What are the effects and functions of Guizhi Decoction?

In fact, other Chinese herbal ingredients should be added during the preparation process of Guizhi Decoction, so that its medicinal value can be brought into play. For example, if Guizhi is added with Pueraria root, it can better help to relieve muscles, release exterior, promote body fluid and relax the meridians. If Magnolia officinalis and apricot kernel are added, it can play a role in lowering qi and relieving asthma.

1. Guizhi Jia Gegen Decoction

Ingredients: 6g cinnamon twig (peeled), 6g peony root, 9g ginger (cut), 6g licorice (roasted), 3 jujubes (split), 12g kudzu root.

Usage: Add the above six ingredients to one dou of water, first boil the Pueraria root, reduce it to two liters, add other herbs, boil it until three liters are left, remove the residue, and take one liter while warm. Cover and take it until you feel a slight sweat. No need to sip porridge. The rest of the method is the same as Guizhi method, including rest and taboos.

Function: Relieve muscles and release exterior, promote body fluid and relax meridians.

Indications: Wind-cold invading the Taiyang meridian, causing disharmony between the Ying and Wei systems. The symptoms of Guizhi Decoction are accompanied by stiffness and discomfort in the neck and back.

Source: Treatise on Febrile Diseases

2. Guizhi plus Houpu Xingzi Decoction

Ingredients: cinnamon twig (peeled) 9g, peony root 9g, ginger (cut) 9g, licorice (roasted) 6g, jujube (split) 3 pieces, magnolia bark (roasted and peeled) 6g, almond (peeled and tip removed) 6g.

Usage: Add the above seven ingredients to seven liters of water, boil over low heat until only three liters remain, and discard the residue. Take one liter warm. Cover and take it, and you will feel a slight sweat.

Function: Relieve muscles and release exterior, reduce qi and relieve asthma.

Indications: Patients with chronic asthma who are also affected by wind-cold and show symptoms of Guizhi Decoction; or patients with wind-cold exterior symptoms who have been mistakenly treated with purgatives but still have slight wheezing and symptoms that have not been relieved.

Source: Treatise on Febrile Diseases

3. Guizhi Jiagui Decoction

Ingredients: 15g cinnamon twig (peeled), 9g peony root, 9g ginger (cut), 6g licorice (roasted), 3 jujubes (split).

Usage: Add the above five ingredients to seven liters of water, boil and reduce to three liters, remove the residue. Take one liter warm.

Function: Warming and promoting the flow of heart yang, balancing and reducing adverse effects.

Indications: Deficiency of heart yang, running pig due to cold water invading the heart. In case of Taiyang disease, misuse of warm needles or excessive sweating may lead to running pig syndrome, in which qi rushes from the lower abdomen to the heart and chest, causing restlessness when getting up or lying down, and may have paroxysmal symptoms.

Source: Treatise on Febrile Diseases

4. Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Decoction

Ingredients: 9g cinnamon twig (peeled), 18g peony root, 9g ginger (cut), 6g licorice (roasted), 3 jujubes (split).

Usage: Add the above five ingredients to seven liters of water, boil and take three liters, remove the residue, and divide into three doses while warm.

Function: Warming the spleen and harmonizing the middle, relieving acute pain.

Indications: Taiyang disease caused by mistaken purgation and abdominal pain due to earth deficiency and wood invasion.

Source: Treatise on Febrile Diseases