🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Qi-Strengthening Formulas
As the saying goes: “A person lives by breath.” In folk practice, checking whether someone is alive often involves feeling for breath—illustrating how vital Qi is. Indeed, Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that the three treasures of life are essence, Qi, and spirit. Qi is the fundamental source and driving force of life activities, circulating throughout the body continuously, directly affecting health and longevity. The *Huangdi Neijing* long stated: “All diseases arise from Qi,” meaning many illnesses relate to disruptions in Qi flow. Therefore, maintaining health requires attention to Qi tonification.
Qi-tonifying methods apply only to those with Qi deficiency—not for others. Qi deficiency means insufficient Qi, leading to shortness of breath with minimal exertion. Symptoms include persistent fatigue, low speech, pale complexion, poor appetite, pale tongue with white coating, tooth marks on the tongue edges, and weak pulse.
[Formula One]
One coconut. Remove outer husk and shell, extract the white flesh, cut into small pieces, eat several pieces per serving.
Coconut meat, also known as coconut pulp, is the endosperm of the palm tree *Cocos nucifera*. It is white in color, chewy like meat. Taste sweet, nature neutral. “Benefits Qi, dispels wind, prevents hunger, beautifies complexion” (*Bencao Gangmu*).
Coconut meat contains 60%–65% oil, mostly saturated fatty acids, with only small amounts of oleic and linoleic acids—distinct from most plant oils. Although saturated fats have some drawbacks, they are essential nutrients. Nutritionists recommend a balanced ratio of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats—ideally 1:1:1—for optimal health. Coconut meat also contains proteins, sucrose, glucose, and benefits skin beauty.
Caution for elderly individuals, hyperlipidemia, and obese persons.
[Formula Two]
200 grams soy milk, 59 grams glutinous rice, sugar to taste. Combine soy milk with water and rice to cook into porridge, or cook rice as usual, adding soy milk near the end, continue cooking until porridge forms, sweeten with sugar. Consume twice daily.
This formula strengthens constitution and builds physique, suitable for those who are frail, weak, or underweight.
[Formula Three]
100 grams barley, 6 grams cardamom, 50 grams lamb. Wash lamb, process into minced meat. Cook barley into soup, add minced lamb, cardamom, wine, and salt near the end, stir well, simmer over low heat until tender. Serve as a meal.
This formula warms the middle, nourishes the stomach, and strengthens the body. Suitable for those with weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, weight loss, and general weakness.
[Formula Four]
30–60 grams raw Astragalus, 2 liang glutinous rice, small amount of rock sugar, 1 gram tangerine peel powder. Prepare concentrated decoction from raw Astragalus, then cook with rice and small amount of rock sugar. When nearly done, mix in tangerine peel powder and briefly boil.
This formula strengthens primordial Qi, strengthens spleen and stomach, promotes diuresis and reduces edema. Suitable for fatigue from overwork, chronic diarrhea, spontaneous sweating due to deficiency, senile edema, chronic hepatitis, chronic nephritis, and non-healing ulcers—all conditions related to Qi and blood deficiency.
[Formula Five]
Each 6 grams of lotus seed, yam, Poria, coix seed, Job's tears, white hyacinth bean, Codonopsis, white Atractylodes; 100 grams rice; sugar to taste. Boil the first eight herbs together for 40 minutes, remove residue of Codonopsis and white Atractylodes, add cleaned rice, continue cooking until porridge is soft. Divide and serve with sugar added, consume for several days.
This formula strengthens spleen, boosts Qi, warms yang, and removes dampness. Suitable for physical weakness, edema, and diarrhea.
[Formula Six]
30 grams dried yam, 30 grams white Atractylodes, 3 grams ginseng, 500 grams flour. Grind yam, white Atractylodes, and ginseng into fine powder. Mix with flour, add water to knead into dough, roll thin, cut into slices, and cook.
This formula strengthens Qi and invigorates the spleen. Suitable for spleen and stomach weakness, poor appetite, loose stools, and fatigue.
Originated from *Shengji Zonglu*, originally named “Shanyu Wan,” used for “weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite.” A classic formula for strengthening Qi and spleen. Weak spleen and stomach impair digestion and transformation, leading to poor appetite, loose stools, and fatigue. Treatment should strengthen Qi and spleen. The formula uses yam as the main ingredient to strengthen Qi and spleen; white Atractylodes and ginseng as auxiliary ingredients to strengthen Qi and spleen, ginseng greatly replenishes central Qi, and flour nourishes the gastrointestinal tract. Combined, these enhance Qi-strengthening and spleen-invigorating effects. This formula has strong Qi-tonifying power and can also be used for primordial Qi deficiency.
