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency Qi Failing to contain Blood Qi and Blood Deficiency Fever from Qi Deficiency Tonifies Wei Qi, stabilizes the Exterior and tonifies the Lungs (aids circulation of moisture downward from the face) Wei Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating Lung Qi Deficiency with frequent colds or shortness of breath Excessive sweating associated with Qi, Yang or Yin Deficiency Dampness in the head Promotes urination and reduces oedema Spleen Deficiency oedema or superficial oedema with reduced urination (It can be used as a stand-alone herb for this) Promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and expels toxins Chronic ulcerations and sores that either have trouble forming pus or have formed pus but are not draining well Generates Body Fluids Wasting and thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke) Bi Syndrome with numbness of the limbs and paralysis Relieves numbness and pain Numbness and pain due to Deficiency of Qi and Blood Tonifies the Qi while suppressing Parasites Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998) Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction. Large dosages of up to 30g can be used for severe debilitation, Blood deficiency or unhealing sores (e.g. Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang). Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of exterior excess with excessive pathogen, internal obstruction, yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, early stage of sores and ulcers of excessive pathogen and no deficiency of heathy qi, because it can tonify qi, raise yang and strengthen superficial.Caution with patients on immunosuppressents due to its immune modulating effects.

Bai Zhu

12g

Zhi Gan Cao

4.5g

Pinyin: Gan Cao Chinese: 甘草 Pharmaceutical: Radix Glycyrrhizae Taxonomy: Glycyrrhiza uralensis seu glabra seu inflata English: Liquorice Root
Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold Meridians Entered: Heart, Lung and Spleen (and all 12 meridians)
Actions & Indications: Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi Spleen Qi Deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude and loose stools Qi and Blood Deficiency with an irregular pulse and/or palpitations Heart Qi Deficiency or Heart Yang Deficiency Moistens the Lungs, resolves Phlegm and stops coughing Lung Heat or Cold Productive or non-productive coughing Moderates spasms and alleviates pain Painful muscle spasms of the abdomen and legs Clears Heat and relieves Fire Toxicity Raw for Toxic Heat with sore throat or carbuncles and sores (Chuang Yung) Antidote for many toxic substances (internal and topical) Poisoning Bites (after washing the wound, chew Gan Cao and apply a thick layer on the bite wound, changing whenever it dries out; Bao Xiang-Ao, 1846, New Compilation of Proven Formulas) Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs and guides the herbs to all twelve channels Often added in small doses to harmonise formulas Tonifies the Qi while suppressing Parasites Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998) Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015) Aids fasting Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Standard Dosage: Typically 1.5-9g in decoction. Large doses can be up 30g. Cautions: It is contraindicated for combining with Hai Zao, Da Ji, Gan Sui and Yuan Hua because of "eighteen antagonisms". It is also contraindicated in cases of dampness obstruction in middle energizer and edema because it can help dampness obstruct qi, and it is prohibited from long-term usage in large dosage (more than 20g/day) and should be avoided or used with extreme caution in patients with high blood pressure because it may raise aldosterone levels in the blood causing retention of sodium. The NHS recommends avoiding during pregnancy.

4.5g

Mu Li

30g

Pinyin: Mu Li Chinese: 牡蛎 Pharmaceutical: Concha Ostreae English: Oyster Shell
Tastes: Salty, astringent, slightly cold Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney
Actions & Indications: Heavily settles and calms the Spirit Agitated Heart and Spirit with palpitations with anxiety, restlessness and insomnia Calms the Liver, benefits Yin and anchors Floating Yang Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising or Yin Deficiency with internal Heat with restlessness, irritability, palpitations and spontaneous sweating Prevents leakage of fluids Continuous sweat after febrile disease or in patients with steaming bone disorder Loss of fluids due to Deficiency with night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding Softens hardness and dissipates nodules Various kinds of lumps particularly neck lumps such as goiter or scrofula Absorbs acidity and alleviates pain (calcined) Excessive Stomach pain with a sour taste in the mouth Aids fasting Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, fortify the bones and joints (骨节 Gu Jie), kill evil ghosts (邪鬼 Xie Gui), and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction. Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. Caution should also be taken due to the possibility of heavy metal absorption from the oysters' environment. If decocting it is advisable to leave the dregs at the bottom as heavy metal particles will naturally sink. It is still probably advisable to avoid for long term use unless the source is known to be clean. Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Xuan Shen, Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi or Tian Ma. If viewed from a western perspective as a source of calcium which may cause sleep disturbances, then supplementation or inclusion of high calcium/magnesium content herbs (e.g. Kun Bu which is also salty and softens nodulation) could be considered, especially if other signs such as oesteoporosis or muscle cramps are present and the risk of side effects from calcium/magnesium supplements are low (stones, calcified arteries, GI issues). However, this assumes a mechanism which does not match many of the traditional patterns for which it is prescribed.

Long Gu

15g

Pinyin: Long Gu Chinese: 龙骨 Pharmaceutical: Ossa Draconis English: Fossilised Bones
Tastes: Sweet, astringent, neutral Meridians Entered: Liver, Heart and Kidney
Actions & Indications: Settles anxiety and calms the Spirit Agitated Heart and Spirit with emotional distress, restlessness, insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, seizures, or withdrawal mania Calms the Liver and anchors and preserves Floating Yang Irritability, restlessness, dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision and a bad temper due to Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising Prevents leakage of fluids Loss of fluids due to Deficiency with spermatorrhea, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding Topically generates muscles and astringes ulcers Chronic non-healing sores and ulcerations Treats Ghost Possession Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing to treat Heart and Abdomen Ghost Possession, Spiritual Matters (精物 Jing Wu) and Old Ghosts (老鬼). This refers to difficult to treat disorders thought to be of supernatural origin. Aids fasting Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, enable one to communicate with the Spirit Light (Shen Ming 神明), and lengthen the lifespan. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction. Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi. If viewed from a western perspective as a source of calcium which may cause sleep disturbances, then supplementation or inclusion of high calcium/magnesium content herbs (e.g. Kun Bu) could be considered, especially if other signs such as oesteoporosis or muscle cramps are present and risk of side effects from calcium/magnesium supplements are low (stones, calcified arteries, GI issues). However, this assumes a mechanism which does not match many of the traditional patterns for which it is prescribed.

Fu Xiao Mai

30g

Nuo Dao Gen Xu

30g

Subsitutions:
In the UK the following substitutions must be made:
Mu Li == Xuan Shen + Bai Shao + Wu Wei Zi
Long Gu == Bai Shao + Wu Wei Zi

Preparation: Decoction.

Actions: Augments the Qi, secures the Exterior, nourishes the Heart, stops sweating

Research Links:

American Dragon

TCMWiki

Journal of Chinese Medicine

National Resource Centre for Chinese Materia Medica, China

TCM-ID Integrated Database, East China Normal University

TCM-ID Information Database, National University of Singapore

Pubmed

Science Direct

Google Scholar

Bai Du (Chinese)

A+ Medical Encyclopedia (Chinese)

Reference Notes: (click to display)

These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.

Herb Formulas Notebook

Stabilise the Exterior and Stop Sweating Decoction