【Source】

“Fu Ren Liang Fang (1237)”, “Zheng Ti Lei Yao (1529)” Vol. Down.

 【Composition】

Ginseng, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, stir-fried Astragalus, Poria cocos, Longan aril, Angelica sinensis, Polygala tenuifolia, stir-fried Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, Aucklandia lappa, honey-fried Licorice
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 【Category】

<Blood Tonic>: Longan aril, Angelica sinensis

<Qi Regulating>: Aucklandia lappa

<Spleen & Middle Jiao Tonifying>: Licorice, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala

<Qi Tonic>: stir-fried Astragalus, Ginseng

<Spleen & Water Regulating>: Poria cocos

<Calming the Spirit>: Polygala tenuifolia, stir-fried Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa

【Rationale】

“Yi Fang”: This is a formula for the Shaoyin hand and Taiyin foot meridians. (1) When blood does not return to the spleen, it circulates erratically. Ginseng, Atractylodes, Astragalus, and Licorice are sweet and warm, thus tonifying the spleen. (2) Poria cocos, Polygala tenuifolia, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, and Longan aril are sweet, warm, sour, and bitter, thus tonifying the heart, which is the mother of the spleen. (3) Angelica sinensis nourishes Yin and blood. Aucklandia lappa regulates Qi and soothes the spleen, dispelling stagnation in blood and assisting Ginseng and Astragalus in tonifying Qi. When Qi is strong, it can control blood, which will then return to its meridians, and all symptoms will be resolved. “Shan Bu”: Luo Qianpu said: Longan aril, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, and Angelica sinensis in the formula nourish the heart. Ginseng, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Poria cocos, and Licorice tonify the spleen. Xue Ji added Polygala tenuifolia, also tonifying through the kidney’s connection to the heart, thus treating both meridians along with the kidney. Why is it specifically named Gui Pi Tang (Return to the Spleen)? The heart stores the spirit, its function is thought. The spleen stores wisdom, its expression is intention. This is when spirit, wisdom, thought, and intention are in harmony through the interaction of fire and earth. The heart is damaged by prolonged exertion. The spleen is damaged by excessive worry and contemplation. Then, the mother’s illness will transmit to the child, and the child can also make the mother weak, which is inevitable. Symptoms include forgetfulness, palpitations, and anxiety seen in the heart. Poor appetite, fatigue, inability to transport, weakness in limbs, dimness of vision are seen in the spleen. Therefore, if the spleen’s Yang does not move, the heart and kidney will not communicate. If the ‘matchmaker’ does not facilitate this, the kidney Qi cannot return to the heart, and how can the heart’s Yin be nourished? This is why it is essential to ‘fill Kan with Li’ (referring to kidney and heart connection), thus it must return to the spleen. The herbs nourish the heart’s Yin and the spleen’s Yang, taking the strong to benefit the weak. However, if the spleen is depressed for a long time, and intention is not clear, a small amount of Aucklandia lappa, which is pungent and dispersing, is added to invigorate Qi and awaken the spleen, allowing it to quickly transmit spleen Qi upwards to nourish the heart’s Yin. The destination of the spleen is right here. Zhang Lu said: “Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang” and Gui Pi Tang both originate from “Bao Yuan,” both adding Angelica and Atractylodes, but differ in their lifting of stomach Qi and nourishing spleen Yin. This formula nourishes the heart and spleen, stimulates the ‘minor fire,’ and is skillfully assisted by a small amount of Aucklandia lappa to regulate all Qi and harmonize the heart and spleen. Worldly physicians do not understand this principle and instead avoid Aucklandia lappa due to its dryness, causing bloating and reduced appetite in many patients who take it because the tonifying herbs are too stagnant and cannot be metabolized. “Cheng Fang Bian Du”: The heart is the organ that generates blood and stores the spirit. Overwork causes Qi to scatter, Yang Qi to disperse outwards, and the spirit becomes restless. Therefore, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa’s sourness is used to收 (gather), Poria cocos’s stillness to calm, and Polygala tenuifolia to clear heart heat and calm the spirit. Thinking knots spleen Qi, hence Aucklandia lappa is used to regulate Qi stagnation, soothe spleen depression, facilitate the movement of the upper and middle Jiao, clear the palace and open the passage, then Ginseng, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Licorice, Longan aril, and other tonifying herbs for the heart and spleen complete their功 (merit), followed by Angelica sinensis, guiding all blood to return to its respective meridian. “Han Dian”: The Ginseng, Astragalus, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, and Licorice in the formula are specifically for strengthening the stomach and tonifying. Longan aril, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, and Polygala tenuifolia have a calming and strengthening effect. Aucklandia lappa makes the spirit refreshed, and Angelica sinensis tonifies anemia.

 【Functions】

Tonify the spleen and calm the heart, benefit Qi and nourish blood, nourish blood and calm the spirit, tonify the heart and benefit the spleen, regulate menstruation.

 【Indications】

(1) For general deficiency of vital energy, deficiency syndromes, deficiency of both heart and spleen, excessive contemplation, damage to heart and spleen from labor, deficiency of Qi and blood, anemia. Palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, poor appetite, fatigue, sallow complexion. (2) Irregular menstruation, menorrhagia, leukorrhea, etc. in women. (3) Deficiency, stroke, cold limbs, epilepsy, dizziness, etc. with deficiency of heart, spleen, and blood. “Yi Fang”: (1) Treats excessive contemplation, damage to heart and spleen from labor, palpitations, forgetfulness, fright, night sweats, fever, fatigue, poor appetite, insomnia. (2) Or spleen deficiency unable to control blood, leading to erratic bleeding, and menstrual and discharge disorders in women. “Shan Bu”: Excessive contemplation damages the spleen, or forgetfulness, palpitations, fright, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, or pain in the heart and spleen, excessive sleep, poor appetite, and irregular menstruation in women.

 【Indications】

Various hemorrhages, such as intestinal bleeding, uterine bleeding, gastric ulcer, hematuria, etc., anemia, amnesia, insomnia, neurasthenia, neurogenic tachycardia, gastric ulcer, loss of appetite, irregular menstruation, functional uterine bleeding, endometritis, nocturnal emission, impotence.

 【Contraindications】

Do not use in cases of fullness and pain in the chest and hypochondria, or acute inflammation and congestion.

 【Mnemonic】

Four gentlemen ride a turtle to find ambergris (Astragalus, Angelica, Jujube, Longan, Polygala, Aucklandia).

 【Modifications】

(1) For more severe blood deficiency, add prepared Rehmannia to enhance blood-nourishing effect, thus forming “Hei Gui Pi Tang,” used to treat women’s bleeding after sexual intercourse. (2) For irregular menstruation, heavy or light, and continuous spotting, add Cornus officinalis and Schisandra chinensis to nourish the liver and stop bleeding. (3) For cold-type menorrhagia and metrorrhagia, add carbonized processed ginger, carbonized Artemisia argyi, and Schisandra chinensis to warm and stop bleeding. (4) For hot-type menorrhagia and metrorrhagia, add carbonized raw Rehmannia, prepared Gelatinum Testudinis, and carbonized Spatholobus suberectus to clear heat and stop bleeding.

 【Pharmacology】

Can raise blood pressure in animals with burn shock, promote the recovery of intestinal contractile movement during shock, improve digestive tract symptoms, strengthen respiration, increase blood sugar, and help resist shock.