Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan — Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill

Overview

Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is the classical Chinese herbal formula for invigorating Blood and resolving Blood stasis in the uterus and lower abdomen. Originating from Zhang Zhongjing’s Jin Gui Yao Lue, it is one of the most precisely targeted Blood-moving formulas in TCM, specifically for masses, pain and abnormalities arising from Blood stasis accumulating in the Chong and Ren channels that govern the uterus. In contemporary clinical practice it is the most widely prescribed Chinese herbal formula for gynaecological Blood stasis conditions.

TCM pattern

Prescribed for Blood stasis in the Uterus, characterised by: fixed abdominal masses, painful periods with dark clotted blood, persistent lower abdominal pain that is fixed and worsened by pressure, a purple or dusky tongue, and a deep, choppy (Se) or wiry pulse.

Key herbs

Gui Zhi (Cinnamomum cassia twigs) — warms the channels and invigorates Blood circulation in the Chong and Ren channels
Fu Ling (Poria cocos) — tonifies Spleen and resolves Dampness
Mu Dan Pi (Paeonia suffruticosa root bark) — clears Blood Heat, invigorates Blood and disperses stasis
Chi Shao (Paeonia lactiflora root, red) — invigorates Blood, disperses stasis and alleviates pain
Tao Ren (Prunus persica seed) — the most potent Blood-moving herb in the formula; breaks up Blood stasis and softens hardness

Conditions treated

Uterine fibroids — multiple clinical trials confirm its ability to reduce fibroid size and alleviate symptoms
Endometriosis — reduces lesion size, pain and menstrual irregularity
Dysmenorrhoea (painful periods) with dark, clotted blood from Blood stasis in the Uterus
Ovarian cysts from Blood stasis accumulation
PCOS with Blood stasis component — regulates menstruation and reduces follicular cysts
Post-partum Blood stasis — retained lochia or post-partum abdominal pain

Contraindicated in pregnancy. Use with caution in patients with significant Qi or Blood deficiency without Blood stasis.