Ge Gen Tang - 葛根湯 - Kudzu Decoction - Pueraria Combination

English:	Kudzu Decoction
Also Known As:	Pueraria Combination Decoction of Puerariae

Herbs And Actions

Pharmaceutical Latin	Pin Yin	Dosage	Actions
Rx. Puerariae	Ge Gen	8-60g	Releases Exterior conditions and releases the muscles, especially of the neck and upper back by bringing fluids to the area, relieves Heat and generates fluids. With Ma Huang, Gui Zhi and Bai Shao, for Wind-Cold with stiffness and tension in the upper back and neck.
Hb. Ephedrae	Ma Huang	4-10g	Strongly releases the exterior, disperses Cold, moves Lung Qi and stops wheezing. With Gui Zhi for Wind-Cold excess conditions with fever and chills but no sweat and Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.
Ram. Cinnamomi	Gui Zhi	3-20g	Releases the exterior, warms the channels and collaterals to relieve pain, warms and facilitates the flow of Yang Qi in the chest, warms and facilitates the flow of Blood through the vessels, adjusts the Ying and Wei and releases the muscle layer. With Ge Gen, releases the exterior and relieves the muscle layer. With Bai Shao, for External Wind-Cold with disharmony between the Ying and Wei (Tai Yang Zhong Feng), with spontaneous sweating, fever and chills.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba	Bai Shao	3-30g	Adjusts the Ying and Wei and preserves Yin by preventing excessive diaphoresis. With Gan Cao, relieves muscle spasms and therefore helps relieve neck and back stiffness. With Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang and Da Zao, for Wind-Cold with Deficiency and perspiration.
Rz. Zingiberis Recens	Sheng Jiang	1-10g	Disperses Cold, Reduces the toxicity of other herbs, Releases the exterior, Stops cough, Stops vomiting, Warms the middle. With Da Zao, protects the Ying and harmonizes and protects the Stomach. With Gui Zhi, strongly induces sweating for treatment of External Wind-Cold with chills, fever, body aches and Anhidrosis. With Gui Zhi and Da Zao, harmonizes the Ying and Wei to drive out pathogens. With Ma Huang, strongly creates sweating to treat all externally contracted Wind-Cold disorders, especially those in which Wind-Cold has constrained Lung Qi with cough and wheezing and the failure of Lung Qi to descend causing nausea and vomiting.
(Rz. Zingiberis)	(Gan Jiang)	(1-6g)	(In some sources used instead of Sheng Jiang).
Fr. Jujube	Da Zao	3-30pcs	Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs With Sheng Jiang, protects the Ying and harmonizes and protects the Stomach.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae	Gan Cao	2-30g	Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.

Formula Actions

• Releases Wind-Cold in the exterior and muscle layer
• Generates Fluids
• Relieves muscle-ache of the neck

Syndromes

• Tai Yang Shang Han with stiff neck and upper back
• Transitional stage between acute and chronic rhinitis or sinusitis
• Initial stage Wind-Cold Bi
• Exterior Wind-Cold of excess type with stiff neck (Secondary source)
• Diarrhea from combined Taiyang and Yangming syndromes

Clinical Manifestations

Chills and fever Anhidrosis Neck pain Stiff and rigid neck, shoulders and upper back Intolerance of Wind Dislike of Cold Inflammation Diarrhea Muscle spasms

Mucosal swelling Nasal congestion Sensitivity to dust Headache Wind-Cold Bi (few joints affected, inflammation intense but short lived, changes over days or weeks) T: Normal C: Thin and white P: Floating and tight Muscle aches

Treats

Common cold Upper respiratory tract infection Influenza Stomach flu Acute cervical myositis Tendinitis of shoulder Bursitis of shoulder Shoulder pain Allergic rhinitis Early-stage poliomyelitis Early-stage encephalitis Chronic pediatric diarrhea Neck pain and stiffness Frozen shoulder Pneumonia Bronchitis "40 years wrists" "50 years shoulders" Neuralgia Eczema Torticollis Lumbar disc disease Trigeminal neuralgia Hypertension Gingivitis Iritis Bacillary dysentery Soft tissue injuries Bell's palsy Scleroderma Sinusitis Painful obstruction Psoriasis Constipation alternating with diarrhea Anorexia Chronic rhinitis Cervical osteoarthritis Cirrhosis of the Liver with gynecomastia

Urticaria Rubella Furuncles Boils Keratitis Hordeolum Conjunctivitis Trachoma Otitis media Stuffy nose Otitis externa Meningitis Lymphadenitis Mastitis Scarlet fever Tonsillitis Rheumatoid arthritis Lumbago Cervical spine disease Periarthritis of the shoulder Lumbar strain Cerebral vascular insufficiency Cerebrovascular disease Acute enteritis Fever Facial paralysis Tension headache Painful gynecomastia in Liver cirrhosis Aqueous flare after complicated cataract surgery Headache Gastritis Diarrhea Cervical spondylosis Arthralgia Gynecomastia Eclampsia

Contraindications And Herb/Drug Interactions

Notes

• Compared with Ma Huang Tang: both treat Wind-Cold excess (chills and fever, headache, body aches, no sweating, floating tight pulse); Ge Gen Tang is chosen for neck and upper back muscle aches or diarrhea, Ma Huang Tang for wheezing and dyspnea.
• Combined with Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang for neck and shoulder stiffness and musculoskeletal injuries.
• Combined with Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan, Ge Gen Tang guides the tonic herbs up to the scalp.

