2. Gui Zhi Tang Family Formulas

2. Gui Zhi Tang Family Formulas

Gui Zhi Tang is known as the "king of all formulas," originating from the "Treatise on Cold Damage," composed of cinnamon twig, white peony root, licorice, ginger, and jujube, primarily treating headache, fever, chills, presence of sweat, and a floating, slow pulse—symptoms of wind-cold exterior deficiency, i.e., what modern medicine calls the common cold. The main significance of this formula is not in treating the common cold itself, but rather in using its modifications and additions to treat a wide range of internal diseases related to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Adding thick bark and apricot kernel to this formula creates Gui Zhi Jia Hou Pu Xing Zi Tang, treating wind-cold wheezing; adding kudzu root creates Kudzu Tang, treating wind-cold exterior deficiency combined with stiff neck and back; removing white peony root creates Gui Zhi Qu Peony Tang, treating exterior deficiency combined with rapid pulse and chest fullness; adding aconite creates Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang, treating limbs that are slightly stiff and difficult to bend. In addition to the above formulas directly modified from Gui Zhi Tang, there are also three groups of formulas that have a wide clinical application and proven efficacy, which are still generally regarded as Gui Zhi Tang family formulas.

(1) Ling Gui Shu Gan Tang Family Formulas

This formula consists of poria, cinnamon twig, white atractylodes, and licorice, primarily treating epigastric fullness, upward rushing qi to the heart, dizziness, and trembling body—symptoms of spleen deficiency and phlegm accumulation. From a modern medical perspective, this syndrome may include heart disease, heart failure, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Removing cinnamon twig and adding dried ginger creates Shen Zhe Tang, treating cold-damp injury and lower back pain; removing white atractylodes and adding jujube creates Poria Gui Zhi Gan Cao Jujube Tang, treating palpitations below the navel and the urge to run like a wild boar; removing white atractylodes and adding fangyi and astragalus creates Fang Yi Poria Tang, treating skin edema, swelling of the limbs, fluid trapped in the skin, and trembling legs; removing white atractylodes and adding ginger creates Poria Gan Cao Tang, treating typhoid fever and sweating without thirst.

(2) Wu Ling San Family Formulas

This formula consists of poria, pig poria, white atractylodes, zeolite, and cinnamon twig, primarily treating exogenous wind-cold and internal accumulation of dampness. The main clinical manifestations are headache, fever, chills, difficulty urinating, and body swelling. From a modern medical perspective, this formula is suitable for all patients with edema, including cardiac edema, hepatic edema, renal edema, etc. Removing cinnamon twig creates Si Ling San, primarily treating edema and also addressing internal dietary issues, short, reddish urine, and loose stools. Removing cinnamon twig and white atractylodes and adding donkey-hide gelatin and talc creates Pig Poria Tang, treating painful urination, difficulty urinating, and bloating in the lower abdomen. Adding artemisia creates Artemisia Wu Ling San, treating damp-heat jaundice and difficulty urinating. Removing cinnamon twig and zeolite creates Pig Poria Tang, treating conditions above the diaphragm, such as vomiting and thirst. Adding cinnabar creates Cinnabar Wu Ling San, treating difficulty urinating; adding atractylodes creates Atractylodes Wu Ling San, treating cold-damp; adding qianghuo creates Yuan Rong Wu Ling San, treating mid-jiao heat accumulation; adding gypsum, talc, and cold water stone creates Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin, clearing heat from the six腑; adding ginseng creates Chun Ze Tang; adding licorice completes the Four Gentlemen, also called Chun Ze Tang, all of which can treat thirst without illness or thirst after recovery.

II. Chai Hu System

Most formulas in this system originate from the "Treatise on Cold Damage" and the "Synopsis of the Golden Cabinet," with representative formulas such as Xiao Chaihu Tang, Si Ni San, and Xiaoyao San, all belonging to the category of harmonizing herbal formulas.