{ "slug": "gui-pi-tang", "names": { "pinyin": "Gui Pi Tang", "chinese": "归脾汤", "english": "Restore the Spleen Decoction", "alternate": [ "Gui Pi Wan", "Ginseng and Longan Combination", "Restore the Spleen Pill" ] }, "category": "tonify-blood", "source": { "text": "Ji Sheng Fang (Formulas to Aid the Living)", "author": "Yan Yong-he", "dynasty": "Song", "year": "1253" }, "summary": "The formula for Heart and Spleen deficiency: tired, worried, sleeping badly, forgetful, with a poor appetite and anything that bleeds oozing pale and slow. It feeds the kitchen and the lamp at the same time, building the blood the Heart needs to settle at night.", "picture": "The Spleen is the kitchen that makes blood. The Heart is the lamp that burns it. When the kitchen falls behind, the lamp flickers at night. Gui Pi Tang restocks the kitchen so the lamp burns steady.", "patterns": [ { "slug": "heart-and-spleen-deficiency", "role": "primary", "_links": { "self": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/pattern/heart-and-spleen-deficiency", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/pattern/heart-and-spleen-deficiency" } }, { "slug": "heart-blood-deficiency", "role": "with weak digestion", "_links": { "self": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/pattern/heart-blood-deficiency", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/pattern/heart-blood-deficiency" } }, { "slug": "spleen-qi-deficiency", "role": "with poor sleep and bleeding", "_links": { "self": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/pattern/spleen-qi-deficiency", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/pattern/spleen-qi-deficiency" } } ], "indications": [ "Tired, especially after meals, with poor appetite", "Hard to fall asleep, light dream-filled sleep", "Worry, overthinking, poor memory", "Palpitations with anxiety", "Pale face, pale lips, pale gums", "Gums that ooze a little, easy bruising, nosebleeds", "Heavy, long, or pale periods, or spotting between them", "Chronic low-grade bleeding anywhere", "Dizziness on standing" ], "signs": { "tongue": "Pale, with a thin white coat.", "pulse": "Thin and weak." }, "ingredients": [ { "pinyin": "Ren Shen", "grams": "6", "role": "chief", "job": "Ginseng restores the qi that makes blood. Dang Shen at 9 g is the common substitute in patent forms.", "herb_slug": "ginseng", "english": "Ginseng", "chinese": "人参", "latin": "Radix Ginseng", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/ginseng", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/ginseng" } }, { "pinyin": "Huang Qi", "grams": "12", "role": "chief", "job": "Astragalus lifts the qi so the Spleen can hold blood inside its vessels.", "herb_slug": "root-of-membranous-milkvetch", "english": "Root of Membranous Milkvetch", "chinese": "黄芪", "latin": "Radix Astragali", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/root-of-membranous-milkvetch", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/root-of-membranous-milkvetch" } }, { "pinyin": "Bai Zhu", "grams": "9", "role": "deputy", "job": "Atractylodes strengthens the Spleen so food becomes blood.", "herb_slug": "rhizome-of-largehead-atractylodes", "english": "Rhizome of Largehead Atractylodes", "chinese": "", "latin": "Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/rhizome-of-largehead-atractylodes", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/rhizome-of-largehead-atractylodes" } }, { "pinyin": "Fu Ling", "grams": "9", "role": "deputy", "job": "Poria, classically Fu Shen, the root-wrapped form, calms the Heart and drains damp.", "herb_slug": "indian-bread", "english": "Poria", "chinese": "茯苓", "latin": "Poria", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/indian-bread", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/indian-bread" } }, { "pinyin": "Dang Gui", "grams": "9", "role": "deputy", "job": "Angelica builds blood and keeps it moving.", "herb_slug": "root-of-chinese-angelica", "english": "Root of Chinese Angelica", "chinese": "当归", "latin": "Radix Angelicae Sinensis", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/root-of-chinese-angelica", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/root-of-chinese-angelica" } }, { "pinyin": "Long Yan Rou", "grams": "12", "role": "deputy", "job": "Longan fruit feeds Heart blood and quiets the mind.", "herb_slug": "longan-aril", "english": "Longan Aril", "chinese": "龙眼肉", "latin": "Arillus Longan", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/longan-aril", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/longan-aril" } }, { "pinyin": "Suan Zao Ren", "grams": "12", "role": "assistant", "job": "Sour jujube seed settles the Heart for sleep.", "herb_slug": "spine-date-seed", "english": "Sour Jujube Seed", "chinese": "酸枣仁", "latin": "Semen Ziziphi Spinosae", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/spine-date-seed", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/spine-date-seed" } }, { "pinyin": "Yuan Zhi", "grams": "6", "role": "assistant", "job": "Polygala clears the mind and steadies the spirit.", "herb_slug": "root-of-thinleaf-milkwort", "english": "Root of Thinleaf Milkwort", "chinese": "远志", "latin": "Radix Polygalae", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/root-of-thinleaf-milkwort", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/root-of-thinleaf-milkwort" } }, { "pinyin": "Mu