Gui Pi Tang: A Formula for Settling the Mind

by Dr. Skye Sturgeon
Originally published February, 2026

Gui Pi Tang is one of those formulas that has been around for some 2000 years, and although it was revised during the Song Dynasty, the formula found its current composition in the Ming Dynasty’s “Revised Fine Formulas for Women”. Mayway’s version is Plum Flower™ Gui Pi Teapills (Guī pí wán 歸脾丸). The common English name of the formula is ‘Restore the Spleen Soup’ although the Chinese characters are more accurately rendered as ‘Return the Spleen’; meaning to return the Spleen to its’ proper traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) function.

According to most references, the formula is categorized as a Qi and Blood tonic, which indeed it is, and Gui Pi Tang / Wan is a favorite among many herbal practitioners. Two of its three parts are comprised of Four Gentlemen (Si Jun Zi Tang 四君子湯) and Dang Gui Formula to Tonify the Blood (Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang 當歸補血湯). As such, it is justifiably used as herbal support for many conditions due to Qi and/or Blood deficiency, including many gynecological issues, blood disorders, dermatological complaints, digestive problems, weakness of the limbs (Wei syndrome), and many others. There are many herbal formulas that address these issues, so what is different about Gui Pi Tang / Wan?

According to TCM, Gui Pi Tang / Wan is indicated for Spleen Qi and Heart Blood deficiency and Spleen not controlling the Blood. Its other functions are Nourishing the Blood and Calming the Shen. So, first let me point out that the formula addresses Heart Blood, meaning the blood that is in circulation in the Vessels, and not Liver Blood, the blood that is stored in the Liver and that empties into the Uterus during a woman’s menses. This is an acknowledgement that most blood disorders are not necessarily associated with female hormones that regulate the menses. Since the Spleen is the mother of Blood according to TCM, tonifying the Spleen should address Heart Blood deficiency in any of its aspects. Interestingly, my herb teacher suggested that Gui Pi Tang was equivalent to acupuncture at Heart 7 / 神門 Shenmen / Spirit Gate and Spleen 6 / 三陰交 Sanyiniao /Three Yin Intersection rather than Spleen 3 / 太白 Taibai / Supreme White , Stomach 36/ 足三里 Zu San Li / Leg Three Miles or Liver 3 / 太沖 Taichong/ Great Rushing, which may be indicated when the dysfunction in the Spleen is centered around digestive issues.

Any bleeding disorders due to Blood deficiency, such as excessive, pale menstrual blood or continuous spotting, rectal bleeding, blood in the stools, or bruising easily are also addressed by tonifying the Spleen to build more Blood. However, it is the deputy herbs in the formula that focuses the treatment principle in a more nuanced direction. Yuan zhi 遠志, Long yan rou 龍眼肉, Da zao 大棗(紅）, and Suan zao ren 酸棗仁 are included for their function of Calming the Shen.

Because of the inclusion of these deputy herbs, the presentation of symptoms to look for to rationalize the use of this formula are palpitations with or without anxiety, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, nightmares, restlessness, agitation, excessive thinking or worrying, phobias, forgetfulness, poor memory, and poor concentration. Other symptoms that denote the prescription to remedy this state include feverishness, mild night sweats, fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, dull headache, dizziness, pale or sallow complexion. Signs to look for include a tongue that is pale and possibly swollen, with teethmarks and a thin white coat, and a pulse that is thin, thready, weak, or frail.

To understand how Return the Spleen/ Gui Pi Tang / Wan applies to these symptoms, one must consider a couple of other aspects of TCM’s view of the Spleen.

First, according to the Sheng 生 / Generating cycle in Five Element theory, Heart/Fire is the mother and Spleen/Earth is the child. When the child is disturbed, the mother becomes disturbed. To understand the source of this disturbance, one must investigate the aspect of Mind that is housed in the Spleen and the emotion associated with Spleen/Earth. The part of Mind assigned to the Spleen is Yi 意 or intellect, that is, the Spleen is said to house and create thought. The emotion associated with the Spleen is over-thinking. When I first learned about the emotions associated with the Zang organs and the Elements, I confess that consideration of ‘over-thinking’, as an emotion, was curious, if not confounding. The other emotions: grief, fear, anger, and (lack of) joy made sense, but ‘over-thinking’?

It is true that the Mind/brain is the major user of the energy/Qi provided by the digestive function of the Spleen/Stomach, but how could too much thinking cause pathology much less be seen as an emotion? Thinking is necessary, even desirable. One could imagine that many people fail to think in many situations rather than over-think. However, there are those whose thinking leads to mental rumination that is excessive; spinning and spinning, thinking about every possibility, planning or anticipating contingencies for every outcome, thinking about their past experiences, worrying about the future, and weary about the present. They become trapped in a mind-created loop that creates anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and other neuroses, which, according to TCM terminology, creates Shen 神 disturbance. This loop becomes insidious. The Shen is disturbed, and the Heart cannot nourish the Spleen. The Spleen fails in its function, and the Spleen Qi is compromised, digestion is inadequate, Blood is not properly produced, the Spleen cannot hold the Blood, the muscles are not nourished, and thoughts and speech can become muddled or confused. This state can drain the life out of your mind and body.

Fortunately, Gui Pi Wan is designed to address this situation. Let us look at the herbs that comprise the formula and the functions they play in providing the remedy.

Gui Pi Tang Ingredients

Dosage and Administration

For teapills, the recommended dosage for Gui Pi Wan is 8 pills, 3 x per day, although the number of pills can be adjusted based on body weight and the clinical response to the herbs.

Administer half an hour before or one hour after eating. In the initial phases, a dosage may be increased to 8-12 pills 3 times per day, then reduced to a maintenance dose as the formula takes effect. To help maintain normal sleep patterns, 8-16 pills may be administered before bed. May be used long-term for several weeks to several months. May be used over the course of several years. In the presence of mild food stagnation with a tendency to dampness or phlegm, may be administered with Bao He San/Wan or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi San/Wan.

Gui Pi Wan is contraindicated during the early stages of acute infection or illness, such as cold or flu. Use caution in patients with a tendency to Dampness or Phlegm, particularly those with bloating and loose stools. Contraindicated for bleeding disorders due to Heat in the Blood.

In Conclusion

While Gui Pi Wan/ Return the Spleen Formula may be used for Qi and Blood deficiency, it is really intended for other aspects of the Spleen’s function. Its Calming the Shen focus is an excellent choice to treat insomnia, fatigue, poor memory, palpitations, and excessive worry.

References

• American Dragon, https://www.americandragon.com
• Bensky, D. & Barolet, R., Formulas & Strategies, Eastland Press: 1990.
• Bensky, D. et al., Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, 3rd ed., Eastland Press: 2004.
• Chen, J. & Chen, T., Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications, Art of Medicine Press: 2009.
• Kaptchuk, T., “Gather Vitality”, East Earth Herbs, 1990.
• Kaptchuk, T., The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine, McGraw Hill/ Contempory Books. 2000.
• Maciocia, G., The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists, Churchill Livingstone: London 1989.
• Maclean, Will, Clinical Manual of Chinese Herbal Patent Medicines, Pangolin Press: 2003.
• Wrinkle, A. et al., A Practitioner’s Formula Guide, Elemental Essentials Press: 2008.
• Xinnong, C., ed., Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Foreign Language Press, Beijing 2004.