Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction)
Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction, Guipi decoction): its twelve published ingredients, traditional use, reviews of trials in insomnia, depression, anemia and heart failure, and safety cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What it is
Gui Pi Tang (Guipi decoction, "restore the spleen decoction"; products sold as Gui Pi Wan may differ from the decoction) is a classical Chinese herbal formula. Reviews describe it as widely used in China for insomnia. [1] This page is information only. It gives no doses, recipe or instructions for use.Published composition
A heart-failure review lists twelve components: ginseng, longan aril, Atractylodes macrocephala (Bai Zhu), astragalus (Huang Qi), Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui), Poria with pine root, Polygala (Yuan Zhi), jujube seed (Suan Zao Ren), Aucklandia root (Mu Xiang), licorice, fresh ginger and jujube fruit (Da Zao). [2] Ingredient guides: Ginseng, Astragalus, Dong Quai, Poria, licorice and Jujube. Published lists vary a little between sources; compare the label of a patent product with a pharmacist.How it is traditionally explained
An anemia review notes the TCM belief that "the spleen is the foundation of acquired constitution and the source of qi and blood generation," and says herbs such as ginseng, atractylodes and astragalus "invigorate the spleen and replenish qi." [3] These are traditional frameworks. They are not the spleen organ of biomedicine and they are not shown to explain the trial results. See pattern differentiation.What research measured
Most trials come from China and compare the decoction plus usual treatment with usual treatment alone.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Insomnia, compared with 12 other herbal treatments | A network meta-analysis of 186 trials ranked Guipi decoction first for sleep-quality scores (PSQI) among 13 herbal interventions and among the top for effective rate; risk of bias was low to moderate. Rankings are statistical estimates, not head-to-head proof. [4] | Promising but limited |
| Depression, added to antidepressants | 9 trials (620 people): lower depression scores and higher response than antidepressant alone; authors judged the evidence low quality and too weak for a strong recommendation. [5] | Insufficient evidence |
| Anemia, as an add-on | 13 trials (954 people): better hemoglobin, red blood cells, ferritin and effective rate. The abstract we read does not say which types of anemia were included. [3] | Promising but limited |
| Chronic heart failure, added to Western medicine | 17 trials (1,806 people): higher effective rate and better ejection fraction; authors called for higher-quality trials. [2] | Promising but limited |
A protocol for a dedicated insomnia review was also registered, and we did not find its results. [1]
Frequently asked questions
What is Gui Pi Tang made of?
A review lists twelve: ginseng, longan, atractylodes, astragalus, angelica, poria, polygala, jujube seed, aucklandia, licorice, ginger and jujube. [2]
Does it help insomnia?
A network meta-analysis of 186 trials ranked it among the top herbal treatments for sleep scores, but ranking is not proof of benefit against placebo. [4]
Does it help depression?
Added to antidepressants it improved scores in 9 trials, but evidence quality was low. [5]
Can it treat anemia?
It improved blood markers in 13 trials as an add-on, but the cause of anemia must be found by a clinician first. [3]
Is Gui Pi Wan the same?
Not necessarily. Products named Gui Pi Wan may not match the decoction ingredient for ingredient, so read the label with a pharmacist.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety and quality
- The depression review found no significant adverse effects from the formula, and the heart-failure review found no significant safety difference, but both rest on small, low-quality or unblinded trials. [5][2]
- Ginseng may interfere with blood clotting and blood sugar and may be unsafe in pregnancy. [6] Licorice can cause irregular heartbeat in people at risk and interacts with corticosteroids. [7]
- A review of herb effects on liver drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP) named Astragalus membranaceus as able to change drug exposure. [8]
- NCCIH warns of contamination and hidden drugs in some Chinese herbal products and advises pregnant or nursing people to ask a provider first. [9] See medication interactions.
Who should check first
Anemia has many causes, including iron deficiency, bleeding, B12 deficiency and chronic disease, so it needs a medical workup (anemia and iron deficiency). Heart failure treatment must not be changed or stopped for a herbal formula; tell your cardiologist about any herb. For sleep problems that last, see insomnia. If you feel hopeless or think about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US or your local emergency number.
References
- Li M et al. Guipi decoction for insomnia: systematic review and meta-analysis (protocol). Medicine (Baltimore) 2020. Read 2026-10-22.
- Rong Y et al. Guipi Decoction in chronic heart failure: systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
- Lv X et al. Guipi Decoction in the treatment of anemia: systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Li W et al. Chinese herbal medicine for insomnia: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Sheng CX et al. Is Guipi Decoction effective as an adjunctive treatment for depression? Meta-analysis of RCTs. Chin J Integr Med 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Asian Ginseng (page last updated February 2025).. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Licorice Root.. Read 2026-10-22.
- Hsieh YH, Huang ST. Interactions between cytochrome P450 enzymes and traditional Chinese herbs: a comprehensive review. J Chin Med Assoc 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know.. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.