Chai hu gui zhi gan jiang tang also known as chai hu jiang gui tang
chai hu 24 gui zhi 9 gan jiang 6 huang qin 9 tian hua fen 12 mu li 6 zhi gan cao 6
In this formula gui zhi is restoring the Yang of the summer and South, while chai hu is freeing the spring and East. When the Yang qi fails to rise and transform fluids excess accumulations occur.
Huang qin can be considered a Shao yang and a Yang ming herb. It is Shao yang because it clears excess accumulations that prevent the proper circulation of the Ministerial fire. It is Yang ming because it clears excessive heat. Heat can prevent Yang ming from descending, collection, and cooling of the Yang.
It is the gan jiang that brings Fire to Earth. By warming Earth it transforms excess fluids and allows for the transformation of the Yang energies to occur. In this way gan jiang is harmonizing the formula along with zhi gan cao.
Harmonizing is always the roll of Earth in a formula. Earth belongs to no season but to the last 18 days of each season. It is the Earth that allows the transition from one season to the next.
When cold damage has lasted five or six days, and sweating has been promoted and then precipitation has been used and there is fullness in chest and rib side and mild bind, inhibited urination, thirst without retching, sweating only from the head, alternating cold and heat and heart vexation, it means that the disease has not yet resolved, chai hua gui zhi gan jiang tang governs.
Chai hu jiang gui tang treats malaria with mostly cold, and mild heat, or only cold and not heat.
This formula harmonizes Shao yang, warms and transforms water rheum. The rheum causes a mild chest bind and pain on the rib sides. Yang qi has been weakened and now all three yang levels are affected.
Chai hu disperses Shao yang pathogens. On the exterior chai hu relieves the surface from Wind heat evils, while on the interior it frees the body from evils that have entered the Shao yang realm and have transformed into heat. Chai hu courses Gall bladder qi depression and clears congested heat, frees Liver qi and the flow of the Gall bladder qi. It frees the Liver and eliminates depression and aligning Yin and Yang. Chai hu as a Wind herb frees the rising Yang qi of Liver Wood by opening the movement of Wood into the Yang realm and giving birth to the Gall bladder movement of Qi. Chai hu facilitates the rise of the clear subtle essences of water and grain of the Spleen.
Gui zhi warms and moves the Ministerial fire. Gui zhi warms the Tai yang level and clears the cold that has accumulated. Gui zhi warms Yang and promotes the free flow of Yang. It strengthens the surface and frees the flow of Spleen and Heart Yang by warming the vessels and stirring Yang qi.
Gan jiang warms the Tai yin and interior. It is the main herb to warm the Tai yin level and treat excessive dampness by introducing Yang ming dryness in Tai yin dampness. It is a dry stagnant herb that warms the middle and so anchors gui zhi inward preventing excessive dispersing.
Tian hua fen flushes phlegm out the bowels. It also moistens fluids which prevents excessive drying from the gan jiang and gui zhi.
Muli is salty and astringent, restores the Heart and Kidney connection while softening yin dampness and hardness.
Zhi gan cao always harmonizes the herbs. The sweet taste of zhi gan cao moderates and so adds balance to other herbs such as pungent gui zhi by anchoring its dispersing nature. Zhi gan cao strengthens the Tai yin Spleen qi and buffers the effects of drying herbs.