Bǔ Zhōng Yì Qì Tāng
Bǔ Zhōng Yì Qì Tāng (补中益气汤, “Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction”) comes from Pi Wei Lun - Li Dongyuan (1249 CE). Tones the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, raises the sunken Yang.
Main action
Tones the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, raises the sunken Yang
Created by Li Dongyuan (Li Gao), founder of the 'Earth-Spleen' school. His concept of 'internal deficiency fever' was revolutionary in TCM.
Indications
- Organ prolapse
- extreme fatigue
- deficiency fever
- chronic diarrhea
- Spontaneous sweating
- Tongue
- Pale, white coating
- Pulse
- Empty, big and without force
Composition
| Herb | Role | Dose | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huáng Qí 黄芪 | Emperor (君 jūn) | 15g | Tonifies defensive Qi, elevates Yang |
| Rén Shēn 人参 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Tonifies the primordial Qi |
| Bái Zhú 白术 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Tones spleen, eliminates moisture |
| Zhì Gān Cǎo 炙甘草 | Minister (臣 chén) | 9g | Tonifies Spleen Qi |
| Dāng Guī 当归 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 6g | Nourishes the Blood, harmonizes nutrition |
| Chén Pí 陈皮 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 6g | Regulates Qi, prevents stagnation |
| Shēng Má 升麻 | Envoy (使 shǐ) | 3g | Raises the Yang of the Spleen and Stomach |
| Chái Hú 柴胡 | Envoy (使 shǐ) | 3g | Raises the Yang of the Liver and Gallbladder |
The emperor–minister–assistant–envoy hierarchy (君臣佐使) describes the role of each herb in the formula.
Preparation
Decoction: boil 30 min, take 2 times/day. Also available in pill (wan)
Classical modifications
Add: Yi Mu Cao (益母草) 12g
Add: Tu Si Zi (菟丝子) 9g, Sang Ji Sheng (桑寄生) 12g
Current uses being studied
- Uterine prolapse
- rectal prolapse
- Myasthenia gravis
- Chronic fatigue
- aplastic anemia
Precautions
- Do not use if there is real heat or fullness
- Avoid Yin deficiency with empty heat
Formulas must be prescribed by qualified professionals; they can interact with medications.
Profile
- Chinese name
- 补中益气汤
- English name
- Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction
- Source
- Pi Wei Lun - Li Dongyuan (1249 CE)
- Dynasty
- Jin-Yuan
- Category
- Tonify Qi
- Constitutions
- Qi Deficiency Constitution
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