Not suitable for those with external pathogenic factors or real-heat syndromes.
[Formula Seven]
10 grams water-soaked bird’s nest, 40 grams water-soaked bamboo fungus, 150 grams chicken thigh meat, 100 grams water-soaked shiitake mushrooms, 10 grams ham strips, seasonings including salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, white pepper powder, cornstarch, ginger juice, lard, cooking wine, and clear broth, all in appropriate amounts. Cut chicken and mushrooms into strips. Blanch bamboo fungus and shiitake mushrooms, then drain. Heat lard in a wok, add ginger juice, cooking wine, and broth, briefly blanch bird’s nest, then add bamboo fungus, shiitake mushrooms, and chicken, simmer until chicken is cooked, transfer to bowl, add ham strips and bird’s nest. Heat another wok, add clear broth, lard, monosodium glutamate, sugar, white pepper powder, bring to boil, thicken with cornstarch slurry, pour over the dish.
This dish combines bamboo fungus, bird’s nest, chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and ham. Bamboo fungus, also known as bamboo ginseng or bamboo singing, is a world-renowned precious edible fungus, hailed as the “King of Mountain Delicacies” and “Queen of Fungi.” Its pure white, tender texture offers exquisite flavor and high nutritional value. Analysis shows it contains 20.1% crude protein, 2.6% crude fat, 38.1% carbohydrates, and various amino acids—especially glutamic acid, which reaches 1.76%. Thus, it is not only nutritious but also excellent as a seasoning. Historically, bamboo fungus was reserved for elite gifts and appeared only in imperial banquets. It possesses functions to strengthen Qi and nourish kidneys, relieve pain and cough, prevent decay, detoxify, reduce abdominal fat accumulation, and benefit hypertension and high cholesterol patients. Paired with bird’s nest, which greatly replenishes Qi and nourishes lungs and kidneys; ham, which strengthens spleen and nourishes kidneys; chicken threads, which enrich blood and Qi; and shiitake mushrooms, which open the appetite and resolve phlegm—the dish effectively strengthens primordial Qi, nourishes lungs and kidneys, opens the appetite, and strengthens the spleen. Particularly beneficial for those with weakness and wasting diseases. The dish is delicious and widely loved.
[Formula Eight]
250 grams yellow mutton, 50 grams Codonopsis, seasonings including salt, monosodium glutamate, cooking wine, ginger threads, lard, and meat broth, all in appropriate amounts. Clean and cut mutton into slices. Soak and clean Codonopsis, then slice. Heat lard, ginger threads, cooking wine, monosodium glutamate, salt, and broth in a pot, bring to boil, add mutton and Codonopsis, simmer until tender, season and serve.
Yellow mutton strengthens central Qi and is commonly used for fatigue and cold deficiency. Codonopsis enriches blood and strengthens lungs, replenishes central Qi. Together, they significantly enhance Qi-tonifying effects. Suitable for poor appetite, reduced food intake, and emaciation due to spleen and stomach weakness. Healthy individuals consuming it can strengthen spleen and stomach.
[Formula Nine]
1000 grams water-soaked shark fin, 50 grams cooked ham, 25 grams scallions, 25 grams pea shoots, cooking wine, salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, white pepper powder, green onions, ginger, lard, and clear broth, all in appropriate amounts. Cut cooked ham into 3 cm strips, pick pea shoots (keep tips), chop green onions, slice ginger, and lightly crush them. Drain the original liquid from the shark fin, blanch once with boiling water, return to bowl, place green onion segments and ginger slices on top, pour in clear broth, add cooking wine and salt, steam in a steamer for 20 minutes. Remove and discard the broth, remove ginger and green onions. In another pan, heat lard, fry green onions and ginger until fragrant, add clear broth, then place the steamed shark fin, add salt, sugar, cooking wine, bring to boil, reduce heat and stew until tender. Meanwhile, in a separate pot, heat clear broth, add cooking wine and salt, bring to boil, adjust flavor with monosodium glutamate, pour the stewed shark fin into a large bowl, add ham strips, pea shoots, chopped scallions, and white pepper powder.
Shark fin is a prized seafood delicacy. It contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, and amino acids—considered a top-tier dish. According to TCM, it is sweet and neutral in nature, entering the spleen and stomach meridians. It strengthens Qi, nourishes the stomach, supplements the five zang organs, benefits the kidneys, and strengthens tendons and bones. Used to treat post-illness weakness and aging, it also enhances physical strength.
