My friend has long suffered from insomnia and a lack of energy. After taking her pulse, the doctor pointed out that she had a serious imbalance of Yin and Yang, prescribing a formula that consistently included Long Gu (Dragon Bone) and Mu Li (Oyster).Long Gu and Mu Li are common pairings in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas.Mu Li grows in the sea, which represents Yin; it is adept at nourishing Yin and is particularly good at restoring sinking Yang energy. The salty nature of seawater softens hardness, and Mu Li is no exception, being effective in resolving phlegm and hard masses.Long Gu is a fossil found on land, with a sweet and neutral nature that can tonify and astringe. It serves as a liaison between the heart and kidneys, capable of retaining heart fluids and preventing sweating, calming the spirit, and safeguarding kidney essence while capturing the floating Yang energy back to its original position, also having a nourishing Yin effect.
The combination of these two ingredients ensures that body fluids and vital energy are abundant. This reminds us that water occupies a large part of the Earth, irrigating the land and sustaining humanity. When water is sufficient, Yang energy does not run amok; whether it is floating Yang or sinking Yang, it remains in place, just as a woman can keep a man close.This formula can balance Yin and Yang, calm the heart, stabilize the kidneys, and clear heat. This heat-clearing function is particularly effective for treating excessive empty heat, which condenses body fluids into phlegm. It elevates the phlegm-resolving function of Mu Li to a higher level.The most famous formula incorporating Long Gu and Mu Li is Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction with Dragon Bone and Oyster), which is essentially Gui Zhi Tang with these two added. Gui Zhi Tang consists of Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Sha Yao (Peony Root), Gan Cao (Licorice), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), and Da Zao (Jujube), and is excellent for harmonizing Yin and Yang.This is primarily reflected in the pairing of Gui Zhi and Sha Yao.Gui Zhi invigorates heart Yang and warms the heart meridians. Sha Yao softens liver Yin and nourishes liver blood, supporting Gui Zhi’s work both financially and physically. This brings joy to the spirit, allowing the blood in the heart meridian to flow smoothly like a river.In Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang, the combination of Long Gu and Gui Zhi allows for the convergence of Yin and Yang energies, stabilizing the spirit and securing kidney energy. Together with Sha Yao, they form the left and right arms of Gui Zhi. Mu Li stands by to provide support.Additionally, Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, and Da Zao nourish the heart, spleen, and stomach, ensuring that the central qi operates smoothly, thus enhancing the body’s vitality and enabling it to combat various ailments.For instance, it can treat hysteria, insomnia, nocturnal emissions, infertility, threatened miscarriage, arrhythmia, menopausal syndrome, night sweats, pediatric bronchitis, chronic urticaria, cervical spondylosis, and more.The term hysteria manifests in various ways, including frantic running or deep sleep and mutism, even resembling childhood dementia.This formula calms the spirit and invigorates heart Yang, making it suitable for treatment. However, due to the complexity of hysteria, additional herbs like Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) for blood tonification and Quan Xie (Scorpion) for calming spasms may be added in practice.Furthermore, due to the formula’s stabilizing effect, it can also treat male reproductive disorders such as premature ejaculation, nocturnal emissions, and impotence.For menopausal syndrome, during this transitional period, the balance of Yin and Yang can shift, leading to physical and psychological changes such as insomnia, unexplained irritability, and uterine fibroids. Gui Zhi Long Gu Mu Li Tang can effectively calm the spirit and disperse masses.Regarding infertility, in addition to using Gui Zhi Long Gu Mu Li Tang to restore the body to a normal state and eliminate phlegm and turbidity causing stagnation, adjustments can be made based on individual circumstances, such as adding Fu Zi (Aconite) to warm the lower burner or Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) to retain this energy. Alternatively, Zhi Shi (Bitter Orange) can be added to calm the heart and settle the spirit, reducing liver Qi stagnation and warming the uterus.As for hair loss, when Wei Qi is deficient, it cannot nourish the skin and hair, especially when Yin and Yang are imbalanced, leading to weakened hair roots. The Jin Gui Yao Lue states: “Hair loss… is treated with Gui Zhi Long Gu Mu Li Tang.” In practice, Fu Zi and Huang Qi (Astragalus) can be added to warm Yang and boost Qi, enhancing the body’s protective functions, allowing hair to regenerate.If experiencing arrhythmia, such as premature ventricular contractions, common symptoms include palpitations, a “thumping” sensation in the chest, possibly accompanied by irritability, sweating, chest tightness, and fluctuating temperatures, insomnia, etc. The initial treatment can involve Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang to harmonize Yin and Yang, calm the spirit, and secure kidney energy. Then, Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Licorice) and Ze Xie (Alisma) can be used in equal amounts to tonify Qi and blood, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and promote water metabolism.There are many more conditions that can be treated, but I won’t elaborate on all of them.Now, let me share the effects my friend experienced after using the formula: her spirit and energy have significantly improved.In the doctor’s words:Treating illness does not mean addressing only the symptoms; the body is a holistic environment. Adjusting the body to a state of Yin and Yang harmony prevents the formation of any stagnation or turbidity. It’s like cleaning a room; when the room is clean and fresh, flies naturally find it hard to breed.Ingredients of Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang:Gui Zhi 3 liang, Sha Yao 3 liang, Sheng Jiang 3 liang, Gan Cao 2 liang, Da Zao 12 pieces, Long Gu 3 liang, Mu Li 3 liang. (1 liang = 15.6g), decoct in water and take warm in three doses. This formula is available as a patent medicine.Friendly reminder: Everyone’s body condition is different; the formulas provided in this article should be adjusted according to individual diagnosis and treatment. It is recommended to seek guidance from a professional doctor. (Images sourced from the internet; please contact for removal if there are any copyright issues.)
