Guì Zhī Tāng

Question 1

Method of Preparation

Answer 1

Decoct for 20 minutes. Take hot.
Bundle up to help induce mild sweating. Stop once sweating occurs.
Prohibited: alcohol, raw, cold, spicy or greasy foods.
Bái Sháo used

Question 2

Actions

Answer 2

Releases pathogenic influences from the muscle layer and regulates the nutritive and protective qi.

Question 3

Indications

Answer 3

fever and chills unrelieved by sweating
headache
aversion to wind
stiff neck
nasal congestion
dry heaves
no particular thirst
T: thin, white, moist coat
P: floating, either lax or frail

Question 4

Disease Pattern

Answer 4

Externally-contracted wind-cold or wind attack (disharmony between nutritive and protective qi).

Question 5

Herbs

Answer 5

guì zhī
sháo yào
shēng jiāng
dà zăo
zhì gān căo

Question 6

guì zhī

Answer 6

warm, acrid
releases externally-contracted wind-cold from muscle layer

Question 7

sháo yào (bái sháo)

Answer 7

benefits the yin, contains the weak nutritive qi
+guì zhī = enhance ability of protective qi to dispel pathogenic influences while strengthening nutritive qi

Question 8

shēng jiāng

Answer 8

helps chief release exterior
treat nausea, vomiting by warming middle and directing qi downward

Question 9

dà zăo

Answer 9

helps sour bái sháo nourish and harmonize nutritive qi and blood
+shēng jiāng = benefit middle qi (Spleen), which rises to regulate nutritive and protective qi

Question 10

zhì gān căo

Answer 10

harmonizes
+guì zhī, shēng jiāng = transform yang aspects of condition
+bái sháo, dà zăo = transform the yin

Question 11

Cautions and Contraindications

Answer 11

Contraindicated: exterior cold and interior heat (fever and sore throat with a rapid pulse). internal damp-heat.
Avoid with internal heat, nosebleeds may result.
Caution: during the summer, spells of hot weather.
Incorrectly prescribed, dosage too strong –> profuse sweating, high fever, severe thirst, palpitations, and irritability –> take bái hŭ jiā rén shēn tāng to cope with side effects