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Recommended by holistic veterinarians, Herbsmith Rx Gui Pi Tang is a classical Chinese herbal formula that augments Qi, nourishes Blood, strengthens the Spleen, and supports the Heart and Shen in dogs, cats, and horses. Also known as Restore the Spleen Powder, Ginseng and Longan Combination, Gather Vitality, and Return the Spleen Formula, this ten-herb combination addresses the TCVM Heart-Spleen dual vacuity pattern through coordinated Spleen Qi tonification, Blood nourishment, and spirit settling. Your veterinarian may consider this pattern when reduced stamina, poor appetite or digestion, and loose stools occur alongside restlessness or disturbed rest, with a pale tongue and a thin, weak pulse contributing to the assessment. Available as a powder mixed into food; cats and dogs use the Canine Blend, while horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dosing varies by species and body weight; your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance. Night panting and an irregular heartbeat require clinical assessment rather than being assumed to arise from a TCVM pattern.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
What It Supports
- Spleen Qi and vitality: Ren Shen and Huang Qi form the principal Qi-tonifying pair, supported by Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Zhi Gan Cao. In TCVM, Spleen Qi supports the transformation and transportation of food and fluids and the generation of Qi and Blood.
- Digestive function: Bai Zhu and Fu Ling provide Spleen-strengthening and Dampness-management actions, while Mu Xiang moves Qi alongside the tonic ingredients. This balance supports the selected deficiency pattern without guaranteeing freedom from digestive intolerance.
- Blood nourishment and settled rest: Suan Zao Ren, Long Yan Rou, and Dang Gui supply complementary nourishing actions. Suan Zao Ren and Long Yan Rou also contribute traditional Shen support within the Heart-Spleen deficiency strategy.
- Spirit settling: Zhi Yuan Zhi adds traditional Shen-calming and Heart-orifice-opening actions alongside the nourishing group. This describes a TCVM role, not a literal opening of a physical heart structure or a substitute for assessment of nighttime panting.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action: Augment Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen, and support the Heart and Shen within the Heart-Spleen dual vacuity pattern.
- Classical framework: Gui Pi Tang combines Qi tonification and Blood nourishment with spirit settling. The current listing contains ten ingredients, with Mu Xiang providing Qi movement and Zhi Gan Cao providing harmonization.
- Tonification with movement: Mu Xiang complements the nourishing ingredients by moving Qi in the Middle Jiao, reflecting the traditional balance between building and distributing rather than tonification alone.
- Contraindicated patterns: Not appropriate for primarily excess, Fire, or Heat presentations or marked Dampness accumulation where the nourishing strategy is unsuitable. Your veterinarian confirms the full pattern rather than selecting from a single sign.
- Clinical monitoring: TCVM Heart and Spleen terms describe traditional functions, not diagnoses of cardiac or splenic disease. New or worsening panting at rest, an irregular heartbeat, weakness, or digestive changes requires assessment. Breathing difficulty, collapse, or severe distress requires urgent veterinary care.
Available Forms
- Powder - Canine Blend (for dogs and cats): Available in 75 g, 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into food at the prescribed species- and weight-specific dose. Cats and dogs both use this blend.
- Powder - Equine/Horse Blend (for horses only): Available in 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into grain using the horse directions below.
Suggested Use
- Canine Blend Powder - Dogs under 30 lbs: ½ tsp twice daily mixed into food, or as directed by your veterinarian.
- Canine Blend Powder - Dogs 30-80 lbs: 1 tsp twice daily mixed into food, or as directed by your veterinarian.
- Canine Blend Powder - Dogs 80-120 lbs: 1½ tsp twice daily mixed into food, or as directed by your veterinarian.
- Canine Blend Powder - Dogs over 120 lbs: 2 tsp twice daily mixed into food, or as directed by your veterinarian.
- Canine Blend Powder - Cats: ¼ tsp twice daily mixed into food, or as directed by your veterinarian.
- Equine/Horse Blend - 1,000 lb horse, initial dose: Two tablespoons twice daily mixed into grain, or as directed by your veterinarian. Continue the initial schedule for 20 days, or as directed by your veterinarian.
