Gan Jiang Fu Zi Tang
Star干姜附子汤 (Dried Ginger and Aconite Decoction)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 20, 2026
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Description
Gan Jiang Fu Zi Tang (Dried Ginger and Aconite Decoction) is the formula given in Line 61 of the Shang Han Lun for daytime vexation, agitation and sleeplessness with calm at night, after precipitation followed by sweating, when there is no retching, no thirst, no exterior pattern and no great generalized heat, and the pulse is sunken and faint (yáng vacuity with yīn exuberance).
Source: Mitchell C, Feng Y, Wiseman N. Shang Han Lun: On Cold Damage, Translation & Commentaries. Paradigm Publications, 1999, pp. 181–182.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gan Jiang
as printed: 干姜一两 (1 liang); 15.625 g at 1 liang = 15.625 g (p. 64)
|
15.63g | 100% | — | |
|
Zhi Fu Zi
as printed: 附子一枚（生用，去皮，切八片） (1 piece, used raw, skin removed, cut into eight slices); aconite used raw (生), linked to the Zhi Fu Zi record with processing sheng
|
1pieces | 100% | — |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net hot (+2.00)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: hot 100%.
Taste
- pungent 100%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Stomach 100%
- Spleen 100%
- Heart 100%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Zhi Fu Zi.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
[For] the above two ingredients use three shēng of water. Boil to get one shēng, remove the dregs and take in one single dose. (Mitchell, Feng & Wiseman 1999, p. 182, Line 61)
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Formula family
Full equations
- Wu Mei Wan = this formula + Shen Fu Tang + Wu Mei, Hua Jiao, Huang Bai, Huang Lian, Xi Xin, Dang Gui and Gui Zhi. Proportions not compared: the catalogue's Gan Jiang Fu Zi Tang has no gram dose for Zhi Fu Zi.
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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