Xiang", "grams": "6", "role": "assistant", "job": "Costus keeps the rich tonics from bloating the stomach.", "herb_slug": "common-aucklandia-root", "english": "Costus Root", "chinese": "木香", "latin": "Radix Aucklandiae", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/common-aucklandia-root", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/common-aucklandia-root" } }, { "pinyin": "Zhi Gan Cao", "grams": "3", "role": "envoy", "job": "Honey-fried licorice harmonizes and supports the middle.", "herb_slug": "prepared-liauorice-root", "english": "Honey-Fried Licorice Root", "chinese": "炙甘草", "latin": "Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/prepared-liauorice-root", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/prepared-liauorice-root" } }, { "pinyin": "Sheng Jiang", "grams": "3", "role": "envoy", "job": "Fresh ginger warms the Stomach so the tonic digests.", "herb_slug": "fresh-ginger", "english": "Fresh Ginger", "chinese": "生姜", "latin": "Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/fresh-ginger", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/fresh-ginger" } }, { "pinyin": "Da Zao", "grams": "5", "role": "envoy", "job": "Jujube dates nourish blood and sweeten the decoction.", "herb_slug": "jujube-chinese-date", "english": "Chinese Date", "chinese": "大枣", "latin": "Fructus Jujubae", "_links": { "herb": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/herb/jujube-chinese-date", "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/herb/jujube-chinese-date" } } ], "actions": [ "Augments qi and tonifies blood", "Strengthens the Spleen and nourishes the Heart", "Helps the Spleen hold blood in the vessels" ], "how_it_works": "Ginseng, astragalus, and atractylodes rebuild the Spleen's qi. Angelica and longan build blood from it. Jujube seed, polygala, and poria carry that blood to the Heart and settle it. Costus and ginger keep the whole rich mix moving so it does not sit in the stomach. The result is more blood, a calmer Heart, and a Spleen strong enough to stop the slow bleeding.", "modifications": [ { "for": "Heavy bleeding", "add": [ "E Jiao", "Ai Ye" ], "note": "Donkey-hide gelatin and mugwort leaf to stop bleeding and build blood." }, { "for": "Insomnia that will not shift", "add": [ "Ye Jiao Teng", "He Huan Pi" ], "note": "Fleeceflower stem and albizia bark for sleep and mood." }, { "for": "Cold hands and loose stools", "add": [ "Gan Jiang" ], "note": "Dried ginger warms the middle." } ], "cautions": [ "Warm and rich. Not for a hot or damp picture: a yellow tongue coat, a bitter taste, heavy limbs, or a chest full of phlegm.", "Not for acute bleeding that is red and heavy. That is heat, not weakness, and needs a different formula.", "If bloating increases, reduce the dose and eat warm cooked food. Mu Xiang is in the formula for this reason, but a very weak Spleen may still need to start low.", "Pause during an acute cold or flu.", "Pregnancy: use only under a qualified practitioner." ], "forms": [ "teapills", "concentrated tablets", "granules", "decoction" ], "typical_dose": { "teapills": "8 pills, three times a day with warm water, the usual label dose", "decoction": "One bag a day in two doses, with the amounts above", "course": "One to three months. Sleep and appetite usually shift inside a month." }, "cousins": [ { "slug": "ba-zhen-tang", "difference": "Builds qi and blood without the Heart-calming herbs. For weakness and pallor when sleep and worry are not the main complaint." }, { "slug": "suan-zao-ren-tang", "difference": "For sleep alone, from Liver blood deficiency, in someone whose digestion is fine." }, { "slug": "bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang", "difference": "Lifts sinking Spleen qi: prolapse, sagging, exhaustion, chronic diarrhea. No blood-building or Heart-calming side." }, { "slug": "tian-wang-bu-xin-dan", "difference": "For sleep with heat: a red tongue, night sweats, a dry mouth. Gui Pi Tang is for the pale, tired sleeper." } ], "commerce": { "store": "supplementsapothecary.com", "store_name": "Supplements Apothecary", "store_slug": "gui-pi-tang", "store_url": "https://www.supplementsapothecary.com/supplement/gui-pi-tang", "status": "planned", "label_check": "The box reads Gui Pi Tang or Gui Pi Wan with the characters 归脾丸. Twelve herbs. Codonopsis often replaces ginseng in patent pills; that is normal. Look for longan, jujube seed, and polygala on the list." }, "conditions": [ "receding-gums", "insomnia", "uterine-bleeding", "palpitations", "anemia" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Bensky, Scheid, Ellis and Barolet, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, 2nd edition", "note": "Composition, actions, indications, and modifications." }, { "title": "Yan Yong-he, Ji Sheng Fang, 1253", "note": "Source text; Dang Gui and Yuan Zhi were added by Xue Ji in the Ming dynasty." } ], "meta": { "status": "published", "last_updated": "2026-10-12", "reviewed_by": null }, "_links": { "html": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/formula/gui-pi-tang", "self": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/formula/gui-pi-tang", "index": "https://www.naturalherblibrary.com/api/v1/formulas" } }