Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Star苓桂术甘汤 (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes Macrocephalae and Licorice Decoction)
Source: Jin Kui Yao Lue (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes Macrocephalae and Licorice Decoction), from the Jin Kui Yao Lue, is used to warm Yang and dissolve fluid (cold water attacking Heart and Lung).
Presentation: fullness in chest and hypochondria; palpitations; shortness of breath; coughing up clear watery phlegm; dizziness; vertigo; tongue: flabby and pale with a white moist coating; pulse: slippery and wiry.
Syndrome: Syndrome of Heart-Yang deficiency.
Composition strategy:
- Shows several fluid-eliminating methods: drain by urination (Fu Ling), warm Yang (Gui Zhi), tonify Spleen and dry dampness (Bai Zhu)
- Sweet Zhi Gan Cao offsets the side effects of warm drying herbs
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 188, 210.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria)
|
12g | 36.36% | Jun (Chief) | drain water, dissolve fluid, tonify Spleen |
|
Gui Zhi
as printed: Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi cassiae ramulus)
|
9g | 27.27% | Chen (Deputy) | stimulate Yang, warm water to transform into Qi |
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma)
|
6g | 18.18% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify Spleen, dry dampness |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
|
6g | 18.18% | Zuo (Assistant) | protect Yin from draining herbs, tonify Spleen-Qi |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
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 slightly warm (+0.45)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: neutral 55%, warm 46%.
Taste
- pungent 14%
- sweet 59%
- bitter 9%
- bland 18%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 82%
- Heart 82%
- Spleen 73%
- Stomach 36%
- Kidney 36%
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
Decoction; the source text says it should increase urination.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 738.
Relationships
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Formula family
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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