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Formula解表剂· 辛温解表

桂枝汤

Guì Zhī Tāng

Cinnamon Twig Decoction

The first formula of the Shang Han Lun, composed of gui zhi, bai shao, zhi gan cao, sheng jiang, and da zao. The gui zhi and bai shao pairing to harmonize constructive and defensive qi is the archetypal medicinal couple, and the formula inaugurated the harmonizing therapeutic method for subsequent generations.

Source《伤寒论》辨太阳病脉证并治上

Treatment Principle

解肌发表，调和营卫

Release the muscle layer and harmonize ying and wei

Composition · 组成

Herb	Role	Dosage	Notes
桂枝Guì Zhī	君Sovereign	9g	辛温通阳，解肌发表
白芍Bái Sháo	臣Minister	9g	酸寒敛阴，与桂枝一散一收，调和营卫
生姜Shēng Jiāng	佐Assistant	9g	辛温助桂枝发散风寒，温胃止呕
大枣Dà Zǎo	使Courier	12g	甘温益气补中，与生姜相伍调和营卫
甘草Gān Cǎo	使Courier	6g	益气和中

Treats Patterns · 主治证型

外感风寒表虚证

Wài Gǎn Fēng Hán Biǎo Xū Zhèng

Wind-Cold Exterior Vacuity Pattern

Preparation · 煎服法

水煎服。服后啜热稀粥一升余，以助药力，温覆取微汗。

Editor-reviewed· 2026-04-08

PractitionerPatientDate

桂枝汤Guì Zhī Tāng

Cinnamon Twig Decoction

Herb	Pinyin	Role	Dose
桂枝	Guì Zhī	Jun (Sovereign)	9g
白芍	Bái Sháo	Chen (Minister)	9g
生姜	Shēng Jiāng	Zuo (Assistant)	9g
大枣	Dà Zǎo	Shi (Courier)	12g
甘草	Gān Cǎo	Shi (Courier)	6g

Preparation: 水煎服。服后啜热稀粥一升余，以助药力，温覆取微汗。

This prescription is provided only by the dispensing TCM practitioner. Take as directed; do not modify the dose or share it. If you experience any adverse effect, stop immediately and contact your practitioner. The content of this platform is educational reference, not medical advice.
Bencao Dian · https://bencaodian.org · CC BY-SA 4.0

Permalink · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cite this entry

@misc{bencaodian-gui-zhi-tang,
  author       = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
  title        = {Guì Zhī Tāng 桂枝汤 (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
  url          = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/gui-zhi-tang},
  urldate      = {2026-04-17},
  note         = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}

Permalink is fixed

Composition · 组成

Herb	Role	Dosage	Notes
桂枝Guì Zhī	君Sovereign	9g	辛温通阳，解肌发表
白芍Bái Sháo	臣Minister	9g	酸寒敛阴，与桂枝一散一收，调和营卫
生姜Shēng Jiāng	佐Assistant	9g	辛温助桂枝发散风寒，温胃止呕
大枣Dà Zǎo	使Courier	12g	甘温益气补中，与生姜相伍调和营卫
甘草Gān Cǎo	使Courier	6g	益气和中

Herb

Pinyin

Role

Dose

桂枝

Guì Zhī

Jun (Sovereign)

白芍

Bái Sháo

Chen (Minister)

生姜

Shēng Jiāng

Zuo (Assistant)

大枣

Dà Zǎo

Shi (Courier)

12g

甘草

Gān Cǎo

Shi (Courier)

@misc{bencaodian-gui-zhi-tang, author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}}, title = {Guì Zhī Tāng 桂枝汤 (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine}, url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/formulas/gui-zhi-tang}, urldate = {2026-04-17}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }