Gui zhi qu shao yao tang also known as gui zhi bei shao yao tang
gui zhi 9 sheng jiang 9 da zao 6 zhi gan cao 6
In tai yang disease, when after precipitation the pulse is skipping and there is fullness in the chest, gui zhi qu shao yao tang governs.
This is a tai yang exterior pattern where inappropriate purging has adversely affected the chest yang. The qi dynamic is affected, resulting in fullness in the chest and a hasty pulse. A hasty pulse or cu mai also known as a skipping pulse refers to a rapid and irregular pulse which can indicate extreme heat agitating qi, heart fire, heart qi deficiency or the obstruction of the flow of qi and blood.
Use for irregular heartbeat, blood is a little damaged; dryness of blood causes the heart to sputter so there is a knotted pulse.
We learn that bai shao calms the Wood wind moving of yang and blood with its sour collecting and astringing nature. Strong yang descends and by removing bai shao the yang is increased.
Gui zhi, Cinnamomi cassiae ramulus is pungent sweet and warm dispersing of the imperial and ministerial fire. It warms and tonifies the shao yin and jue yin. In doing so it warms and tonifies the whole body.
Gui zhi together with zhi gan cao tonifies shao yin heart yang. We see this being done in the formula gui zhi gan cao tang.
When too much sweating has been promoted, and the person crosses both hands to cover one’s heart, with palpitations under the heart, and a desire to apply pressure, gui zhi gan cao tang governs.
Sheng jiang, Zingiberis rhizoma recens is pungent dispersing of the liver and pericardium blood and the ministerial fire in the san jiao. Sheng jiang is pungent dispersing of dampness and cold in the stomach domain, spleen and lung. Sheng jiang is pungent connecting of the tai yin with the tai yang. It supports raising of the clear qi to the chest and the 100 vessels.
Sheng jiang is pungent warm dispersing and is supporting gui zhi in warming the interior and surface.
Da zao, Jujubae fructus is sweet tonifying and moderating. It tonifies and nourishes the stomach domain, spleen, lungs, and heart. It directly nourishes the shao yin heart.
Gui zhi, da zao and zhi gan cao tonify and nourish the heart. Da zao adds material to the tai yin middle to generate heart blood while building spleen qi to strengthen lung and heart qi to revive the pulse beat.