Chinese: 桂苓甘露饮
Pinyin: Guì Líng Gān Lù Yǐn
Other names: Cinnamon and Poria Sweet Dew Drink
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and facilitate resolution of Dampness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: CholeraHeat strokeAcute gastroenteritis
- Expels Summerheat
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Qi
- Removes Dampness
Contraindications: This formula is indicated for treating summerheat damage presentations... This formula is indicated for treating summerheat damage presentations characterized by overwhelming Heat and Dampness, or Heat that is more pronounced than Dampness. It is not indicated for relatively mild presentations or for patterns where Dampness is more pronounced than Heat. see more
Source date: 1172 AD
Source book: Formulas from the Discussion Illuminating the Yellow Emperor's Basic Questions
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Talc (Hua Shi) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1172 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that dispel Summer-Heat and facilitate resolution of Dampness. Its main actions are: 1) expels Summerheat and 2) clears Heat.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Summer Heat with Dampness. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as acute gastroenteritis, cholera or heat stroke for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin, we review the patterns and conditions that Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin
Hua Shi is a king ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Talc (Hua Shi)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderStomach
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Hua Shi is sweet, cooling, and slippery. It unblocks stagnation, promotes passage through all the orifices, clears and resolves Summer-Heat, and harmonizes the Stomach. It focuses on the central nature of the pattern as well as on both of the pathogens, Summer-Heat and Dampness.
Shi Gao is a deputy ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Gypsum (Shi Gao)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: LungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Shi Gao is acrid and cooling and strengthens the Heat-clearing action of the formula. Together, the three minerals in the formula develop a downward directing action that promotes unblocking of the Triple Burner. Unlike bitter, cooling herbs, the sweet and salty flavor of these minerals does not dry the Body Fluids or constrain the Qi.
Han Shui Shi is a deputy ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Calcitum (Han Shui Shi)
Part used: The powered mineral
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: HeartKidney
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Han Shui Shi is acrid and cooling and strengthens the Heat-clearing action of the formula. Together, the three minerals in the formula develop a downward directing action that promotes unblocking of the Triple Burner. Unlike bitter, cooling herbs, the sweet and salty flavor of these minerals does not dry the Body Fluids or constrain the Qi.
Rou Gui is an assistant ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)
Rou Gui assists in the transformation of Qi in the Lower Burner. Its warming and drying nature also counter balances the very cooling nature of the key herb and deputies herbs.
Zhu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Polyporus (Zhu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Zhu Ling promote urination and expel Dampness. Together, the four Dampness resolving assist herbs restore the ascending and descending functions of the Qi mechanism, transform the Bladder Qi , and alleviate sudden turmoil disorder.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling promote urination and expel Dampness. Together, the four Dampness resolving assist herbs restore the ascending and descending functions of the Qi mechanism, transform the Bladder Qi , and alleviate sudden turmoil disorder.
Ze Xie is an assistant ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Water Plantain (Ze Xie)
Part used: Dried tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Ze Xie promote urination and expel Dampness. Together, the four Dampness resolving assist herbs restore the ascending and descending functions of the Qi mechanism, transform the Bladder Qi , and alleviate sudden turmoil disorder.
Bai Zhu is an assistant ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Bai Zhu strengthens the Spleen. Together, the four Dampness resolving assist herbs restore the ascending and descending functions of the Qi mechanism, transform the Bladder Qi , and alleviate sudden turmoil disorder.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
9. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao harmonizes the diverse actions of the formula. It also helps Talc in clearing Heat and assists Poria and Atractylodes rhizome in strengthens the Spleen.
Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin is used to treat Summer Heat with Dampness
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin is mostly used to treat the pattern "Summer Heat with Dampness" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Summer Heat with Dampness here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Acute gastroenteritis Cholera Heat stroke
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin treats acute gastroenteritis" for instance. Rather, Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin is used to treat Summer Heat with Dampness, which is sometimes the root cause behind acute gastroenteritis.
Now let's look at Summer Heat with Dampness, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Summer Heat with Dampness
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Soggy (Ru)
Symptoms: Fever Thirst Anxiety Sweating Headaches Lassitude Loose stools Poor appetite Sticky stools Chest fullness Aversion to cold Scanty urination Nausea or vomiting Shortness of breath Feeling of heaviness Stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Summer Heat with Dampness. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, aversion to cold, sweating and headaches. Patients with Summer Heat with Dampness typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or soggy (Ru) pulses.
This pattern often happens during hot summer and in very humid environment. Therefore, the condition is mostly acute.
The combination of Summer Heat and Dampness can att
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