Formulas · Release the Exterior 解表 · Seui Deukhyobang (世醫得效方)

Cinnamon Twig and Astragalus Decoction

Gyejihwanggi-tang

한글 계지황기탕 · Pinyin Gui Zhi Huang Qi Tang

桂枝黃芪湯

The third name, 桂枝苦酒湯, preserves the Jingui's original, in which the decoction is made with 苦酒 — vinegar — rather than wine. The Deukhyo text here specifies wine, and the Korean translation in the source renders it as vinegar, following the older reading.

Composition 構成

Hwanggi Huang Qi
黃芪 황기 · Astragalus

10 g
Chief 君
Gyeji Gui Zhi
桂枝 계지 · Cinnamon Twig

6 g
Deputy 臣
Baekjakyak Bai Shao
白芍藥 백작약 · White Peony

6 g
Deputy 臣

芍藥
Gamcho Gan Cao
甘草 감초 · Licorice

4 g
Envoy 使

Total 26 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Harmonizes construction and defence in yellow sweat
Secures the exterior

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Yellow sweat

Biomedical correlates

Jaundice with sweating

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治黃汗. 黃芪二錢半, 桂枝ㆍ芍藥各一錢半, 甘草一錢. 右剉, 作一貼, 好酒三合, 水一盞半, 煎服. 《得效》一名黃芪桂枝湯. 《仲景》又名, 桂枝苦酒湯. 《入門》

Translation

Treats yellow sweat. Astragalus 2.5 don; cinnamon twig and peony 1.5 don each; licorice 1 don. Cut up, make one packet, and decoct with 3 hop of good wine and 1.5 jan of water. Also called Hwanggi Gyeji-tang, and also Gyeji Gochu-tang. — Seui Deukhyobang 得效 (Donguibogam · Hwangdal)

Clinical commentary 臨床

Gyeji-tang with astragalus raised above the cinnamon twig, which turns a formula for releasing the exterior into one for securing it. The third of its names preserves a textual question: the Jingui makes this with vinegar, and the name Gyeji Gochu-tang records that, while the text here calls for wine. Vinegar is sour and astringing and suits a patient losing sweat; wine is acrid and dispersing and does the opposite. The two readings point in different directions, and the source leaves both standing. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.