Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Formula for Strengthening Qi
                        
                                      
                   7.1. Herbal Formula  for Strengthening Qi

Herbal formulae for strengthening qi are used for qi deficiency syndrome of the spleen and lung. Qi is the nutritive
substance to make up the human body, and is also motive power for functional activities of organs and tissues. It is
mainly from external qi inhaled by the lung from the nature, and the essence of drink and food transformed by the
spleen. The spleen dominates transportation and transformation and is considered to be the foundation of acquired
constitution and the source for growth and transformation of qi and blood. The lung dominates qi and controls
respiration and all vessels meet in the lung. Deficiency of spleen qi leads to failure in transporting function, and there may
appear poor appetite, loose stools, lassitude, etc. Sinking of the middle qi may cause chronic diarrhea, prolapse of
rectum, etc. or visceroptosis. Deficiency of lung qi may create shortness of breath, feeble speech, low voice,
asthma on exertion, spontaneous sweating, weak pulse, etc. Therapy of strengthening qi is indicated, particularly,
tonifying the spleen and lung. Sweet and warm property herbs are commonly used such as Hong Shen (ginseng), Dang
She( pilose asiabell root), Ge Jie (gecko), Huang Qi (astragalus root) and Bai Zhu (bighead atractylodes rhizome), etc.
If deficiency of spleen qi is accompanied by retention of water and dampness, in addition to these herbs Fu Ling (poria),
Yi Yi Ren (coix seed) and Bai Bian Dou (white hyacinth bean) for invigorating the spleen and resolving dampness are
combined. Accumulation of dampness turning into phlegm leads to distention and fullness in the chest, in addition to
these herbs Chen Pi (tangerine peel), Ban Xia (pinelli a tuber), etc. to regulate qi and resolve phlegm are combined. Qi
deficiency with sinking syndrome should be added into these herbs: Sheng Ma (cimicifuga rhizome), Chai Hu
(bupleurum root), and the likes are used concomitantly to replenish qi and raise yang. If syndrome of qi deficiency is
accompanied by symptoms of yang deficiency, herbs for warming and eliminating cold should be added, such as Rou
Gui (cinnamon bark), and Gan Jiang (dry ginger), etc. Deficiency syndrome of both qi and yin should be treated by
herbs for invigorating qi and nourishing yin, such as Mai Dong (ophiopogon root), and Wu Wei Zi (schisandra fruit), etc.
If deficiency syndrome is accompanied by stagnation of qi, herbs for regulating qi and harmonizing the stomach should
be added, such as Mu Xiang (aucklandia root), Sha Ren (amomum fruit), and Kou Ren (round cardamon seed), etc.
The repersentative of formulae of tonifying qi are Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
(Powder of Ginseng, Poria and Bighead Atractylodes),Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang ( Middle-Reinforcing and Qi-Benefiting
Decoction),Sheng Mai San ( Pulse-Activating Powder), and Ren Shen Ge Jie San (Ginseng and Gecko Powder), etc.