- Equine/Horse Blend - 1,000 lb horse, maintenance dose: After the initial period, give two tablespoons once daily mixed into grain, or as directed by your veterinarian.
If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until accustomed to the taste, or as directed by your veterinarian. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain. Confirm the dog dose at the overlapping 80 lb boundary with your authorizing veterinarian. Continue for the prescribed duration, or as directed by your veterinarian. Review current medications, pregnancy or nursing status, and underlying conditions before use. Stop administration and contact your veterinarian if a suspected adverse reaction occurs.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) - Asian ginseng root; Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranacei) - Astragalus root; Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) - White Atractylodes rhizome; Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos) - Poria; Suan Zao Ren (Semen Zizyphi Spinosae) - Sour jujube seed; Long Yan Rou (Arillus Euphoriae Longanae) - Longan fruit flesh; Mu Xiang (Radix Aucklandiae Lappae) - Aucklandia root; Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) - Honey-fried licorice root; Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) - Chinese angelica root; Zhi Yuan Zhi (Honey-fried Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae) - Honey-fried Polygala root.
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed.
Source confirmation: The pharmacognostic names and honey-fried preparation descriptions retain the existing listing information. Exact botanical source species, processing methods, preparation strength, and formula proportions have not been independently verified against a current manufacturer label; the processing term alone does not guarantee gastrointestinal tolerance.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
The ten herbs form four complementary functional groups: principal Qi tonification, Spleen-strengthening support, Blood nourishment with Shen settling, and Qi movement with harmonization.
- Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) - Asian Ginseng Root: Traditionally strongly tonifies source Qi and Spleen and Lung Qi, generates fluids, and supports the Shen. It provides the foundational tonic role alongside Huang Qi. Review prescription combinations, particularly glucose-lowering, psychoactive, and anticoagulant medications, with your veterinarian.
- Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranacei) - Astragalus Root: Traditionally tonifies Spleen and defensive Qi, lifts Qi, consolidates the exterior, and promotes fluid movement. It complements Ren Shen within the Qi-building strategy. Concurrent immunosuppressive treatment requires individualized veterinary review.
- Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) - White Atractylodes Rhizome: Tonifies Spleen Qi, dries Dampness, and supports the transforming function of the Middle Jiao. It provides the Dampness-drying complement to the formula's nourishing ingredients.
- Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos) - Poria: Strengthens the Spleen, leaches Dampness, promotes fluid movement, and calms the Shen. Its supporting role bridges digestive function and spirit settling alongside the more focused nourishing ingredients.
- Suan Zao Ren (Semen Zizyphi Spinosae) - Sour Jujube Seed: Nourishes Heart and Liver Blood and Yin, calms the Shen, and traditionally addresses deficiency-related sweating. It contributes nourishing spirit support within the selected pattern; review sedatives and other central nervous system-active medicines before combination use.
- Long Yan Rou (Arillus Euphoriae Longanae) - Longan Fruit Flesh: Traditionally tonifies Heart and Spleen, nourishes Blood, and calms the Shen. Its sweet, nourishing role reflects the formula's combined digestive and spirit-supporting strategy.
- Mu Xiang (Radix Aucklandiae Lappae) - Aucklandia Root: Moves Qi and supports the Spleen's distributing function, traditionally addressing digestive fullness and stagnation. It provides the moving counterbalance to the Qi- and Blood-tonifying ingredients.
- Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) - Honey-fried Licorice Root: Traditionally tonifies Spleen Qi and harmonizes formula actions. The honey-fried distinction is retained as listed. Ongoing use warrants attention to medication combinations, potassium balance, blood pressure, and fluid retention concerns.
- Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) - Chinese Angelica Root: Nourishes and invigorates Blood and moistens the intestines. It adds gentle movement to the nourishing group, complementing Suan Zao Ren and Long Yan Rou. Bleeding-related concerns and concurrent hormonal or anticoagulant therapies require review.
