Exploration of Application of Gui Zhi in Shang Han Lun

The function of Gui Zhi:

1. dispelling pathogenic factors from muscles and promoting sweating, warming and communicating defensive qi and yang (Gui Zhi, Ma Huang Tang with modification etc).
2. resolving qi and moving water, warming yang and draining water (Wu Ling San, Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang etc).
3. dispelling and communicating meridians, dispersing blood stagnation (Tao Ren Cheng Qi Tang).
4. helping heart promote yang (Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang, Gui Zhi Gan Cao Long Gu Mu Li Tang, Ling Gui Gan Zao Tang).
5. reinforcing qi and promoting yang (Zhi Gan Cao Tang).
6. warming yang and dispelling cold (Huang Lian Tang ect).
   

Combination application of Gui Zhi:

1. Gui Zhi, Shao Yao (Gui Zhi Tang etc): regulating and harmonizing nutrient-defensive qi, dispelling pathogenic factors from muscles and promoting sweating, nourishing yin and yang.
2. Gui Zhi, Ma Huang (Ma Huang Tang etc): pungency, warming and promoting sweating, relieving exterior.
3. Gui Zhi Wu Er Ling, Ze Xie (Wu Ling San): Gui Zhi can resolve qi and move water, as well as dissipate exterior evil, Bai Zhu can promote spleen to dry dampness, Er Ling, Ze Xie can drain water to downward, excrete urine.
4. Gui Zhi, Yi Tang (Xiao Jian Zhong Tang): Yi Tang with the nature of sweet-warm has the function of reinforcing middle combines with pungency function of Gui Zhi could nourish yang by pungency-sweet.
5. Gui Zhi, Ren Shen (Zhi Gan Cao Tang): reinforcing qi and promoting yang.
6. Gui Zhi, Fu Zi (Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang etc): Gui Zhi with nature of pungency and warming has the functions of dispelling wind-cold, Fu Zi with the nature of pungency heat has the function of warming meridians and dispersing cold-damp in order to stop pain, combination of them can warm meridians and dispel cold.
7. Gui Zhi, Gan Cao (Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang):  Gui Zhi helps heart to promote yang, Gan Cao may reinforce deficiency to promote qi, heart yang recovery so that the severe palpitation can be healed.
8. Gui Zhi, Fu Ling (Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang, Ling Gui Gan Zao Tang etc): Fu Ling moves water and qi,  relieves kidney evil, Gui Zhi Gan Cao can stimulate heart yang, combination of them could warm yang and excrete water.
9. Gui Zhi, Da Huang (Tao He Cheng Qi Tang, Gui Zhi Jia Da Huang Tang): Da Huang's dosage is times upon Gui Zhi, so that Gui Zhi has to go downwards to follow Da Huang therefore Gui Zhi's pungency-dispelling and treating exterior function is weakened, also, the pungency-sweet nature of Da Huang Gui Zhi will not purge the intestine and stomach, they can go into blood vessels and fulfill the function of relieving heat and dispelling stagnation.
10. Gui Zhi, Gan Jiang, Gan Cao (Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang): dispersing-resolving and stopping fluid retention.
11. Gui Zhi, Gan Jiang (Huang Lian Tang): warming stomach and dispersing cold in order to stop abdomen pain.
12. Gui Zhi, Ban Xia (Ban Xia San Ji Tang): Ban Xia's nature of pungency slippery can relieve throat to open its mucous fluid retention, Gui Zhi may resolve wind evil in defensive stage.

Key words: Shang Han Lun, Gui Zhi

Writer: Chunling Ma
Tai Yuan steel company overall hospital, Shanxi province (030003)