The function of Gui Zhi:
- dispelling pathogenic factors from muscles and promoting sweating, warming and communicating defensive qi and yang (Gui Zhi [3], Ma Huang [4] Tang with modification etc).
- resolving qi and moving water, warming yang and draining water (Wu Ling San, Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang etc).
- dispelling and communicating meridians, dispersing blood stagnation (Tao Ren [5] Cheng Qi Tang).
- helping heart promote yang (Gui Zhi Gan Cao [6] Tang, Gui Zhi Gan Cao Long Gu [7] Mu Li [8] Tang, Ling Gui Gan Zao Tang).
- reinforcing qi and promoting yang (Zhi Gan Cao Tang).
- warming yang and dispelling cold (Huang Lian [9] Tang ect).
Combination application of Gui Zhi:
- Gui Zhi, Shao Yao (Gui Zhi Tang etc): regulating and harmonizing nutrient-defensive qi, dispelling pathogenic factors from muscles and promoting sweating, nourishing yin and yang.
- Gui Zhi, Ma Huang (Ma Huang Tang etc): pungency, warming and promoting sweating, relieving exterior.
- Gui Zhi Wu Er Ling, Ze Xie [10] (Wu Ling San): Gui Zhi can resolve qi and move water, as well as dissipate exterior evil, Bai Zhu [11] can promote spleen to dry dampness, Er Ling, Ze Xie can drain water to downward, excrete urine.
- Gui Zhi, Yi Tang [12] (Xiao Jian Zhong Tang): Yi Tang with the nature of sweet-warm has the function of reinforcing middle combines with pungency function of Gui Zhi could nourish yang by pungency-sweet.
- Gui Zhi, Ren Shen [13] (Zhi Gan Cao Tang): reinforcing qi and promoting yang.
- Gui Zhi, Fu Zi [14] (Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang etc): Gui Zhi with nature of pungency and warming has the functions of dispelling wind-cold, Fu Zi with the nature of pungency heat has the function of warming meridians and dispersing cold-damp in order to stop pain, combination of them can warm meridians and dispel cold.
- Gui Zhi, Gan Cao (Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang): Gui Zhi helps heart to promote yang, Gan Cao may reinforce deficiency to promote qi, heart yang recovery so that the severe palpitation can be healed.
- Gui Zhi, Fu Ling [15] (Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang, Ling Gui Gan Zao Tang etc): Fu Ling moves water and qi, relieves kidney evil, Gui Zhi Gan Cao can stimulate heart yang, combination of them could warm yang and excrete water.
- Gui Zhi, Da Huang [16] (Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, Gui Zhi Jia Da Huang Tang): Da Huang's dosage is times upon Gui Zhi, so that Gui Zhi has to go downwards to follow Da Huang therefore Gui Zhi's pungency-dispelling and treating exterior function is weakened, also, the pungency-sweet nature of Da Huang Gui Zhi will not purge the intestine and stomach, they can go into blood vessels and fulfill the function of relieving heat and dispelling stagnation.
- Gui Zhi, Gan Jiang [17], Gan Cao (Chai Hu [18] Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang): dispersing-resolving and stopping fluid retention.
- Gui Zhi, Gan Jiang (Huang Lian Tang): warming stomach and dispersing cold in order to stop abdomen pain.
- Gui Zhi, Ban Xia [19] (Ban Xia San Ji Tang): Ban Xia's nature of pungency slippery can relieve throat to open its mucous fluid retention, Gui Zhi may resolve wind evil in defensive stage.
Key words: Shang Han Lun, Gui Zhi
Writer: Chunling Ma
Tai Yuan steel company overall hospital, Shanxi province (030003)
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