- Zhi Yuan Zhi (Honey-fried Radix Polygalae Tenuifoliae) - Honey-fried Polygala Root: Traditionally calms the Shen, transforms Phlegm, opens the Heart orifices, and connects Heart and Kidney functions. Its spirit-settling role complements Blood nourishment. Exact processing requires confirmation, and digestive tolerance and combination with sedating medication remain individual monitoring considerations.
Potential Drug Interactions
Herbsmith Rx Gui Pi Tang contains Qi-tonifying Ren Shen and Huang Qi, Blood-nourishing and Blood-moving Dang Gui, Shen-supporting Suan Zao Ren and Zhi Yuan Zhi, and Licorice-containing Zhi Gan Cao. Pets taking prescription medications should use the formula under veterinary supervision because herb-drug interaction research in dogs and cats is limited. Horses taking prescriptions also require review. The nourishing strategy is intended for confirmed Heart-Spleen dual vacuity rather than excess, Fire, Heat, or marked Dampness presentations.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, insulin and other blood glucose-lowering drugs, MAO inhibitors and other psychoactive medications, immunosuppressants, sedatives, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, hormonal medicines, corticosteroids, diuretics, antihypertensives, and medicines affected by potassium balance. Stop administration and contact your veterinarian if a suspected adverse reaction occurs. Breathing difficulty, collapse, or severe distress requires urgent clinical care. Your veterinarian can determine appropriateness based on your animal's condition, current medications, and laboratory results.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gui Pi Tang used for in TCVM?
Gui Pi Tang supports the Heart-Spleen dual vacuity pattern through Qi tonification, Blood nourishment, and Shen settling. Reduced stamina, poor appetite or digestion, loose stools, restlessness, and disturbed rest may contribute to the assessment, together with a pale tongue and thin, weak pulse. Your veterinarian distinguishes this combined pattern from isolated digestive deficiency or excess Heat and agitation patterns that require different strategies. TCVM Heart language does not establish cardiac disease or replace a cardiac examination.
How is Gui Pi Tang administered to dogs, cats, and horses?
Dogs and cats use the Canine Blend mixed into food. For dogs under 30 lbs, give ½ tsp twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. For dogs 30-80 lbs, give 1 tsp twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. For dogs 80-120 lbs, give 1½ tsp twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. For dogs over 120 lbs, give 2 tsp twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. For cats, give ¼ tsp twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. Confirm the dog dose at the overlapping 80 lb boundary with your authorizing veterinarian.
Horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. For a 1,000 lb horse, give two tablespoons twice daily in grain, or as directed by your veterinarian. Continue the initial schedule for 20 days, or as directed by your veterinarian. Then give two tablespoons once daily in grain, or as directed by your veterinarian. If the horse initially refuses, introduce a small amount in grain and gradually increase until accustomed to the taste, or as directed by your veterinarian. Continue for the prescribed duration, or as directed by your veterinarian, with review of current medications and clinical response.
How is progress assessed, and how long should the formula be used?
Your veterinarian reviews appetite, digestion, stool quality, stamina, rest, behavior, tolerance, tongue and pulse findings, and appropriate clinical testing. Response varies, so no fixed improvement or full-resolution timeline is promised. Continue only for the prescribed duration, or as directed by your veterinarian. Ongoing use requires reassessment of the pattern and care plan rather than assuming a chronic presentation warrants indefinite tonification.
Does night panting mean a dog needs Gui Pi Tang?
No. Night panting may contribute to a TCVM assessment of Shen disturbance in a confirmed deficiency pattern, but it can also accompany temperature stress, medication effects, discomfort, respiratory or cardiac conditions, and other problems. Gui Pi Tang should not be selected from panting alone or used to delay examination of an irregular heartbeat. Contact your veterinarian for new, persistent, or worsening panting at rest; breathing difficulty, collapse, or severe distress requires urgent care. If a suspected adverse reaction occurs during use, stop administration and contact your veterinarian.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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Herbsmith receives certificates of analysis from independent laboratories for every batch of herbs that go into our herbal blends. This assures us that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure the quality and potency of every blend that carries the Herbsmith name and gives us the confidence to say that Herbsmith is the natural option for animal wellness.
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