Chinese: 桂枝加龙骨牡蛎汤
Pinyin: Guì Zhī Jiā Lóng Gǔ Mǔ Lì Tāng
Other names: Cinnamon Dragon Formula, Cinnamon and Dragon Bone Combination, Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that tonify Yin and Yang
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: EnuresisNeurosisNeurasthenia and five other conditions
- Rectifies relationship between Yin and Yang
- Harmonizes Heart and Kidney
- Stabilizes and secures Essence
Contraindications: This formula is contraindicated in Excess conditions. Do not use with... This formula is contraindicated in Excess conditions. Do not use with constrained Heat or Cold in the Interior. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet
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 Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) and White Peony Roots (Bai Shao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Yin and Yang. Its main actions are: 1) rectifies relationship between Yin and Yang and 2) harmonizes Heart and Kidney.
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 Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heart Yang Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as enuresis, urinary incontinence or premature ejaculation for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the seven ingredients in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang helps treat.
The seven ingredients in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang
Rou Gui is a king ingredient in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)
In general Rou Gui's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and Kidneys and tonifies the Yang. Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, promotes circulation of Qi and Blood and relieves pain. Used with tonics to assist in the generation of Qi and Blood."
Bai Shao is a king ingredient in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Bai Shao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain."
Long Gu is a deputy ingredient in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Dragon Bones (Long Gu)
Part used: The fossilized bone or vertebrae
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
In general Long Gu's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit. Anchors ascendant Liver Yang. Stops leakage of Bodily Fluids."
In the context of Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang, it is used because it pulls the action of the formula into the Interior, particularly the Kidneys.
Mu Li ke is a deputy ingredient in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Oyster Shells (Mu Li ke)
Part used: The shell
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Salty
Meridian affinity: BladderGallbladderKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the SpiritHerbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
In general Mu Li ke's main actions are as follows: "Calms and anchors the spirit. Moistens Dryness. Softens and removes lumps. Nourish the Yin and subdues the overflowing of the Yang,"
In the context of Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang, it is used because it pulls the action of the formula into the Interior, particularly the Heart.
Gan Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)
In general Gan Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold."
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Da Zao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula."
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
7. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang is used to treat Heart Yang Deficiency
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 Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Heart Yang Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Heart Yang Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Enuresis Urinary incontinence Premature ejaculation Nocturnal emission Spermatorrhea Neurasthenia Neurosis Perimenopausal syndrome
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang treats enuresis" for instance. Rather, Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang is used to treat Heart Yang Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind enuresis.
Now let's look at Heart Yang Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Knotted (Jie), Weak (Ruo)
Symptoms: Fatigue Cold hands Palpitations Feeling of cold Bright-pale face Slightly dark lips Spontaneous sweating Shortness of breath on exertion Slight feeling of stuffiness in the heart
Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heart Yang Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath on exertion, fatigue and spontaneous sweating. Patients with Heart Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen), knotted (Jie) or weak (Ruo) pulses.
Some of the symptoms are the same as for Heart Qi Deficiency (palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating and pale face): this is because Heart Qi Deficiency could be considered as included within Heart Yang deficiency. In other words, it is not possible to have a Deficiency of Yang... read more about Heart Yang Deficiency
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