Gui Pi Tang — Restore the Spleen Decoction

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Conditions treated
5. Cautions

Overview

Gui Pi Tang — Restore the Spleen Decoction — is one of the most clinically versatile and widely used formulas in the entire Chinese herbal medicine tradition. It tonifies Qi and Blood simultaneously while also calming the Heart-Mind, making it uniquely suited to the extremely common modern pattern of mental-emotional and physical exhaustion from overwork, worry and insufficient rest. First recorded in the Song Dynasty (1253 CE), it addresses both the root cause (Spleen Qi failing to produce sufficient Blood) and the manifestation (Heart insufficiently nourished, leading to insomnia, anxiety and palpitations).

TCM pattern

Gui Pi Tang is prescribed for Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood deficiency, characterised by: insomnia (particularly difficulty falling asleep with excessive worry), palpitations, poor memory and difficulty concentrating, anxiety, fatigue, poor appetite, a pale complexion, scanty or irregular menstruation, a pale tongue with thin white coating, and a thin, weak pulse.

Key herbs

1. Ren Shen (Panax ginseng root) — tonifies Yuan Qi and Spleen Qi
2. Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceus root) — powerfully tonifies Spleen Qi; works with Ren Shen to rebuild the root
3. Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala rhizome) — tonifies Spleen Qi and dries Dampness
4. Fu Ling (Poria cocos) — tonifies Spleen, resolves Dampness and calms the Heart-Mind
5. Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis root) — nourishes Blood and the Heart
6. Long Yan Rou (Dimocarpus longan fruit flesh) — nourishes Heart Blood and calms the Shen
7. Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphus spinosa seed) — nourishes Heart Blood and calms the Shen; the most important single herb in TCM for insomnia
8. Yuan Zhi (Polygala tenuifolia root) — calms the Shen and promotes the communication between Heart and Kidney
9. Mu Xiang (Saussurea lappa root) — moves Qi and prevents the tonifying herbs from causing stagnation
10. Zhi Gan Cao (honey-fried Glycyrrhiza root) — tonifies Qi and harmonises the formula

Conditions treated

1. Insomnia — particularly difficulty falling asleep with an overactive, worrying mind
2. Anxiety and palpitations from Heart Blood deficiency
3. Burnout and chronic fatigue from overwork, worry and inadequate recovery
4. Depression with prominent fatigue, poor appetite and palpitations
5. Irregular menstrual cycle and scanty periods from Spleen Qi failing to hold Blood
6. Poor memory and cognitive difficulties from insufficient Blood nourishing the Heart-Mind

Cautions

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Online herbal consultations are available. See the prices page for costs.