In the modern world, where stress and anxiety reign and mental health woes are compounded by assaults to the gut-brain axis, Gui Pi Wan, also known as Gui Pi Tang, has emerged as a key Chinese medicine formula in the treatment of modern mental health issues. By combining herbs that calm the mind with medicinals that heal the gut, Gui Pi Tang effectively targets the root causes of mental health issues like anxiety and insomnia from a holistic perspective, and without any drowsiness or grogginess. Thus, it is no surprise that in our new book Chinese Medicine for the Mind, the Chinese medical psychology authority Brandt Stickley named Gui Pi Tang as one of the three top recommended formulas for anxiety due to its efficacy and safety.
Gui Pi Tang was first listed in a Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279 CE) formula book called Master Yan’s Prescriptions to Aid the Living and was indicated for “palpitations due to overthinking, which damages the spleen and heart.” Over time, this formula rose to prominence as an effective treatment strategy not just for palpitations, but also for insomnia and anxiety. Due to its ability to treat sleep and mental health-related problems that arise from overthinking, it has become a particularly important formula in modern societies which rely increasingly on mental as opposed to physical labor.
How good is Gui Pi Tang (GPT) at treating mental health issues? A 2010 study conducted by the Guangzhou University of Chinese medicine found that the anxiolytic effect of Gui Pi Tang was equivalent to the SSRI paroxetine (Paxil) over the course of an eight-week trial. Perhaps even more impressive, GPT ourperformed Valium in a head-to-head clinical study on the treatment of insomnia conducted by the Shantou University of Chinese Medicine Chinese Medical Department.
What’s more, because the formula contains the sub-formula Si Junzi Tang (the Four Gentleman Formula), a classic gut-healing remedy, Gui Pi Tang also targets mental health problems at the level of the gut-brain axis. Network pharmacology studies found that Si Junzi Tang inhibited inflammation and enhanced immunity to regulate gastrointestinal function and metabolism. Another study found that in non-small cell lung cancer patients, Si Junzi Tang “had a significant impact on increasing microbial abundance and diversity, enriching probiotic microbes, and regulating microbial biological functions.” That same study found that the formula immediately improved “cognitive functioning”.
It is important to note that Gui Pi Tang is not a cure-all for all every type of insomnia or anxiety. According to Chinese Medicine for the Mind, it is best for insomnia and anxiety in people with a certain constitution that may be marked by poor appetite, pallor, loose stools or poor memory. Women will often have light-colored menses or prolonged menstrual bleeding. The famous doctor Liu Baohe notes that many people who respond well to Gui Pi Tang will feel particularly anxious or panicked when they are hungry. Women with anemia, anxiety/insomnia and poor appetite and digestion often respond particularly well to this formula. (For other possible remedies for anxiety and insomnia, please refer to Chinese Medicine for the Mind and our Brain, Sleep and Anxiety page.)
Instructions: Take 8 pills 2-3 times a day, preferably with warm water (2x is fine for mild cases, while 3x is recommended for moderate cases). Taking this at full dosage is recommended for at least 1 month.
Manufactured in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) facility and vegan.
Consult a doctor if you are on existing medication. Use with caution if pregnant.
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