Tonifies the Qi and strengthens the Spleen

• Pallid complexion
• A low and soft voice
• Poor appetite, loose stools
• Weakness of the limbs
• A pale tongue  and a thin, weak pulse
• Usually caused by poor diet choices, overthinking and overworking

• Dang Shen (or Ren Shen) (chief) strongly tonifies the Spleen.
• Bai Zhu (deputy) warm and bitter, assists in tonifying post-heavenly Qi and drying Dampness. Between them, they improve the Spleen’s transportive and transformative functions.
• Fu Ling (assistant) bland and sweet, assists Bai Zhu in leaching Dampness and assists the chief and deputy in strengthening the Spleen.
• Zhi Gan Cao (envoy) sweet and warm, helps regulate the middle Jiao and tonifies the Spleen. It also moderates the draining properties of Fu Ling, while Fu Ling moderates the cloying nature of Zhi Gan Cao; the two herbs work harmoniously as a simple yet effective formula.

• Dang Shen has been substituted in place of Ren Shen for the price
• For indigestion, poor appetite, and weight loss: add Xiang Fu and Hou Po
• For morning sickness, add Sha Ren, Chen Pi and Hou Po
• Oedema in pregnancy: take with Wu Pi Yin (Five Peel Decoction)
• Periodic paralysis: add Huang Qi, Mai Men Dong, Bai Zhi and Fang Feng
• Uterine fibroids: add San Leng and Huai Niu Xi

• This is the basic formula to tonify the Qi, and unlike many other Qi-tonic formulas it’s relatively harmonious and moderate, without being warm and drying.
• It’s appropriate whenever a disorder is rooted in Spleen Qi deficiency.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for neurasthenia (emotional exhaustion), chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes mellitus, periodic paralysis, and uterine fibroids.

• Overuse may result in dry mouth, thirst and irritability.
• Not to be used in cases with high fever, heat form deficiency or a combination of thirst, irritability and constipation without modification.

Strengthens the Spleen, Transforms Phlegm and Stops Vomiting

• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting
• Focal distension and stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
• Coughing of copious thin or white sputum
• A pale tongue and a thin or weak pulse

• Dang Shen (chief) strongly tonifies the Spleen Qi.
• Bai Zhu (deputy) warm and bitter, assists in tonifying post-heavenly Qi and drying Dampness.
• Fu Ling (assistant) bland and sweet, assists Bai Zhu in leaching Dampness and assists the chief and deputy in strengthening the Spleen.
• Chen Pi (assistant) regulates Qi in the middle Jiao (and directs Qi downwards), transforms Phlegm and dries Dampness.
• Ban Xia (assistant) warm and acrid, strongly dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, directs Qi downwards and stops vomiting.
• Zhi Gan Cao (envoy) sweet and warm, helps regulate the middle Jiao and tonifies the Spleen. It also moderates the draining properties of Fu Ling and Ban Xia, while Fu Ling moderates the cloying nature of Zhi Gan Cao; the two herbs work harmoniously as a simple yet effective formula.

• The formula is for concurrent Spleen Qi deficiency and Phlegm and is a combination of Si Jun Zi Tang and the principal herbs of Er Chen Tang.

Strengthens the Spleen, harmonises the Stomach, regulates Qi and alleviates pain

• Low appetite that’s quickly sated
• Belching
• Abdominal  bloating and discomfort
• Focal distension and epigastric discomfort
• Possibly diarrhoea or vomiting
• A generalised weakness
• A pale tongue with a white coating and a weak, slippery pulse

• Dang Shen (chief) strongly tonifies the Spleen Qi.
• Bai Zhu (deputy) warm and bitter, assists in tonifying post-heavenly Qi and drying Dampness.
• Fu Ling (assistant) bland and sweet, assists Bai Zhu in leaching Dampness and strengthening the Spleen.
• Chen Pi (assistant) aromatic, regulates Qi in the middle Jiao (and directs Qi downwards), transforms Phlegm and dries Dampness. 
• Ban Xia (assistant) warm and bitter, strongly dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, directs Qi downwards and stops vomiting.
• Sha Ren and Mu Xiang (assistants) work together to move Qi, transform Dampness and Strengthen the Spleen Qi to reduce distension and food stagnation.
• Zhi Gan Cao (envoy) sweet and warm, regulates the middle Jiao, tonifies the Spleen and harmonises the actions of the other herbs.

