Source: Categorized Essentials for Normalizing the Structure (1529)

Indication: Spleen Qi and Heart Blood Deficiency

Symptoms: Forgetfulness, palpitations (maybe with anxiety), insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety and phobia, feverishness, withdrawal, reduced appetite, pallid and wan complexion, Also, chronic bleeding syndromes, early or continuous periods.

Tongue: pale, thin white; Pulse: thin, frail

This cause of this pattern is excessive rumination or obsessive behaviors. The primary insult is to the Spleen, which is the organ that generates Blood. When the Earth, the child, is deficient, the Mother, or the Heart will also be drained. also becomes deficient. The Blood aspect of the Spleen and Heart are affected. Gui Pi Tang contains Si Jun Zi Tang and Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang, and focuses on strengthening the Spleen to nourish Heart Blood using largely sweet and warm herbs. Central to this pattern are pscyhoemotional symptoms, and herbs are used to tonify the Blood to root and calm the spirit. An interesting approach to understanding this formula is from the Selected Annotations to Ancient Formulas from the Garden of Crimson Snow by Wang Zi-Jie.

[Gui Pi Tang] regulates the four yin organs -- the ethereal and corporeal souls, the spirit, and the resolve -- so that they return to the Spleen. Huang Qi is added because it moves directly to the Lungs to secure the corporeal soul. Suan Zao Ren goes to the Heart to astringe the spirit. Dang Gui enters the Liver where its frangrance delights the ethereal soul. Yuan Zhi enters the Kidneys where its acridity opens the resolve. Connecting and regulating [the movement of the spirits] above and below the diaphragm, the four yin organs are calmed and harmonized, so that the ethereal and corporeal souls, the spirit, and the resolve naturally return to the Spleen.