Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan

Functions

Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, and eventually eliminates mass in the abdomen. The formula is used to treat the retention of blood stasis in the uterus.

Dosage Info

Pill (0.22g/pill): oral administration, 6 pills each time. Capsules (0.31g/capsule) are orally taken after meal. 3 capsules each time, 3 times a day. Patients should stop taking the capsule during menstruation.5:1 concentrated extracts: 9 grams/day.

Ingredients

• Fu Ling
• Gui Zhi
• Mu Dan Pi
• Chi Shao
• Tao Ren

Precautions

Pregnant women with blood stasis should take the formula with strict control on dosage, and more slowly. Pregnant women without blood stasis should refrain from taking the formula.

Pharmacology

Effects on bcl-2 gene for experimental cerebral ischemia: Research on the effects of Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan on the bcl-2 gene for treatment on experimental cerebral ischemia in rats has shown that it can significantly strengthen the bcl-2 expression of cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia. The formula is thought to have a certain inhibiting effect on the dying process of cells in experimental cerebral ischemia and the ability to protect the cerebral cells. (1)

Effects on C-fos gene expression of cerebral tissue after re-perfusion following cerebral ischemia: An experimental study has confirmed that Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan plus Chuan Xiong (Cnidium) and Ze Xie (Alisma) can effectively inhibit the C-fos gene expression of cerebral tissue after re-perfusion following cerebral ischemia. (2)

Alleviating effect on ischemic brain injury: By studying the effects on the level of Ca ²⁺ and amino acids in the process of re-perfusion following cerebral ischemia, it was shown that modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan has an alleviating effect on ischemic brain injury. (3)

Effects on lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and immune function of red blood cells in experimental senile hyperlipidemia: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan can increase the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and the garland rate of C3b receptor of red blood cells (RBC-C3bR) in guinea pigs with senile hyperlipidemia, and reduce the LPO levels of the immune compound of red blood cells (RBC-IC). (4)

Effects on free radicals after cerebral ischemia: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan plus Chuan Xiong (Cnidium) and Ze Xie (Alisma) can increase SOD in red blood cells, cerebral tissue, and mitochondrion of rats after cerebral ischemia and re-perfusion. It can also reduce MDA levels in red blood cells in plasma, cerebral tissue, and cellular organelles of rats after cerebral ischemia and re-perfusion. The formula was confirmed as to having strong effects on resisting free radicals. (5)

Clinical Applications

Treating endometriosis
Du Rui Ling used modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang to treat endometriosis. The modified formula contained Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fu Ling (Poria), Chi Shao (Peony Red), and Mu Dan Pi (Moutan). Xia Ku Cao (Prunella), Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus), Bai Hua She She Cao (Oldenlandia), San Leng (Burreed Tuber), E Zhu (Zedoary), and Zao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) were added for blood stasis. Quan Xie (Scorpion), Shui Zhi (Leech), and Wu Gong (Centipede) were added for severe abdominal pain. Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San was added for stagnation of the liver-qi. Wen Jing Tang was added for accumulation of cold and dampness. One dose of the decocted formula was administered daily. One course of treatment consisted of 10 days. A comparison group of 32 cases were treated for 3 to 8 courses. The results showed that 7 cases were resolved, 15 cases had significantly improved, 8 cases somewhat improvement, and the remaining 2 cases did not respond to the treatment. The total effectiveness rate was 93.75%. (6)

Treating periappendicular abscess
Gu Yu Feng used modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan to treat periappendicular abscess. The modified formula consisted of Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Chi Shao (Peony Red), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan), Tao Ren (Peach Seed), Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Hua She She Cao (Oldenlandia), Bai Jiang Cao (Thlaspi), and Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root). The ingredients were modified according to individual’s symptoms. One dose of the formula in a decoction was administered daily. 33 cases were treated from 10 to 40 days. After treatment, 30 cases were resolved, and 3 cases did not respond to the treatment. The symptom of abdominal pain was alleviated to different extents, body temperature was normal, stool was not dry, and exudate from incision was reduced. (7)

Treating hyperplasia of the prostate
Cui Zhi Min used modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang to treat hyperplasia of the prostate. The modified formula contained Ju He (Tangerine Seed), Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root), Hai Zao (Sargassum), Tu Bie Cong (Ground Beetle), and Huang Qi (Astragalus Root). The ingredients were modified according to each patient’s symptoms. One dose of the formula in a decoction was administered daily. The results showed that after treatment on 116 cases in a group from 15 to 45 days, 38 cases were resolved, 69 cases showed some improvement, and the remaining 9 cases did not respond to the treatment. The total effectiveness rate was 93.1%. (8)

Treating hysteromyoma
Wang Hua, et al. used modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang to treat hysteromyoma. The modified formula contained Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan), Fu Ling (Poria), Tao Ren (Peach Seed), Chi Shao (Peony Red), and E Zhu (Zedoary). The formula was modified according to individual’s symptoms. One dose of the formula in decoction was administered daily. One month constituted one course of treatment. The results showed that after treatment on 75 cases in the treatment group, 15 cases were resolved, 21 cases had significantly improved, 34 cases improved slightly, and the remaining 5 cases did not respond to the treatment. The total effectiveness rate was 93.3%. (9)

References

1. Zhang Bo Sheng. Effects of phlegm stasis on bcl-2 gene for experimental cerebral ischemia. Sichuan Journal of TCM. 1999;17(10):12-13.
2. Zhang Bo Sheng, et al. Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan’s effects on C-fos gene expression of cerebral tissue after re-perfusion following cerebral ischemia. China Journal of Preclinical Medicine of TCM. 1998;4(1):27-29.
3. Zhang Yu Mei, et al. Research on effects of modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan on changes in Ca2+ and amino acid levels during reperfusion of cerebral ischemia. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 1998;23(9):558-559.
4. Li Wen Xiong, et al. Chinese formula’s effect on LPO, SOD, and red blood cell immune functions in experimental senile hyperlipidemia. Journal of Chengdu University of TMC and Pharmacy. 1997;20(3):48-50.
5. Zhang Bo Sheng, et al. Experimental research on Chinese formula’s effect on free radicals after cerebral ischemia. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 1997;24(3):140-141.
6. Du Rui Ling. Clinical observations on treating 32 cases of endometriosis with modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang. Journal of Chinese Materia Medica. 1998;29(4):255-256.
7. Gu Yu Feng. Treating 33 cases of periappendicular abscess with modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan. Yunnan Journal of TCM and Chinese Drug. 1999;20(5):32.
8. Cui Zhi Min. Treating 116 cases of hyperplasia of prostate with modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang. Henan Journal of TCM Pharmacy. 1999;14(4):44.
9. Wang Hua, et al. Treating 75 cases of hysteromyoma with modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang. Zhejiang Journal of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine. 1998;8(5):312.