• The formula is for Stomach and Spleen Qi deficiency with Cold-Damp stagnating in the middle Jiao.

Augments the Qi, strengthens the Spleen, leaches out Dampness and stops diarrhoea

• Loose stools or diarrhoea
• Weak limbs, poor appetite, weight loss  
• Distension and stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
• A pallid or wan complexion
• Possible vomiting
• A pale tongue with a white coating
• A thin, moderate or deficient pulse

• The first four herbs comprise Si Jun Zi Tang, and they reflect the primary action of the formula of tonifying the Spleen Qi.
• Shan Yao, Yi Yi Ren, Bai Bian Dou and Lian Zi (deputies) support the chief herbs by strengthening Spleen Qi, and they also leach Dampness and stop diarrhoea.
• Sha Ren (assistant) transforms Dampness, promotes Qi movement, and prevents the chief herbs from creating stagnation.
• Jie Geng (envoy) unblocks Lung Qi which helps to:
• (1) distribute nourishment throughout the body.
• (2) is ascending and reduces diarrhoea.
• (3) guides the tonic herbs to the Lungs to prevent Lung deficiency following Spleen Qi deficiency.

• Coughing copious watery sputum: add Chen Pi, Ban Xia and Xing Ren
• A dusky-yellow skin colour and eyes with lethargy, nausea and hypochondriac pain: take with Si Ni San (Frigid Extremities Powder)
• Post-partum fever with spontaneous sweating: take with Dang Gui By Xue Tang (Tangkuei Decoction to Tonify the Blood)
• Diabetes mellitus: add Huang Qi, Wu Wei Zi and Ji Nei Jin

• The formula addresses Spleen Qi deficiency leading to internally-generated Dampness.
• The Spleen is responsible for transforming and transporting food and nutrients and sending them upwards and to the limbs.
• A weakened Spleen enables fluids to accumulate and transform into Dampness, leading to loose stools, diarrhoea and a white tongue coating.
• A weakened Stomach and Spleen result in a reduced appetite, weight loss and weak limbs.
• The internally generated Dampness obstructs the Qi mechanism of the middle Jiao and creates distension and a stifling sensation.
• The pale tongue and thin, moderate or deficient pulse reflect Qi deficiency, while the white coating and moderate pulse reflect Dampness.
• With the appropriate presentation, this formula may be used for chronic gastritis, chronic hepatitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic nephritis, diabetes mellitus, malabsorption syndromes, and malnutrition (especially in childhood).

Use with great caution in cases with Heat from Yin deficiency

Strengthens the Qi of the middle Jiao and raises sunken Yang

• Intermittent fever (that worsens on exertion)
• Spontaneous sweating
• An aversion to cold and a thirst for warm drinks
• Shortness of breath, slow speech
• Weak limbs
• A tendency to curl up
• A shiny, pale complexion
• Loose and watery stools
• Prolapses
• A pale tongue with a thin white coating
• A flooding, deficient pulse (which can be particularly on the right middle position)

• Huang Qi (chief) strongly augments and raises the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach.
• Dang Shen, Bai Zhu and Gan Cao (deputies) support the chief herb in strengthening Spleen Qi.
• Dang Gui (assistant) tonifies the Qi in the Blood and works with Huang Qi to nourish and invigorate Blood.
• Chen Pi (assistant) regulates Qi by aiding the digestion of the tonic herbs and by raising Qi.
• Sheng Ma and Chai Hu (envoys) assist Huang Qi in raising sunken Yang Qi.

• Abdominal pain: increase the dose of Zhi Gan Cao and add Bai Shao
• Pronounced aversion to cold: add Rou Gui
• Pronounced headache: add Man Jing Zi, and if severe add Chuan Xiong
• Headache at apex or pain inside head: add Gan Ben and if severe add Xi Xin
• Generalised pain or heaviness: take with Wu Ling San (Five-Peel Decoction) and omit Gui Zhi
• Diarrhoea due to overthinking: add Mu Xiang
• Vertigo and headache: add Chuan Xiong and Ban Xia
• Tinnitus and hearing loss: add Shan Zhu Yu and Yi Zhi Ren
• Poor sight or double vision: add Gou Qi Zi and Chuan Xiong
• Recurrent miscarriage: add Du Zhong and Tu Si Zi
• Leukorrhea: add Huang Bai and Cang Zhu
• Premenstrual diarrhoea: add Pao Jiang and Huang Lian
• Hernias: add Ju He, Xiao Hui Xiang and Li Zhi He
• Chronic rhinitis; add Cang Er Zi and Xin Yi Hua

