🌿 Folk Prescriptions

1. Qi-Tonifying Herbs
Many commonly used herbs have Qi-tonifying effects. Here are several key ones:
① Ginseng
This is one of the most important and valuable Qi-tonifying herbs. It has a sweet and slightly bitter taste, slightly warm nature. Its functions include greatly replenishing primordial Qi, enhancing intelligence and calming the spirit—ideal for health tonics.
Research confirms ginseng promotes cell development and increases cell division frequency. American scholar Heflick believes human cells typically divide about 50 times before stopping, with each division taking approximately 2.4 years. Reaching 50 divisions could extend lifespan to 120 years. Since ginseng greatly replenishes Qi, it is widely used for symptoms like weak breathing, cold extremities, weak pulse, low blood pressure—conditions associated with shock.
Additionally, ginseng strengthens the body and resists aging, suitable for long-term illness with weakened constitution, palpitations, spontaneous sweating, cold limbs, shortness of breath, collapse, heart failure, and neurasthenia.
Modern research shows ginseng contains multiple saponins, volatile oils, polysaccharides, vitamins B1, B2, C, etc. It has excellent regulatory effects on the nervous system, acts like sex hormones, strengthens the heart, lowers blood glucose, enhances hematopoietic function, boosts adrenal cortex activity, improves adaptability to external environments, and enhances immunity. Additionally, ginseng promotes protein synthesis and inhibits high cholesterol, aiding recovery from chronic diseases.
For stewed use, dosage is generally 3–9 grams; simmer slowly for over one hour to extract active components and ensure efficacy. For swallowing, dry ginseng, grind into fine powder, take 1–2 grams per dose. For wine soaking, chop ginseng, soak in good rice wine, typically ready after one month, take 2 tablespoons twice daily.
② Astragalus
Astragalus is the dried root of a leguminous plant. Best quality features yellowish-white flesh, firm texture, easily broken, abundant powder, sweet taste, no black or hollow centers.
Astragalus is slightly warm, sweet in flavor. Functions include tonifying Qi, lifting Yang, reinforcing the exterior, expelling toxins, promoting tissue regeneration, and reducing edema. Used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, blood obstruction, edema, non-healing sores, internal injury from overwork, spleen deficiency diarrhea, rectal prolapse, and all conditions involving Qi deficiency and blood insufficiency.
Astragalus contains carbohydrates, folic acid, and various amino acids. It excites the central nervous system, improving mental alertness and combating fatigue. It enhances immunity and resistance to illness, effectively preventing Qi deficiency, colds, and infections. It also has cardiotonic, diuretic, and blood pressure-lowering effects. Contains trace element selenium, which is a natural enemy of cancer, thus giving astragalus anti-cancer properties.
For decoction, use 9–30 grams per dose; avoid in cases of high fever, intense thirst, constipation—indicative of real heat conditions.
③ American Ginseng
American ginseng, also known as "flower flag ginseng," mainly produced in the U.S. and Canada. Cultivated varieties in China are called "seed ginseng." The root is used medicinally, a precious herb ideal for cooling tonification. Suitable for those who wish to use ginseng but cannot tolerate its warmth.
American ginseng has a sweet, slightly bitter taste. Functions include tonifying Qi and nourishing Yin, clearing heat, and generating body fluids. Used for lung deficiency with chronic cough, prolonged cough, wheezing, hemoptysis, pulmonary atrophy with hoarseness. Taking 1–3 grams daily, decocted and used as tea, provides throat moisturization and voice improvement—commonly consumed by opera and singing performers for vocal health. Also beneficial for athletes, effective for fatigue, dry mouth, and profuse sweating after intense exercise.
When using, grind into fine powder, take 1–1.5 grams per dose with warm water. Can also be decocted alone, 1.5–3 grams per dose. Store properly to prevent mold and insect infestation—dry and seal, or keep in cool, dry place.
Contraindicated with Ligusticum wallichii (Líwú). Avoid in cases of deficiency-cold constitution.
④ Codonopsis
Codonopsis is the root of a perennial herb from the Campanulaceae family. The best quality comes from Lü County, Shanxi Province. Contains inulin, alkaloids, saponins, vitamins B1 and B2. It stimulates the central nervous system, enhances mental clarity, relieves fatigue, increases red blood cells and hemoglobin, and boosts immunity. Additionally, it can elevate blood cell counts reduced by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
It is neutral in nature, sweet in taste. Functions include tonifying the center, strengthening Qi, generating body fluids, and nourishing blood. Commonly used for fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, palpitations due to Qi deficiency; dry mouth due to combined Qi and fluid deficiency; pale complexion, dizziness due to dual Qi and blood deficiency; post-illness weakness, malnutrition.
For wine soaking: Chop codonopsis, soak in one jin of rice wine or white liquor, after one month, take 2–3 tablespoons, three times daily.
For decoction: 9–15 grams per dose, oral administration.
Contradicted with Ligusticum wallichii; do not use together.
⑤ Prince's Ginseng
Prince's ginseng is the tuberous root of a perennial herb from the Caryophyllaceae family, also known as "child ginseng." A superb mild tonic. Contains fructose, starch, saponins, various amino acids, and vitamins. Has tonic effects and enhances immune function.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it neutral in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste. Functions include tonifying lung and spleen, strengthening Qi, generating body fluids. Used for poor appetite, fatigue in children due to spleen deficiency; lung deficiency cough, spontaneous sweating, palpitations; dry mouth due to insufficient body fluids; post-illness deficiency of both Qi and Yin.
Dosage: 9–30 grams. Prevent mold—store in dry, ventilated area or dry and seal.
⑥ White Atractylodes
White Atractylodes is the rhizome of a perennial herb from the Compositae family. Zhejiang-produced white atractylodes is the best, a primary herb for strengthening spleen and Qi. Contains volatile oil, mainly composed of atractylodin and atractylon. Contains vitamin A-like substances, protective to liver, lowers blood glucose, enhances physical strength. Promotes secretion of gastrointestinal juices, enhances digestive function. Has significant and lasting diuretic effect and increases blood cell count.
TCM views it as warm in nature, sweet and bitter in taste. Functions include tonifying Qi and strengthening spleen, drying dampness, promoting urination, stopping sweating, stabilizing pregnancy. Used for poor appetite, loose stools due to spleen Qi deficiency; fatigue, lack of energy, spontaneous sweating; spleen deficiency leading to impaired transformation and transportation, retention of dampness causing phlegm, edema; pregnancy-related spleen deficiency and Qi weakness, fetal instability, foot swelling.
Dosage: 5–15 grams. Avoid in cases of Yin deficiency with internal heat, fluid depletion, smooth tongue coating, dry lips and mouth.
⑦ Licorice
Licorice is the root and rhizome of a perennial leguminous plant. Best quality has firm, heavy texture, fine, tight skin with grooves, yellowish-white cross-section, abundant powder, sweet taste, few fibers when chewed. Contains glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizin, iso-glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizin glycoside, iso-glycyrrhizin glycoside. Animal studies confirm glycyrrhizin has adrenal corticosteroid-like effects, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic actions. Also possesses antitussive, analgesic, and anticonvulsant properties.
TCM considers it neutral in nature, sweet in taste. Functions include tonifying spleen and harmonizing the center, relieving urgent pain, moistening lungs and stopping cough, detoxifying, harmonizing other herbs. Used for spleen-stomach weakness, epigastric pain, cough, palpitations, carbuncles, abscesses, poisoning.
Dosage: 1.5–9 grams. Do not combine with Euphorbia, Flos Genkwa, Gansui, or Sea Algae.
[Tonify Qi]