Gui Shao Hong Hua San

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Source: Shen Shi Yao Han

Last updated October 1, 2026

Not yet clinically reviewed

Description

Gui Shao Hong Hua San (Chinese Angelica, Peony, and Carthamus Powder), from A Close Examination of the Precious Classic on Ophthalmology (Shen Shi Yao Han).

Actions: Cool the blood and dissipate blood stasis

Indications: Indicated for the treatment of pink eye (acute conjunctivitis) caused by exuberant pathogenic heat obstruction, and static blood congealing and stagnation, with thick and hard eyelids, particles in palpebral conjunctiva, more evident redness, heaviness and bearing-down of the eyelids, difficulty in opening, stabbing pain and scorching hot in the eyes, xenophthalmia and photophobia, eye discharge and dacryorrhea, drooping pannus (trachomatous pannus), red tongue with yellow coating, and rapid pulse

Category: Formulas That Invigorate Blood and Dispel Stasis.

Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas: New Century Traditional Chinese Medicine. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 692–700.

Composition

Herb Amount % Role Function
Bai Zhi
as printed: Radix Angelicae Dahuricae (bai zhi) 5 g
5g 7.69% —
Dang Gui
as printed: Radix Angelicae Sinensis (dang gui) 5 g
5g 7.69% —
Chi Shao
as printed: Radix Paeoniae Rubra (chi shao) 6 g
6g 9.23% —
Da Huang
as printed: Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (da huang) 6 g
6g 9.23% —
Huang Qin
as printed: Radix Scutellariae (huang qin) 6 g
6g 9.23% —
Zhi Zi
as printed: Fructus Gardeniae (zhi zi) 6 g
6g 9.23% —
Hong Hua
as printed: Flos Carthami (hong hua) 3 g
3g 4.62% —
Gan Cao
as printed: Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae (gan cao) 3 g
3g 4.62% —
Fang Feng
as printed: Radix Saposhnikoviae (fang feng) 3 g
3g 4.62% —
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Radix Rehmanniae (sheng di huang) 12 g
12g 18.46% —
Lian Qiao
as printed: Fructus Forsythiae (lian qiao) 10 g
10g 15.38% —

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

Cold Cool Neutral Warm Hot

Net cool (-0.92)

From 100% of the weighed grams.

cold cool neutral warm

Grams by band: cold 46%, cool 25%, neutral 5%, warm 25%.

Small but decisive: Da Huang 6g (cold, 9% of the grams), Huang Qin 6g (cold, 9% of the grams), Zhi Zi 6g (cold, 9% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.

Taste

pungent sweet sour bitter
  • pungent 19%
  • sweet 20%
  • sour 5%
  • bitter 57%

From 100% of the weighed grams.

Channels reached

  • Heart 69%
  • Liver 54%
  • Lung 51%
  • Spleen 35%
  • Stomach 31%
  • Large intestine 26%

Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.

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.

Compare side by side with Qing Pi Yin →

Preparation

Decoct the ingredients with water for oral use

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Formula family

Contains Wu Lin San without Chi Fu Ling + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Bai Zhi, Fang Feng, Hong Hua and 3 more Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Wu Lin San + Bai Zhi, Fang Feng, Hong Hua and 3 more
Full herb lists
  • This formula = Wu Lin San without Chi Fu Ling + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Bai Zhi, Fang Feng, Hong Hua, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao and Sheng Di Huang
  • This formula = Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Wu Lin San + Bai Zhi, Fang Feng, Hong Hua, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao and Sheng Di Huang

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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