Gao Fang (medicinal paste), also known as Gao Ji (pasty preparation), is one of the 27 commonly used dosage forms in clinical practice, and is also one of the five major dosage forms including decoctions, pills, powders, pastes, and elixirs. It has a long history and is well-documented in the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon).
It is a preparation made by TCM practitioners based on individual constitution and symptoms, prescribing Chinese herbal formulas. The herbal pieces are decocted multiple times, filtered to remove dregs, concentrated by heating, and then mixed with rock candy, honey, brown sugar, maltose, or xylitol to form a viscous semi-fluid preparation that can treat diseases, replenish deficiencies, and regulate the body.
Gao Fang can be taken in all four seasons, but it is most commonly used in winter. Qin Bowei mentioned in the Complete Compendium of Medicinal Pastes that Gao Fang is not merely a tonic; it can be used for daily health maintenance to correct imbalances and, under the guidance of a physician, for the treatment of various diseases to eliminate illness.
Treatment: Gao Fang can play a harmonizing role, invigorate blood circulation, dispel blood stasis, soothe the liver and regulate qi, calm the mind, achieving effects such as replenishing deficiencies, supporting the weak, anti-aging, correcting sub-health states, and preventing and treating diseases.
Replenishing Deficiencies: Gao Fang can also nourish the yin and yang, qi, and blood of the five zang and six fu organs, tonifying yin and supporting yang, and nourishing qi and blood.
What types of Gao Fang are there?
Health-preserving Gao Fang: One person, one formula, one paste
According to whether auxiliary materials are added during the preparation process, Gao Fang can be divided into Qing Gao (clear paste) and Mi Gao (honey paste). The paste obtained directly from decocted and concentrated Chinese medicine is called Qing Gao, while the paste obtained by adding honey and other auxiliary materials is called Mi Gao (also known as Gao Zi). The latter is especially suitable for the elderly, weak individuals, and those with chronic diseases.
Common Auxiliary Materials
Include: honey (which must be processed before use), maltose, rock candy, brown sugar, etc. Diabetic patients can also use xylitol. The addition of sugars primarily improves taste while also providing nourishment.
Suitable Populations
（1）Sub-healthy individuals: Common symptoms include chronic fatigue, recurrent colds, anxiety, insomnia, dark circles, dizziness, palpitations, tinnitus, decreased vision, reduced libido, vaginal dryness, lack of appetite, hair loss, and graying hair.
（2）Chronic disease patients and those post-chemotherapy: Using Gao Fang for treatment can promote recovery, replenish deficiencies, dispel depression, delay or inhibit tumor recurrence, and improve quality of life and survival rates.
（3）Female population: Due to physiological characteristics related to menstruation and childbirth, women often exhibit symptoms of insufficient qi and blood, liver and kidney deficiency, and yin-yang imbalance, such as dizziness, fatigue, soreness of the lower back and knees, insomnia with vivid dreams, melasma, irregular menstruation, postpartum weakness, and menopausal syndrome.
（4）Children with poor appetite, food accumulation, and weak spleen and stomach can take spleen-strengthening pastes made from Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), Ping Wei San (Stomach-Invigorating Powder), or Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder).
（5）Preventive health individuals: Gao Fang can strengthen the body and expel pathogens, enhancing immune function to achieve disease prevention, especially in preventing influenza, thus serving the purpose of preemptive health care.
How to take Gao Fang?
Health-preserving Gao Fang: One person, one formula, one paste
Generally, Gao Fang is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach, as this allows the medicinal properties to be fully effective without interference from food.
A、Sublingual: Also known as “holding and dissolving.” Place the paste in the mouth and let it dissolve slowly to exert its medicinal effect.
B、Dissolving in water: Take an appropriate amount of paste, place it in a cup, pour in boiling water, stir to dissolve, and then consume. If the formula contains many viscous or gelatinous ingredients, the paste may be thick and difficult to dissolve, in which case it should be heated in boiling water before consumption. Depending on the condition, warm yellow wine can also be used for dissolving.
C、Mixing: Grind gelatinous agents like Ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin) or Lu Jiao (deer antler) into fine powder, and mix with appropriate decoction or yellow wine, then heat in a water bath and consume after mixing well.
Dosage
① Generally, each dose of Gao Fang is based on one spoonful from the provided spoon (approximately 20g).
② If it is a bagged Gao Fang, then one bag per dose, also approximately 20g.
The dosage for the elderly should be less than that for young adults; stronger individuals may take more than weaker patients; women generally take less than men; and women during menstruation, pregnancy, and postpartum should take less than usual.
Storage Methods
Since Gao Fang is used over a longer period, it should be stored in a cool place (such as refrigerated). In warm winters, it should be heated in a water bath rather than directly over a flame to avoid cracking the pot and burning the bottom. Do not let water from the pot lid fall onto the paste to prevent mold. When taking Gao Fang daily, a fixed spoon should be used to avoid introducing moisture into the jar, which could lead to mold.
Precautions
① To achieve therapeutic effects, dietary restrictions must be observed during medication. For example, when taking Ren Shen Gao (ginseng paste), avoid eating radishes; when taking He Shou Wu Gao (fo-ti paste), avoid pig and sheep blood and iron supplements; and when taking nourishing pastes, avoid drinking tea. Generally, during medication, avoid raw, cold, greasy, spicy, and hard-to-digest foods, as well as those with special stimulating properties.
② Use a fixed spoon for taking the paste, ensuring the spoon is dry before each use to prevent mold.
What preparations are needed before taking Gao Fang?
Health-preserving Gao Fang: One person, one formula, one paste
According to whether auxiliary materials are added during the preparation process, Gao Fang can be divided into Qing Gao (clear paste) and Mi Gao (honey paste). The paste obtained directly from decocted and concentrated Chinese medicine is called Qing Gao, while the paste obtained by adding honey and other auxiliary materials is called Mi Gao (also known as Gao Zi). The latter is especially suitable for the elderly, weak individuals, and those with chronic diseases.
Common Auxiliary Materials
Include: honey (which must be processed before use), maltose, rock candy, brown sugar, etc. Diabetic patients can also use xylitol. The addition of sugars primarily improves taste while also providing nourishment.
Suitable Populations
（1）Sub-healthy individuals: Common symptoms include chronic fatigue, recurrent colds, anxiety, insomnia, dark circles, dizziness, palpitations, tinnitus, decreased vision, reduced libido, vaginal dryness, lack of appetite, hair loss, and graying hair.
（2）Chronic disease patients and those post-chemotherapy: Using Gao Fang for treatment can promote recovery, replenish deficiencies, dispel depression, delay or inhibit tumor recurrence, and improve quality of life and survival rates.
（3）Female population: Due to physiological characteristics related to menstruation and childbirth, women often exhibit symptoms of insufficient qi and blood, liver and kidney deficiency, and yin-yang imbalance, such as dizziness, fatigue, soreness of the lower back and knees, insomnia with vivid dreams, melasma, irregular menstruation, postpartum weakness, and menopausal syndrome.
（4）Children with poor appetite, food accumulation, and weak spleen and stomach can take spleen-strengthening pastes made from Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), Ping Wei San (Stomach-Invigorating Powder), or Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder).
（5）Preventive health individuals: Gao Fang can strengthen the body and expel pathogens, enhancing immune function to achieve disease prevention, especially in preventing influenza, thus serving the purpose of preemptive health care.
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