Herbal Medicine 3 Handout 4-6

Formulas that Tonify Qi

Si jun zi tang (Four gentleman decoction)
Ingredients Ren shen, Bai zhu, Fu ling, Gan cao
Actions Tonify qi and strengthen spleen
Indications Pale complexion, low voice, reduced appetite, soolse stools, weakness in
limbs. Pale tongue, thin weak pulse.
Explanations Chief: Ren shen---tonify qi

Deputy: Bai zhu, Fu ling---tonify spleen and drain dampness

Assistant: Zhi gan cao---warm and regulate middle jiao

Attention Not for excess pattern

Modifications Liu jiun zi Tang: add chen pi, ban xia

Xian sha liu jun zi tang: liu jun zi tang add mu xiang, sha ren

Shen ling bai zhu san (Ginseng, Poria and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder)
Ingredients Ren shen, Bai zhu, Fu ling, Gan cao; shan yao, bai bian dou, lian zi, yi yi
ren, sha ren, jie geng
Actions Tonify qi and strengthen spleen, leach out dampness and stop diarrhea
Indications Loose stool or diarrhea. Pale complexion, low voice, reduced appetite,
weakness in limbs. Pale tongue, thin weak pulse.
Explanations Chief: Si jun zi tang---tonify spleen

Deputy: shan yao, bai bian dou, lian zi, yi yi ren---tonify spleen, drain
dampness and stop diarrhea

Assistant: Sha ren---transform dampness, promote movement of qi

Envoy Jie geng---disseminate lung qi and help spread nourishment

throughout the body.
Attention Not for yin deficiency with heat

Bu zhong yi qi tang (Tonify the middle and augment qi decoction)

Ingredients Huang qi, ren shen, bai zhu, zhi gan cao, dang gui, chen pi, sheng ma, chai
hu
Actions Tonify qi of middle jiao and raise sunken yang
Indications Intermittent fever, spontaneous sweating, aversion to cold, shortness of
breath, loose stool or diarrhea. Pale complexion, low voice, reduced appetite,
weakness in limbs. Pale tongue, thin weak pulse. Prolapse of internal
organs.
Explanations Chief: huang qi---tonify spleen.
Deputy: Si jun zi tang omit fu ling ---tonify spleen.

Assistant: Dang gui---tonify qi in blood.

Chen pi---regulate qi.
Envoy Sheng mai, chai hu---raise the sunken yang qi

Attention Not for yin deficiency with heat

Formula Comparisons
Formula Shen ling bai zhu san Bu zhong yi qi tang
Ingredient Ren shen, Bai zhu, Zhi gan cao
Fu ling, shan yao, Chen pi,
bai bian dou, lian zi, Huang qi, dang gui,
yi yi ren, sha ren, Sheng ma, chai hu
jie geng
Actions Augment the Spleen qi
Leach out dampness Raise sunken yang

Sheng Mai San (Generate the Pulse Powder)

Ingredients Ren shen, Mai dong, Wu wei zi
Actions Augment qi, generate fluids, preserve yin and stop excessive sweating
Indications Chronic cough with sparse sputum that is difficult to expectorate, shortness of breath, spontaneous
sweating, a dry mouth and tongue, a pale red tongue with a dry thin coating, and a deficient rapid
or deficient thin pulse.

Palpitations with a stifling sensation in the chest, shortness of breath, sweating, a dry mouth and
thirst, poor sleep, irregular pulse.

Explanations Chief Ren shen---tonfiy the source qi and strengthen the qi that generates fluids and
calm the spirit.

Deputy Mai dong---nourish yin and moisten the lungs. Benefit stomach and generate
fluids, clear heat from heart to eliminate the irritability.

Wu wei zi---restrain the leakage of lung qi and generate fluids.

Assistant

Attention Not for the exterior or excess pattern

Modification For profuse sweating with dark scanty sweating, add huang qi and dang gui.

For severe coughing, add kuan dong hua, bai he.

For irritability, severe insomnia add suan zao ren, he huan pi.

For palpitations add gui zhi, long gu, mu li

For coronary artery disease, add zhi gan cao, dan sheng, chi shao, hong hua.

Modern application Chronic bronchitis, coronary heart disease.

Ren Shen Ge Jie San (Ginseng and Gecko Powder)

Ingredients Ren shen, Ge jie, Fu ling, Sang bai pi, Xing ren, Chuan bei mu, Zhi mu, Zhi gan cao

Actions Augment qi, clear heat, transform phlegm, stop coughing, and arrest wheezing

Indications Chronic cough and wheezing, thick, yellow sputum, coughing of pus and blood, a
sensation of heat and irritability in the chest, facial edema, gradual emaciation, a purple
tongue with thin white or yellow tongue coating, and a floating deficient pulse.

Explanations Chief Ge jie---enter the lung and kidney channels to tonify the kidneys and
thereby restore their ability to grasp qi and thus arrest wheezing.
Ren shen---tonfiy the source qi and strengthen the qi that generates
fluids and calm the spirit.
Deputy Fu ling---benefit spleen and drain dampness
Sang bai pi, Xing ren---regulate lung qi and direct rebellious qi
downward.
Assistant Chuan bei mu---clear heat, moisten the lungs, release the constraint.
Zhi mu---clear heat from the lungs and nourish kidney to grasp qi.
Zhi gan cao---harmonize.
Attention Contraindicated in cases with externally contracted pathogenic influence.
Modern Bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis
application
 Tonify blood formulas
Si wu tang (Four substances decoction)
Ingredients Shu di huang, Bai shao, Dang gui, Chuan xiong
Actions Tonify blood and regulate liver
Indications Dizziness, blurred vision, lusterless complexion and nails, generalized muscle
tension. Irregular menstruation with little flow or amenorrhea, and lower
abdominal pain. Pale tongue, thin and wiry or thin and choppy pulse.

Hard abdominal masses with recurrent pain,

Lochioschesis with a firm and painful abdomen and sporadic fever and chills.
Restless fetus disorder
Explanations Chief: Shu di huang---tonify liver and kidney, nourish yin and
blood.

Deputy: Bai shao---tonify blood and preserve the yin

Dang gui---tonify and invigorate blood

Assistant: Chuan xiong---invigorate the blood and promote the

movement of qi

Modern infertility, anemia, irregular menstruation

application
Modifications Jiao Ai Si Wu Tang: for restless fetus disorder with continuous bleeding from
the vagina, add ai ye and e jiao
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang: for concurrent blood deficiency and blood stasis
leading to irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea
For signs of heat, substitute sheng di huang for shu di huang
For a predominance of blood stasis, substitute chi shao for bai shao

Dang gui shao yao san (Tangkuei and peony powder)

Ingredients Bai shao, Dang gui, Bai zhu, Fu ling, Zexie, Chuan xiong
Actions Nourish liver blood, spreads the liver qi, strengthen the spleen and resolve
dampness
Indications Continuous, cramping pain in the abdomen that is not severe, urinary
difficulty, and slight edema (primarily of the lower limbs) during pregnancy.
Explanations Chief Bai shao---soften liver, nourish blood and stop pain
Dang gui---tonify and invigorate blood
Chuan xiong---invigorate the blood and harmonize liver’s
function

Deputy Fu ling, Bai zhu, Ze xie---strengthen spleen and leach out

dampness

The combination of Bai shao and Bai zhu is often used in

treating concurrent problems of the liver and spleen.

Attention This formula focuses on the blood aspects of liver dysfunction and the damp
aspects of spleen dysfunction.
Modern Gestation hypertension, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, abnormal
application fetal position, premenstrual syndrome
Modifications For relatively cold presentations, add gui zhi.

For relatively hot presentations, add mu dan pi and zhi zi.

For threatened miscarriage, add ai ye, e jiao.

Shao yao gan cao tang (Peony and licorice decoction)
Ingredients Shao yao, Zhi gan cao
Actions Soften liver, moderates painful spasms, and alleviates pain
Indications Pain, cramps, spasms in the calves due to liver blood deficiency or injury to
the fluids.
Explanations Monarch: Bai shao---tonify blood, preserve the yin, soften the liver and
alleviate pain
Adjuvant: Zhi Gan cao---tonifies and augments the qi of the middle
burner, especially that of the spleen.

These herbs use together to regulate the relationship between

the liver and spleen and nourish the sinews.

Modern Intercostals neuralgia, sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, primary dysmenorrhea,

application and abdominal pain due to disharmony between liver and spleen
Modifications For fixed pain that increase with pressure, substitute Chi shao for Bai shao.

For signs of cold, add Sheng jiang

Formulas that Tonify Qi and Blood

Dang gui bu xue tang (Peony and licorice decoction
Ingredients Huang qi 30g, Dang gui6g
Actions Tonify qi and generate blood
Indications Hot sensation in the muscles, a red face, irritability, thirst with a preference for a
warm beverage, a pale tongue, and a flooding, large and deficient pulse that is
forceless when pressed hard. Fever or headache due to loss of blood.
Attention Not for fever due to yin deficiency

Modification Gui pi tang, bu zhong yi qi tang, dang gui liu huang tang, bu yang huan wu tang

Ba zhe tang (Eight treasure decoction)

Ingredients Si jun zi tang + Si wu tang + sheng jiang, da zao
Actions Tonify qi and blood
Attention Not for excess pattern
Modifications Shi quan da bu tang: Ba zhen tang + rou gui , huang qi warm and tonify qi and
blood
Gui pi tang (Restore the spleen decoction)
Ingredients Ren shen, Bai zhu, Fu ling, Gan cao, Huang qi, suan zao ren, long yan rou,
dang gui, mu xiang, yuan zhi, sheng jiang, da zao
Actions Tonify qi and blood, strengthen spleen and nourish heart
Indications forgetfulness, palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, anxiety and
phobia. reduced appetite, pale complexion, pale tongue with a thin white
coating, thin deep pulse. Chronic bleeding. Early prolonged periods with pale
blood.
Explanations Chief: Si jun zi tang add Huang qi---tonify spleen qi.

Deputy: Suan zao ren, long yan rou---tonify blood and calm the
spirit.
Dan gui---nourish blood
Zhi yuan zhi---calm the spirit by facilitating the flow of qi in
the heart.
Assistant:
Envoy Mu xiang---regulate qi and revive spleen.
Sheng jiang, da zao---improve appetite and regulate ying qi
and wei qi
Modern application Insomnia, anemia, irregular menstruation
Formula Comparisons
Formula Gui pi tang Suan zao ren tang
Ingredient Suan zao ren, Fu ling, (Zhi) Gan cao
Ren shen, Bai zhu, Zhi mu
Huang qi, Dang gui Chuan xiong
Mu xiang
Long yan rou, Yuan zhi
Sheng jiang, da zao
Actions Nourish heart blood, calm the spirit
Tonify spleen Clear heat

Formula Comparisons
Formula Gui pi tang Ba zhen tang
Ingredient Si jun zi tang + Dang gui + sheng jiang, da zao
Huang qi, Chuan xiong, Shu di huang, Bai
Mu xiang, Yuan zhi shao
Long yan rou, Suan zao ren

Actions Tonify qi and Nourish blood

Nourish heart, calm the spirit Tonify blood

Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Honey fried Licorice Decoction)

Ingredients Zhi gan cao, Ren shen, Gui zhi, Sheng di huang, Mai men dong, E jiao, Huo
ma ren, Sheng jiang, Da zao

Actions Augment qi, nourish blood, enrich yin and restore pulse.

Indications Palpitations with anxiety, irritability, insomnia, emaciation, shortness of breath,

constipation, a dry mouth and throat, a pale, shiny tongue, and a pulse which
is irregular or forceless.

Explanations Chief Zhi gan cao---augment qi and nourish heart.

Deputy Ren shen---tonify qi. Calm the spirit, relieve palpitations and
anxiety.
Da zao—benefit spleen and nourish heart.

Sheng di huang, Mai men dong, E jiao, Huo ma ren---nourish

yin and blood

Assistant Gui zhi---unblock the flow of heart qi.

Sheng jiang, da zao---regulate ying qi and wei qi.

Attention not for yin deficiency with heat or severe diarrhea

Modern Heart diseases, hyperthyroidism
application