GUI ZHI FU LING WAN

Invigorate Blood & Transform Stasis • Gynecological Mass-Resolving Formula

Symptoms

Fixed Menstrual Pain: Sharp, stabbing lower abdominal pain that is fixed in one location and significantly worse just before or during the period.

Menstrual Quality: Dark, purplish menstrual blood with large, hard clots; once the clots pass, the pain often temporarily decreases.

Abdominal Masses: Uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, or endometriosis where "clumping" of Blood and Dampness has occurred.

Postpartum Recovery: Persistent lochia (post-birth discharge) that is dark or purple, or abdominal pain due to "retained stasis."

Systemic Stasis Signs: Spider nevi (broken capillaries) on the legs or face, and a tendency to bruise easily.

Key Indicator: "Blood Stasis in the Uterus"—where the blood has become "static" due to cold, trauma, or lack of movement, eventually condensing into physical obstructions.

Tongue: Purple or dark body, often with stasis spots (purple dots) on the sides or tip

Pulse: Choppy (Se) or Wiry (Xuan).

Ingredients

Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus)

RW: 9g | GR: 20.0g

Tao Ren (Persicae Semen)

RW: 9g | GR: 20.0g

Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex)

RW: 9g | GR: 20.0g

Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra)

RW: 9g | GR: 20.0g

Fu Ling (Poria)

RW: 9g | GR: 20.0g

Description

Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is a masterclass in balanced dynamics. To move "Old Blood," one must warm the channels, break the stasis, and drain the accompanying dampness.

The Warming Catalyst (Gui Zhi): Blood moves when it is warm and congeals when it is cold. Gui Zhi provides the "Yang energy" needed to "thaw" the stasis and push it out of the uterine vessels.

The Stasis Breaker (Tao Ren): Peach kernel is the specialist for "clotted" blood. It physically breaks up the internal "clumps" and moistens the vessels to allow the debris to pass smoothly.

The Cooling & Moving Pair (Mu Dan Pi & Chi Shao): Stagnant blood often generates "static heat." These two herbs move the blood while cooling it, ensuring that the warming action of Gui Zhi doesn't lead to inflammation or excessive bleeding.

The Fluid Drainer (Fu Ling): In TCM, physical masses (like fibroids) are rarely just Blood; they are usually a mix of Blood Stasis and Dampness. Fu Ling drains the dampness through the urine, effectively "shrinking" the mass from the outside in.

Posology

Granules

3 to 9g daily, divided into 2 doses, taken with warm water.

Traditional Pills: This formula is most famous in pill form (Wan), intended for long-term, low-dose use (often 3–6 months) to gradually dissolve chronic masses without causing sudden hemorrhaging. Timing: For menstrual pain, it is often started 7–10 days before the period begins.

Cautions

STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED during pregnancy. This formula "breaks" stasis and descends Qi; it can cause miscarriage. Use with extreme caution in patients with very heavy menstrual flow (Menorrhagia), as it may increase bleeding. It is intended for Excess/Stasis patterns; if used for a patient with "Blood Deficiency," it will further deplete their reserves.