Modifications

For severe nasal blockage:		For urticaria:
+ Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong	Chuan Xiong	+ Periostracum Cicadae	Chan Tui
+ Rx. Scutellariae	Huang Qin	For severe facial pain:
+ Flos Magnoliae	Xin Yi Hua	+ Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis	Du Huo
+ Rx. Platycodi	Jie Geng	+Peach Pit Decoction to Order Qi Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
For Interior Heat:		For headache:
+ Rx. Scutellariae	Huang Qin	+ Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo
+ Gypsum Fibrosum	Shi Gao	+ Rx. Angelica Dahuricae	Bai Zhi
For nausea and vomiting caused by Rebellious Stomach Qi:		For fever and thirst:
+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum	Zhi Ban Xia	+ Rz. Anemarrhenae	Zhi Mu
+ Poria	Fu Ling	+ Gypsum Fibrosum	Shi Gao
For severe pain in the shoulders:		For abdominal pain and diarrhea with burning sensations:
+ Poria	Fu Ling	+ Rx. Scutellariae	Huang Qin
+ Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae	Bai Zhu	+ Rz. Coptidis	Huang Lian
+ Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata	Zhi Fu Zi	For itching of the skin:
For fibromyalgia due to Phlegm Stagnation blocking the channels:		+ Bombyx Batryticatus	Jiang Can
+ Flos Magnoliae	Xin Yi	For fibromyalgia due to Blood Deficiency:
+ Rz. Chuanxiong	Chuan Xiong	+ All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
For fibromyalgia due to Qi Deficiency:		+ Drive Out Blood Stasis from a Painful Body Decoction Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
+ Kidney Qi Pill Shen Qi Wan		For fibromyalgia due to Phlegm Stagnation Blocking the Channels:
+ Augment the Qi and Increase Acuity Decoction Yi Qi Cong Ming Tong		+ Prepared Aconite Pill to Regulate the Middle Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang
For neck and shoulder pain:		+ Three Painful Obstruction Decoction San Bi Tang
+ More Rx. Puerariae	Ge Gen
+ More Ram. Cinnamomi	Gui Zhi	Or
For periarthritis of the shoulder:		+ Bolster the Spleen Decoction Shi Pi Yin
+ Hb. cum Rx. Asari	Xi Xin
+ Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo	+ Three Painful Obstruction Decoction San Bi Tang
For facial paralysis:
+ Rz. Typhonii Preparata	Zhi Bai Fu Zi	For facial paralysis with dampness:
+ Bombyx Batryticatus	Jiang Can	+ Lead to Symmetry Powder Qian Zheng San
+ Scorpio	Quan Xie
Or		+ Poria	Fu Ling
+ Lead to Symmetry Powder Qian Zheng San		+ Rz. Atractylodis	Cang Zhu
For facial paralysis with fever:
For aqueous flare postcataract surgery:		+ Lead to Symmetry Powder Qian Zheng San
+ Coptis Decoction To Reduce Toxicity Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
+ Rx. Scutellariae	Huang Qin
For scleroderma:		+ Rx. Bupleuri	Chai Hu
+ More (30-60g Rx. Puerariae	Ge Gen	For a crick in the neck:
+ 9g Rz. et Rx Notopterygii	Qiang Huo
For neck and upper back pain and cervical osteoarthritis:
+ 9g Caulis Trachelospermi	Luo Shi Teng
- Hb. Ephedrae	Ma Huang
- Rz. Zingiberis Recens	Sheng Jiang	For neck pain:
- Fr. Jujube	Da Zao	+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo
- Rx. Glycyrrhizae	Gan Cao
+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo	For neck pain with a headache:
+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo
+ 10g Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae	Qin Jiao
+ 10g Rz. Chuanxiong	Chuan Xiong
+ 15g Ram. Mori	Sang Zhi	+ 10g Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae	Bai Zhi
+ 10g Rz. Curcumae Longae	Jiang Huang
For neck pain with a fever:
+ 3g Hb. cum Rx. Asari	Xi Xin	+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo
+ 6g Olibanum	Ru Xiang
+ 6g Myrrh	Mo Yao	+ 15g Rx. Bupleuri	Chai Hu
+ 10g Fr. Chaenomelis	Mu Gua	+ 10g Rx. Peucedani	Qian Hu
+ 10g Fr. Psoraliae	Bu Gu Zhi	For neck pain with nasal discharge:
For neck pain with Aversion to Cold:		+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo
+ 10g Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii	Qiang Huo
+ 10g Rx. Platycodi	Jie Geng
+ 10g Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata	Zhi Fu Zi	+ 10g Rx. Saposhnikoviae	Fang Feng
+ Hb. cum Rx. Asari	Xi Xin	For eclampsia due to Phlegm-Heat:
For eclampsia due to Phlegm Stagnation:		+ Succus Bambusae	Zhu Li
- Rx. Ephedrae	Ma Huang	+ Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum	Zhi Ban Xia
- Ram. Cinnamomi	Gui Zhi
- Rx. Paeoniae Alba	Bai Shao
- Rz. Zingiberis Recens	Sheng Jiang
- Fr. Jujube	Da Zao
+ Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii	Zhe Bei Mu
+ Cx. Moutan	Mu Dan Pi
+ Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae	Han Fang Ji
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae	Fang Feng
+ Rx. Angelicae Sinensis	Dang Gui
+ Rz. Chuanxiong	Chuan Xiong
+ Cx. Cinnamomi	Rou Gui
+ Rz. Alismatis	Ze Xie
+ Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis	Du Huo
+ Gypsum Fibrosum	Shi Gao
+ Rx. Ginseng	Ren Shen