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[Composition] Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Yin Hua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus). Decoct with water and take orally.

[Annotation] Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Gan Cao are used to tonify the Qi aspect; Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, and Bai Shao are used to nourish the Blood aspect; Yin Hua, Bai Zhi, and Lian Qiao are used to resolve toxicity.

*Yi Zong Jin Jian*, Volume 31, *Shan Bu Ming Yi Fang Lun*, Volume 6.

Gui Zhi Tang can also be used for symptoms such as nasal congestion with roaring sounds (Bi Ming) and dry retching (Gan Ou), as well as spontaneous sweating (Zi Han), night sweating (Dao Han), deficiency consumptive disease (Xu Sun), and deficient malaria (Xu Nue) arising from miscellaneous diseases. It is strictly contraindicated in cases of floating-tight pulse (Mai Fu Jin) with no sweating, or in habitual drinkers suffering from wind-cold with sweating.

Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) 3 liang, Shao Yao (Paeonia Root) 3 liang, Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) 3 liang, Gan Cao (Licorice Root, honey-fried) 2 liang, Da Zao (Jujube Fruit) 12 pieces. The above five ingredients are boiled in 7 sheng of water until 3 sheng remain. Take 1 sheng per dose. After taking the medicine, cover with blankets to induce a slight sweat. Do not allow profuse sweating like flowing water, otherwise the disease will certainly not be resolved. If after taking 1 sheng, sweating occurs and the disease is cured, there is no need to finish the remaining decoction. After taking the medicine, drink one bowl of thin porridge to assist the medicinal power.

[Annotation] In all cases where wind-cold is on the exterior, with a floating-weak pulse and spontaneous sweating, these belong to Exterior Deficiency (Biao Xu) syndrome, which should primarily be treated with Gui Zhi Tang. It is named Gui Zhi Tang because Gui Zhi serves as the Sovereign (Jun) herb. Gui Zhi is acrid and warm; acridity can disperse pathogens, and warmth follows Yang to support Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). Shao Yao is sour and cold; sourness can astringe sweat, and cold enters Yin to nourish Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi). With Gui Zhi as Sovereign accompanying Shao Yao, there is an intention to astringe sweat within dispersion; with Shao Yao as Minister assisting Gui Zhi, there is a pathway for slight sweating within the consolidation of the exterior. The acridity of Sheng Jiang assists Gui Zhi in resolving the muscle layer and exterior. Furthermore, the sweetness of Da Zao assists Shao Yao in harmonizing Ying Qi within. Gan Cao is sweet and neutral, possessing the ability to stabilize the interior and repel the exterior; it is used to harmonize the Middle Qi, thereby harmonizing the exterior and interior, and harmonizing the various herbs. Due to the mutual dependence of Gui Zhi and Shao Yao, and the synergy of Sheng Jiang and Da Zao, relying on Gan Cao's harmonizing function to coordinate the Yang exterior and Yin interior, Qi Wei and Blood Ying, they proceed together without contradiction. This is the integration of rigidity and softness to achieve harmony. The essence lies in drinking hot thin porridge shortly after administration to assist the medicinal power. Since grain qi fills the interior, it not only facilitates the brewing of sweat but also prevents any pathogen that has entered from lingering slightly, and prevents future pathogens from re-entering. Another subtlety lies in taking the medicine warm for about an hour, resulting in a slight apparent sweating; this teaches the method of inducing slight sweating. One must not allow profuse sweating like flowing water, as the disease will certainly not be removed; this prohibits excessive sweating. This formula is the crown among Zhang Zhongjing's formulas, being the primary formula for resolving the muscle layer, inducing sweating, and harmonizing Ying and Wei. For all cases of Wind Strike (Zhong Feng) or Cold Damage (Shang Han) with a floating-weak pulse, spontaneous sweating, and unresolved exterior syndrome, this formula may serve as the principal treatment. In other instances, if one or two symptoms are present, it is indicated; it is not necessary for all symptoms to be present. Therefore, sweating formulas such as Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction), Ge Gen Tang (Kudzu Decoction), and Qing Long Tang (Green Dragon Decoction) all incorporate its components. If there is no sweating, it is a Ma Huang Tang syndrome; if the pulse is floating-tight, it is a Ma Huang Tang pulse, so Gui Zhi Tang should certainly not be given. However, at the initial stage with no sweating, Ma Huang Tang should be used for sweating. If after sweating resolves, restlessness recurs with a floating-numerous pulse, or after purgation the pulse remains floating with Qi rushing upward, or after purgation diarrhea stops but body pain persists, this formula is used to resolve the exterior. Why? Because although the exterior is not yet resolved, the couli (pores) have become loose, the pathogen is no longer in the skin and hair but in the muscles, and after sweating and purging, body fluids are damaged. Thus, although the pulse and symptoms resemble those of Ma Huang Tang, the primary treatment should belong to Gui Zhi Tang. Unskilled physicians erroneously claim that Gui Zhi Tang treats only Wind Strike and not Cold Damage, causing people to doubt and not use it; they also claim it only disperses the muscle layer and does not treat other diseases. They do not know that by doubling Shao Yao and adding Ren Shen to Sheng Jiang in this decoction, it becomes Gui Zhi Xin Jia Tang (Newly Added Cinnamon Twig Decoction), used to treat Ying-Exterior deficiency cold causing limb pain; by doubling Shao Yao and adding Yi Tang (Maltose), it becomes Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction), used to treat Interior deficiency causing palpitations and acute abdominal pain; by further adding Huang Qi, it becomes Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang (Astragalus Construct the Middle Decoction), used to treat deficiency consumptive disease, deficient heat, spontaneous sweating, and night sweating. From this, we know that Zhang Zhongjing's formulas can treat hundreds of diseases.