Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Star桂枝茯苓丸 (Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue — Zhang Zhong-Jing (Eastern Han, c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan (Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill), from the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet) by Zhang Zhong-Jing.
Actions: Activates blood circulation and breaks up blood stasis; Disperses the formation of abnormal masses in the abdomen.
Presentation: Blood stasis in the uterus (during pregnancy): instability of the fetus, continuous dripping of purplish-black blood, and abdominal pain that is worse with pressure.
Composition: Only bracketed decoction doses printed; source text uses equal amounts. Source text specifies only Shao Yao; Chi Shao is usually used today for stronger blood-moving and heat-clearing.
Cautions:
- Gentle formula for stasis with mild heat; not suitable for serious stagnation, excess blood heat, or absence of stasis
- For stasis with a deficient constitution use Dang Gui Shao Yao San instead
- Occasional abdominal distention and mild constipation
Toxicology: Very little toxicity; 250 g/kg orally in mice for one week caused no deaths or abnormal reactions.
Herb–drug interactions:
- GnRH-agonist-induced menopause: menopausal symptoms in 13 women on GnRH-agonist therapy were relieved by this or related formulas without significant change in serum estradiol
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Antiplatelet: marked effect similar to or greater than aspirin; lowered blood viscosity (onset 30 min, lasting to 180 min); no significant effect on PT
- Anti-inflammatory in mice (60 g/kg oral or 10 g/kg IP), onset ~30 min lasting to 72 h, independent of adrenal/glucocorticoid pathways
- Endocrine: 300 mg/kg for 14 days lowered LH and FSH in rats; acts as LH-RH antagonist and/or weak anti-estrogen
- Nephroprotective: slowed renal damage in diabetic nephropathy rats by improving metabolic abnormalities
- Antioxidative: dose-dependently slowed atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits
- Uterine adenomyosis: prevented/treated adenomyosis in mice
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 928.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gui Zhi
as printed: Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) [6g]
|
6g | 20% | Jun (Chief) | warms the blood and opens the vessels ('entry' for blood movers) |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) [6g]
|
6g | 20% | Jun (Chief) | drains and guides stasis downward ('exit'); strengthens Heart and Spleen to calm the fetus |
|
Tao Ren
as printed: Tao Ren (Semen Persicae) [6g]
|
6g | 20% | Zuo (Assistant) | activates blood and breaks up stasis |
|
Mu Dan Pi
as printed: Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan) [6g]
|
6g | 20% | Zuo (Assistant) | activates blood and clears heat from long-standing stasis |
|
Chi Shao
as printed: Chi Shao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) [6g]
|
6g | 20% | activates blood and clears heat |
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 neutral (-0.20)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 40%, neutral 40%, warm 20%.
Taste
- pungent 20%
- sweet 30%
- sour 10%
- bitter 30%
- bland 10%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 80%
- Lung 60%
- Liver 60%
- Kidney 40%
- Large intestine 20%
- Spleen 20%
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.
Preparation
Source text: equal amounts powdered and formed into honey pills the size of rabbit droppings; 1 pill before meals, increasing to 3 if no response. Today may be decocted with the bracketed doses. Honey pills moderate potency for a gentle sustained effect.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Xiao San Tang Er Hao = this formula + Cui Sheng Tang + Gong Wai Yun Fang + Chuan Xiong, E Zhu, Hong Hua, Mu Li, Pu Huang, San Leng, San Qi, Yan Hu Suo, Zao Jiao and Zhe Bei Mu
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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