• This formula is often used for prolapses, chronic diarrhoea, incontinence and bleeding disorders where the Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency leads to a failure to ‘hold things in place’.
• Many of the indications associated with this formula have an ‘on/off’ nature and are brought on by exertion as the relative strength of the Qi is tested.
• Spleen Qi weakness can also interfere with the organ’s ability to Control Blood, resulting in bleeding (usually chronic, occasionally acute).
• The use of the formula has been extended to vertigo, headache, visual and auditory problems, sensitivity of the back to cold and wind and acute respiratory tract infections.
• The formula is useful for treating chronic low fever, supported by two passages from the Vital Axis (Lingshu) support this: Ch.1 “For insufficiencies of the body, warm it by means of the Qi“, and Ch.74 “consumptive disorders should be warmed”.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for the aftermath of severe illness, chronic bronchitis, prolapsed uterus, prolapsed anus, gastric prolapse, recurrent miscarriage, functional uterine bleeding, leukorrhoea, post-partum problems (inc. urinary incontinence, retention of lochia, lack of lactation), chronic hepatitis, corneal ulcers, cerebral arteriosclerosis, leukopenia, chronic nephritis and myasthenia gravis.

• Contraindicated for fevers due to heat from Yin deficiency.
• Only appropriate for prolapses due to Qi deficiency.

Tonifies and raises Spleen Qi to nourish Blood and raise Yang

• Severe blood loss of pale, watery blood
• Fatigue and palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Laconic speech
• A sinking sensation in the lower abdomen
• A shiny, pale complexion
• Abdominal fullness
• Lower back pain
• A pale tongue with a thin, moist coating
• A deficient, frail and forceless pulse

• Ren Shen, Huang Qi and Bai Zhu strongly tonify Qi and Blood, strengthen the Spleen, raise the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach and generate Body Fluids.
• Sheng Ma raises sunken Yang and lifts Sunken Qi, and with Bai Zhu, is indicated for Dai Mai channel spasms manifesting as dragging sensations in the lower body, usually accompanied by vaginal discharge.
• Zhi Gan Cao tonifies Qi and regulates the other herbs in the formula.

Signs and symptoms of cold: add Rou Gui, Gan Jiang and Fu Zi

For collapse due to Qi deficiency that leads to severe blood loss and devastated Yang. This is most commonly an issue for women with excessive menstruation or uterine bleeding.

Augments the Qi, generates fluids, preserves the Yin and stops excessive sweating

• Chronic cough with sparse sputum that’s difficult to expectorate
• Shortness of breath
• Spontaneous sweating
• A dry mouth and tongue
• A pale red tongue with a thin dry coat

• Ren Shen (chief) strongly tonifies Yuan Qi, which helps generate fluids and calm the Shen. By augmenting Yuan Qi, it prevents fluid loss as the Lung Qi is able to regulate the interstices and pores.
• Mai Men Dong (deputy) nourishes Yin and moistens the Lungs, it also benefits the stomach and generates fluids, plus clears Heat from the Heart to eliminate irritability.
• Wu Wei Zi (assistant) restrains the leakage of Lung Qi (and sweat) and generates fluids, especially when combined with Men Dong.

• Substituting Dang Shen (at 2-3x the dose) of Ren Shen is standard practice when the condition is not critical
• Profuse sweating with dark, scanty urine: add Huang Qi and Dang Gui. DO NOT use herbs that leach Dampness
• Severe coughing: add Bai He and Kuan Dong Hua
• Irritability and insomnia: add Suan Zao Ren and He Huan Pi

• The formula is now also used for a variety of types of heart disease, including palpitations and coronary artery disease.
• It’s especially useful for treating palpitations with a stifling sensation in the chest, shortness of breath, seating, a dry mouth and thirst, poor sleep, pale red and dry tongue and a slow-irregular or consistently irregular pulse.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, supraventricular arrhythmias, rheumatic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and post-bypass debility.

• Contraindicated in cases with high fevers or when the pathogenic factor has not been resolved or has yet to injure fluids.