Qi tonics
Bu zhong yi qi tang
Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction
- Chinese name
- 补中益气汤
- Group
- Qi tonics
- English name
- Ginseng and Astragalus Combination
- Basic formula
- ✓
Strengthens the qi of spleen and stomach, lifts the yang and detoxifies.
Indications
For chronic fatigue and weakness in which a low fever or inflammations appear after exertion or stress: aversion to cold, poor appetite, a preference for warm food and drink, general tiredness, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, slow speech, a tendency to curl up, thirst and loose stools. Also for prolapse and bleeding of internal organs from weakness.
Ingredients
| Ingredients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Huang qi (astragalus) | 6–15 g |
| Ginseng (ren shen) | 6–9 g |
| Bai zhu (white atractylodes) | 9–12 g |
| Licorice root (gan cao) | 3–6 g |
| Dang gui (Chinese angelica) | 6–9 g |
| Sheng ma (cimicifuga) | 3–6 g |
| Chai hu (bupleurum) | 6–9 g |
| Tangerine peel (chen pi) | 3–6 g |
- Tongue
- pale, with tooth marks on the edges
- Pulse
- thin and weak
Note
Traditionally regarded as the highest tonic of Chinese herbal medicine. In exhaustion the yang of the middle and upper body sinks into the lower body; chai hu and sheng ma lift it up again. The book gives ginseng, huang qi and bai zhu as emperors, dang gui as minister, sheng ma and chai hu as assistants and licorice, tangerine peel, ginger and jujube as servants.