HERB FORMULAS

GE GEN TANG - 葛根湯 - KUDZU DECOCTION - PUERARIA COMBINATION

English: Kudzu Decoction
Also Known As: Pueraria Combination
Decoction of Puerariae

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Puerariae Ge Gen 8-60g Releases Exterior conditions and releases the muscles, especially of the neck and upper back by bringing fluids to the area, relieves Heat and generates fluids.
With Ma Huang, Gui Zhi and Bai Shao, for Wind-Cold with stiffness and tension in the upper back and neck.
Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang 4-10g Strongly releases the exterior, disperses Cold, moves Lung Qi and stops wheezing.
With Gui Zhi for Wind-Cold excess conditions with fever and chills but no sweat and Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi 3-20g Releases the exterior, warms the channels and collaterals to relieve pain, warms and facilitates the flow of Yang Qi in the chest, warms and facilitates the flow of Blood through the vessels, adjusts the Ying and Wei and releases the muscle layer.
With Ge Gen, releases the exterior and relieves the muscle layer.
With Bai Shao, for External Wind-Cold with disharmony between the Ying and Wei (Tai Yang Zhong Feng), with spontaneous sweating, fever and chills.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 3-30g Adjusts the Ying and Wei and preserves Yin by preventing excessive diaphoresis.
With Gan Cao, relieves muscle spasms and therefore helps relieve neck and back stiffness.
With Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang and Da Zao, for Wind-Cold with Deficiency and perspiration.
Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang 1-10g Releases the exterior, disperses Cold, warms the middle, stops vomiting, stops cough and reduces the toxicity of other herbs.
With Da Zao, protects the Ying and harmonizes and protects the Stomach.
With Gui Zhi, strongly induces sweating for treatment of External Wind-Cold with chills, fever, body aches and Anhidrosis.
With Gui Zhi and Da Zao, harmonizes the Ying and Wei to drive out pathogens.
with Ma Huang, strongly creates sweating to treat all externally contracted Wind-Cold disorders, especially those in which Wind-Cold has constrained Lung Qi with cough and wheezing and the failure of Lung Qi to descend causing nausea and vomiting.
(Rz. Zingiberis) (Gan Jiang) (1-6g) (In some sources used instead of Sheng Jiang).
Fr. Jujube Da Zao 3-30pcs Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs
With Sheng Jiang, protects the Ying and harmonizes and protects the Stomach.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao 2-30g Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Releases Wind-Cold in the exterior and muscle layer
  • Generates Fluids
  • Relieves muscle-ache of the neck

SYNDROMES

  • Tai Yang Shang Han with stiff neck and upper back
  • Transitional stage between acute and chronic rhinitis or sinusitis
  • Initial stage Wind-Cold Bi

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Chills and fever
  • Anhidrosis
  • Neck pain
  • Stiff and rigid neck, shoulders and upper back
  • Intolerance of Wind
  • Dislike of Cold
  • Inflammation
  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle spasms
  • Mucosal swelling
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sensitivity to dust
  • Headache
  • Wind-Cold Bi (few joints affected, inflammation intense but short lived, changes over days or weeks)
  • T: Normal
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Floating and tight

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Lin Syndrome.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency bleeding.
  • Contraindicated for those with bacterial infections (Heat).
  • Contraindicated for those with skin infections.
  • Contraindicated for those with Wind-Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those with a weak pulse.
  • Contraindicated for those with debility.
  • Contraindicated for those with copious urination.
  • Use caution for those with hypertension
  • Avoid profuse perspiration.
  • Use only for short periods of time.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For severe nasal blockage: For urticaria:
+ Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong + Periostracum Cicadae Chan Tui
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
For severe facial pain:
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua + Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis Du Huo
+ Rx. Platycodi Jie Geng
+Peach Pit Decoction to Order Qi
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
For Interior Heat:
For headache:
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin + Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao + Rx. Angelica Dahuricae Bai Zhi
For nausea and vomiting caused by Rebellious Stomach Qi:
For fever and thirst:
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia + Rz. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu
+ Poria Fu Ling + Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao
For severe pain in the shoulders:
For abdominal pain and diarrhea with burning sensations:
+ Poria Fu Ling + Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
+ Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu + Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
+ Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi
For itching of the skin:
For fibromyalgia due to Phlegm Stagnation blocking the channels:
+ Bombyx Batryticatus Jiang Can
+ Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi
For fibromyalgia due to Blood Deficiency:
+ Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong
+ All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
For fibromyalgia due to Qi Deficiency:
+ Drive Out Blood Stasis from a Painful Body Decoction
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
+ Kidney Qi Pill
Shen Qi Wan
For fibromyalgia due to Phlegm Stagnation Blocking the Channels:
+ Augment the Qi and Increase Acuity Decoction
Yi Qi Cong Ming Tong
+ Prepared Aconite Pill to Regulate the Middle
Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang
For neck and shoulder pain:
+ Three Painful Obstruction Decoction
San Bi Tang
+ More Rx. Puerariae Ge Gen
+ More Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi
or
For periarthritis of the shoulder:
+ Bolster the Spleen Decoction
Shi Pi Yin
+ Hb. cum Rx. Asari Xi Xin
+ Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ Three Painful Obstruction Decoction
San Bi Tang
For facial paralysis:
+ Rz. Typhonii Preparata Zhi Bai Fu Zi
For facial paralysis with dampness:
+ Bombyx Batryticatus Jiang Can
+ Lead to Symmetry Powder
Qian Zheng San
+ Scorpio Quan Xie
or
+ Poria Fu Ling
+ Lead to Symmetry Powder
Qian Zheng San
+ Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu
For facial paralysis with fever:
For aqueous flare postcataract surgery:
+ Lead to Symmetry Powder
Qian Zheng San
+ Coptis Decoction To Reduce Toxicity
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
For scleroderma:
+ Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
+ more (30-60g Rx. Puerariae Ge Gen
For a crick in the neck:
+ 9g Rz. et Rx Notopterygii Qiang Huo
For neck and upper back pain and cervical osteoarthritis:
+ 9g Caulis Trachelospermi Luo Shi Teng
- Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang
- Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang
For neck pain:
- Fr. Jujube Da Zao + 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
- Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao
+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
For neck pain with a headache:
+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ 10g Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae Qin Jiao
+ 10g Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong
+ 15g Ram. Mori Sang Zhi + 10g Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi
+ 10g Rz. Curcumae Longae Jiang Huang
For neck pain with a fever:
+ 3g Hb. cum Rx. Asari Xi Xin + 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ 6g Olibanum Ru Xiang
+ 6g Myrrh Mo Yao + 15g Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
+ 10g Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua + 10g Rx. Peucedani Qian Hu
+ 10g Fr. Psoraliae Bu Gu Zhi
For neck pain with nasal discharge:
For neck pain with Aversion to Cold:
+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ 10g Rx. Platycodi Jie Geng
+ 10g Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi + 10g Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Hb. cum Rx. Asari Xi Xin
For eclampsia due to Phlegm-Heat:
For eclampsia due to Phlegm Stagnation:
+ Succus Bambusae Zhu Li
- Rx. Ephedrae Ma Huang + Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia
- Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao    
- Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang    
- Fr. Jujube Da Zao    
+ Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii Zhe Bei Mu    
   
+ Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi    
+ Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae Han Fang Ji    
   
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng    
+ Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui    
+ Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong    
+ Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui    
+ Rz. Alismatis Ze Xie    
+ Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis Du Huo    
   
+ Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao    
+ Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen