Tonifies the Qi and generates Blood

• Hot sensations in the muscles
• A red face, irritability
• A thirst with a preference for warm drinks
• Feverishness and headache due to blood loss
• A pale tongue with a thin white coating
• A large flooding pulse that is forceless when pressed hard

• Huang Qi strongly tonifies the Spleen and Lung Qi to reinforce the source of Blood to enable the body to generate Blood.
• Dang Gui is used for two reasons: it tonifies and invigorates Blood and generates Blood without creating stagnation.
• Dang Gui also replenishes the ‘Qi of Blood’ and works alongside Huang Qi to tonify Blood by tonifying Qi.

• Ulcerated sores with toxins remaining: add Jin Yin Hua and Gan Cao
• Allergic purpura: add Jiang Cao and Huai Niu Xi

• This formula is particularly indicated for two situations: consumption and blood loss.
• Consumption is a term for tuberculosis, which consumes the Yuan Qi, creating fatigue, and heat in the Stomach, which sears the chest.
• Blood loss due to Qi deficiency revolves around Qi being unable to control Blood.
• Another common use is for ‘Yin-type’ sores (due to weak protective Qi and Blood) which refuse to heal and exude a thin, pale fluid.
• Blood deficiency due to injury of the Source (Yuan) Qi, in turn causes nutritive Qi and Blood deficiency.
• The Yin becomes unable to contain the Yang, which floats to the superficial aspects of the body.
• Classic ‘Floating Yang’ signs are a sensation of heat in the muscles, a red face, irritability, and a thirst with a preference for warm drinks. The Blood loss causes feverishness and the acute blood loss shifts the energy swiftly and causes the headache.
• The large flooding pulse that’s forceless when pressed hard reflects the weak Yang Qi floating to the superficial layer.
• Whilst the heat symptoms are similar to a Wind-Heat invasion that would require Bai He Tang (White Tiger Decoction) the deficient nature of the sweating, fever and pulse and the thirst for warm rather than cold drinks sets it apart.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for anaemia, neurasthenia, allergic purpura, thrombocytopenic purpura, functional uterine bleeding and leukopenia.

• Use with caution in cases with tidal fever from Yin deficiency

Augments the Qi, tonifies the Blood, strengthens the Spleen and nourishes the Heart

• Forgetfulness, anxiety, withdrawal
• Palpitations
• Insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep
• Feverishness
• Reduced appetite
• A pallid and wan complexion
• Women may experience short cycles with copious, thin, pale blood or prolonged periods with little flow
• A pale tongue with a thin white coating
• A thin, frail pulse

• There are four chief herbs: Dang Shen (or Ren Shen) and Huang Qi strongly tonify Spleen Qi to enable it to generate Blood.
• Bai Zhu and Zhi Gan Cao support them by tonifying and augmenting Qi, while Bai Zhu also dries Dampness.
• Dang Gui and Long Yan Rou (deputies) ‘root’ the Spirit by tonifying Blood and calming the Shen, while Dang Gui helps regulate the menses.
• The combination of Dang Gui and Huang Qi (Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang) strongly tonifies Qi and generates Blood.
• Suan Zao Ren and Fu Shen (deputies) calm the Shen, with Fu Shen assisting the Spleen-tonifying action of the chief herbs.
• Yuan Zhi (deputy) calms the Shen by promoting the flow of Heart Qi and balances the astringent action of Suan Zao Ren.
• Mu Xiang (assistant) regulates Qi and revives the Spleen, preventing the tonic herbs from causing indigestion.
• Sheng Jiang and Da Zao (envoys) improve the appetite and regulate the nutritive and protective Qi, assisting the chief herbs in strengthening the Spleen.

• Numbness in the upper extremities: add Qiang Huo and Chuan Xiong
• Numbness in the lower back and limbs: add Du Huo and Niu Xi
• Painful menstruation with blood clots: add Yu Jin and Xiang Fu
• Very dark menstrual blood: add Hong Hua, Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Zi
• Menses that suddenly change in volume and flow continuously: add Shan Zhu Yu and Wu Wei Zi

• The formula is for Spleen Qi deficiency with Heart Blood deficiency.
• Excessive thinking and worry injure both the Spleen and the Heart.
• The Spleen is the organ that generates Blood, and when Blood is deficient, it is unable to nourish the Heart.
• The Spleen houses the Yi (intelligence), and the Heart houses the Shen, and when they are insufficient, it becomes difficult to concentrate and remember.
• Heart Blood deficiency causes palpitations, insomnia, anxiety and phobias.
• Blood deficiency can result in feverishness from deficiency, and the pallid, wan complexion reflects Blood deficiency.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for neurasthenia or personality disorders, postconcussion syndrome, myasthenia gravis, congestive heart disease, supraventricular heart disease, anaemia, thrombocytopenic or allergic purpura, cervicitis and functional uterine bleeding.

Tonifies and augments the Qi and Blood

• A pallid or sallow complexion
• Palpitations with anxiety
• Reduced appetite
• Shortness of breath, laconic speech
• Easily fatigued limbs
• Light-headedness and/or vertigo
• A pale tongue with a thin white coating and
• A pulse that’s either thin and frail pulse or large, deficient and without strength

• The chief herbs are warm in nature; Dang Shen (or Ren Shen) and strongly augment Qi, while Shu Di nourishes the Blood and Kidneys.
• Bai Zhu and Fu Ling (deputies) strengthen the Spleen and dry Dampness to assist Ren Shen strengthen the Spleen and Lung Qi.
• Dang Gui and Bai Shao (deputies) nourish the Blood and reinforce the action of Shu di.
• Chuan Xiong (assistant) invigorates Blood and promotes Qi movement.
• Zhi Gan Cao (assistant) augments Qi and harmonises the middle Jiao.
• Sheng Jiang and Da Zao (envoys) improve the appetite, improve absorption in the stomach and regulate the nutritive and protective Qi to prevent pathogenic invasions.

Galactorrhoea (a milky nipple discharge unrelated to breastfeeding) from Stomach Qi deficiency: omit Chuan Xiong and add Huang Qi, Wu Wei Zi and Qian Shi

• Concurrent Qi and Blood deficiency, usually due to chronic illness or excessive blood loss.
• The Lungs control the body’s Qi, and when Qi is deficient, it will affect Lung Qi, causing shortness of breath and laconic speech.
• Spleen Qi deficiency causes poor appetite and weak limbs due to a lack of nutrients reaching the extremities.
• Qi and Blood deficiency prevent clear Yang reaching the head and Heart, causing light-headedness (or vertigo), palpitations and a pallid complexion.
• The complexion will be more pallid when Qi deficiency is primary, and more sallow if Blood deficiency is primary.
• The pale tongue with a thin white coating reflects the Qi and Blood deficiency.
• A thin and frail pulse refects predominant Blood deficiency , while a large, deficient and forceless pulse indicates predominant Qi deficiency.
• The formula can be used for any Qi and Blood deficiency with presentations including chills and fever, weight loss, non-healing abscesses and continuous uterine bleeding.