Gui Pi Wan (Gui Pi Pian, Gui Pi Tang, SpleenVive™, 归脾片) is a regarded Chinese herbal formula that strengthens the Spleen and the Heart. It is used to nourish the Blood, replenish Qi, and calm the mind in cases of overwork or stress. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Heart controls the Blood and stores Shen (the Spirit), and the Spleen absorbs the nutrients from food and transports them to the Blood. When the Heart function is weak, one may develop several symptoms that include Blood deficiency, sleeplessness, mental fogginess, palpitations, and a pale complexion. When the Spleen function is weak, digestion is impaired, and consequently, the Blood is not well nourished and may not be hold well in the blood vessels. This in turn may increase the tendency to bleed.
Gui Pi Pian (Wan) strengthens the Spleen and the Heart, nourishes Blood and Qi, and calms the mind.† How it acts in modern biochemical terms is not yet understood. Gui Pi Wan has been indicated in China Pharmacopoeia1 for use in the case of Heart and Spleen deficiency, whose presentation may include these several characteristic signs: 1. difficulty in staying focused and easily forgetting what it is learned; 2. have trouble falling asleep; 3. lack of energy with a pale face; 4. loss of appetite. This TCM pattern of deficiency is often observed in those who study hard (students) or overwork and feel overwhelmed.
Does research support SpleenVive? In a clinical study involving such cases of the Heart and Spleen deficiency in TCM diagnosis, improvement was observed in 91 out of 100 cases after the adiministration of Gui Pi Tang.2 In separated studies, Gui Pi Tang are shown to improve levels of hemoglobin and platelet counts.2