Traditional Tonic Herbs
Tonic Herb Formulas

Tonic herbs are used in Chinese medicine to increase the function of organs that are not operating at their highest level. They are also used to prevent a decline in the function of organs. Tonic herbs may be used to increase awareness of energetic, psychological and spiritual states in human beings.

Tonic herbs are used in either single herb or multiple herb form, and can be taken as pills, powders, decoctions, drafts, extracts, syrups or soups. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, tonic herbs are used to address deficiency in either the Qi, Blood, Yin or Yang functions. These functions are associated with organs and specific physiological processes.

Qi is associated with the Spleen and Lung.
Blood is associated with the Liver, Spleen and Heart.
Yang is associated with the Kidneys.
Yin is associated with the Liver and Kidneys.
The Qi is the activating component of the body's metabolism.
Blood is the nourishing and structural component.
Yang is the activating force of the Qi .
Yin is the fluid and moistening influence.

All of these functions must be in harmony for the physical, energetic, emotional and spiritual aspects of human beings to be healthy and balanced. Any imbalance results in symptoms of some type.

Cautions for taking tonic herbs:

Do not take tonic herbs in any acute illness or if extremely weak.
Side effects: dry mouth and lips, irritability, insomnia, indigestion and abdominal distension, nausea, loss of appetite.

Traditional Tonic Herbs

Rx.Ginseng - Ren Shen

Tonifies the base qi, the lungs, the spleen and stomach, generates fluids, benefits the heart and calms the spirit.

Kinds of Rx.Ginseng:

• Wild mountain root - ye shan shen - shan shen - ji lin shan shen.
• Cultivated ginseng.
• White root - bai shen - tang shen - sugar root - qi and yin deficiency.
• Fresh dried root - sheng shai shen - nourishes the yin.
• Red root - cured by steaming - hong shen - warmer.
• Korean red - gao li shen - stronger, more warming than Chinese.
• Rx. Panacis quinquefoli - American ginseng - xi yang shen - benefits the qi, nourishes the yin, lung yin.
• Cx. Acanthopanacis - Siberian ginseng - wu jia pi - adaptogen, dispels wind-dampness, relieves qi-blood obstruction, motor development in infants.
• Rx. Codonopsitis - dang shen - poor man`s ginseng - tonifies digestion - spleen, lungs, nourishes fluids.
• Rx. Pseudostellariae - tai zi shen - prince ginseng - strengthens digestion - spleen, generates fluids.

Other Tonic Herbs

• Rx. Astragali - huang qi - tonifies digestion - spleen, raises yang qi of the spleen, stabilizes, strengthens the protective qi - immunity of surface, tonifies qi and blood, promotes urination and reduces edema, promotes discharge of pus and generates tissue formation
• Cx. Cinamomi - rou gui - cinnamon bark - warms the kidneys, fortifies the yang, disperses deep cold, warms and unblocks the channels, encourages the generation of qi and blood.
• Rz. Atractylodes - bai zhu - tonifies the spleen and augments the qi, dries dampness, stabilizes the protective qi, calms the fetus.
• Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae - da zao - red dates - tonifies the spleen and augments the qi, nourishes the blood and calms the spirit, moderates and harmonizes other herbs
• Rx. Glcyrrhiziae - gan cao - Chinese licorice root - tonifies digestion - spleen, moistens the lungs and stops coughing and wheezing, clears heat and relieves fire toxicity, moderates spasms and alleviates pain in the abdomen and legs, harmonizes other herbs in formulas.
• Rx. Rehmanniae - shu di huang - wine cooked - tonifies the blood, nourishes the yin, tonifies essence.
• Rx. Polygoni multiflori - he shou wu - fo ti teng - tonifies liver and kidneys, nourishes the blood, augments the essence, stops leakage, relieves fire toxicity, moistens the intestines, unblocks the bowels.
• Rx. Angelicae sinensis - dang gui - tang kwei - tonifies the blood, regulates the menses, invigorates and harmonizes the blood, disperses cold, stops blood stasis pain, moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels, reduces swelling, expels flesh, generates tissue and relieves pain.
• Fructus Lycii - gou qi zi - nourishes the Liver and Kidneys, benefits the essence and brightens the eyes, enriches the Yin and moistens the Lungs.
• Cornu Cervi parvum - lu rong - young deer horn - velvet - pantocrine - tonifies kidney yang, tonifies the governing vessel, augments essence and blood, regulates the penetrating and conception vessel, tonifies and nourishes the qi and the blood, chronic ulcerations.
• Cornu Cervi - lu jiao - mature deer antler - weaker Gelatinum Cornu Cervi - deer horn glue - gel - cheaper and weaker.
• Cordyceps sinensis - dong chong xia cao - Chinese caterpillar fungus - augments the kidneys, tonifies the yang, tonifies lung yin.
• Herba Epimedii - yin yang huo - tonifies the kidneys, fortifies the yang, expels wind - damp, tonifies the yin and restrains liver yang.
• Rx. Glehniae - sha shen - moistens the lungs, stops cough, nourishes the stomach, generates fluids, moistens the exterior - skin.
• Tuber Ophiopogonis - mai men dong - moistens the lungs and stops cough, augments the stomach yin, generates fluids, clears the heart and eliminates irritability, moistens the Intestines.
• Plastrum Testudinis - gui ban - fresh water turtle shell (ventral aspect) - nourishes the yin, anchors the yang, benefits the kidneys, strengthens the bones, cools the blood, stops uterine bleeding, nourishes the blood and tonifies the heart, non-healing sores and ulcerations.
• Fructus Momordicae - luo han guo - moistens and cools the lungs, dissipates phlegm nodules.

Tonic Herb Formulas

Tonify the Qi
Four gentlemen decoction - Si Jun Zi Tang Rx.

• Ginseng - ren shen .....................................3-9 g
• Rz. Atractylodes - bai zhu ................................6-9 g
• Scelerotium Poria Cocos - fu ling ......................6-9 g
• Honey fried Rx. Glycyrrhiziae - gan cao ...........3-6 g

for fatigue, reduced appetite, weakness.

Tonify the Blood
Four substance decoction - Si Wu Tang Rx.

• Rehmanniae - shu di huang ........................9-21 g
• Rx. Paeonia - bai shao ....................................9-15 g
• Rx. Angelicae Sinensis - dang gui ....................9-12 g
• Rx. Ligustici Chuanxiong - chuan xiong ............3-6 g

for fatigue, weakness, pale face, dry hair, splitting nails.

Tonify the Yang
Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet - Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan Rx.

• Rehmanniae - shu di huang ........................24 g
• Fructus Corni - shan zhu yu .............................12 g
• Rx. Dioscoreae - shan yao ..............................12 g
• Rx. Lateralis Aconiti - fu zi ..............................3 g
• Rm. Cinnamomi - gui zhi .................................3 g
• Rz. Alismatis - ze xie ......................................9 g
• Scler. Poria Cocos - fu ling ..............................9 g
• Cx. Moutan - mu dan pi ..................................9 g

for cold hands and feet, low sex drive, weakness, low back ache.

Tonify the Yin
Six Ingredient Pill with Rehamanniae - Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

• Rx. Rehmanniae - shu di huang ........................24 g
• Fructos Corni - shan zhu yu .............................12 g
• Rx. Dioscoreae - shan yao ...............................12 g
• Scler. Poria Cocos - fu ling ...............................9 g
• Cx. Moutan - mu dan pi ..................................9 g Rz.
• Alismatis - ze xie .......................................9 g

for hot palms and feet, dry throat, heat sensations, night sweats, low back and knees ache.