[Formula Ten]
10 grams green onions, 4 pig hooves. Salt and monosodium glutamate to taste. Clean and pluck hair from pig hooves, wash, score the surface with a knife, place in a pot, add green onions, salt, and sufficient water. Boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until tender. Eat meat and drink soup.
This dish strengthens Qi and reduces swelling. Suitable for blood deficiency causing limb pain, edema, and abscesses.
[Formula Eleven]
2 old ducks, 1 pair of pig hooves, 1 green onion, 1 piece ginger, a little Sichuan pepper, cooking wine, salt, all in appropriate amounts. Kill the duck, scald with hot water to remove feathers, gut and clean, cut into small pieces, blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain, rinse, and set aside. Scrape off hair and dirt from pig hooves, wash, split into two pieces. Slice ginger, cut green onion into long segments. Place sufficient water in a clay pot, add duck and pig hooves, bring to boil over high heat, skim off foam, then add ginger slices, green onion segments, cooking wine, Sichuan pepper, reduce heat to low, stew for about 2 hours until meat falls off bones. Add salt, stew a few more minutes, then turn off heat and serve in portions.
Strengthens Qi, builds physique, strengthens spleen and opens appetite. Suitable for weak bodies, post-illness weakness, and insufficient lactation after childbirth.
[Formula Twelve]
30 grams tortoise shell, 1 pigeon, cooking wine, salt, monosodium glutamate, white pepper powder, all in appropriate amounts. Remove feathers and internal organs from pigeon, wash thoroughly. Crush tortoise shell and place inside the pigeon’s cavity, add sufficient water, cooking wine, white pepper powder, salt. Place in a clay jar and steam until tender. Season with monosodium glutamate, serve in a soup bowl.
Tortoise shell tastes salty, nature neutral. It nourishes yin, calms yang, softens hardness, and disperses nodules. *Yilin Zuanyao* says: “Treats chronic malaria, old malaria, menstrual blockage in women, and convulsions in children.” *Bencao Yanyi Bu Yi* says: “Nourishes yin and strengthens Qi.” It is a commonly used herb for nourishing yin and softening hard masses. Pigeon meat nourishes the kidneys and strengthens Qi. *Bencao Fengyuan* says: “Beneficial for those long weakened by illness.” *Sichuan Chinese Herbal Classic* records: “Treats female blood deficiency, amenorrhea.” Combined, these two ingredients nourish the kidneys and strengthen Qi, soften nodules, and unblock channels. Suitable for women with amenorrhea due to physical weakness. Also beneficial for those with kidney and Qi deficiency, and general frailty.
Avoid for those with weak spleen and stomach yang, poor appetite, loose stools, and pregnant women.
[Formula Thirteen]
250 grams lamb, 250 grams milk, 20 grams ginger, 100 grams yam. Wash lamb, cut into small pieces. Wash ginger, slice. Put lamb and ginger in a clay pot, add sufficient water, simmer gently for 7–8 hours, stir until smooth. In another clay pot, pour one bowl of lamb broth, add sliced yam (washed and sliced), cook until soft, then add milk, bring to boil.
Rich milk aroma, bright color. Warms the middle, treats deficiency, nourishes essence and strengthens Qi. Suitable for cold limbs, fatigue, and shortness of breath after illness or childbirth.
Milk contains abundant calcium, magnesium, iron, and other minerals. It may react chemically with certain organic alkaloids like tetracycline drugs, reducing their efficacy. Therefore, avoid eating other foods while consuming this formula.
[Formula Fourteen]
250 grams beef, 10 jujubes, salt and monosodium glutamate in small amounts. Cut beef into small pieces, stew with jujubes over low heat until tender.
Strengthens central Qi, supports muscle growth, promotes wound healing.
[Formula Fifteen]
5 grams vinegar-fried Schisandra, 10 grams goji berries, sugar to taste. Place Schisandra and crushed goji berries in a porcelain cup, pour boiling water over, steep for a moment, then add sugar.
Drink warm and frequently, refill with boiling water as needed until flavor fades. Regular consumption strengthens Qi and nourishes kidneys. Suitable for fatigue, weakness, spontaneous sweating, and lower back/knee pain due to kidney Qi deficiency; also useful as a tonic for health preservation.
This formula originates from *She Sheng Zhong Miao Fang*. The name was added later; originally used to treat “summer deficiency syndrome,” it is commonly used for spleen weakness or Qi-Yin deficiency. Schisandra is primarily sour, warm but not drying, consolidates Qi and nourishes Yin. Goji berries are sweet and neutral, nourish kidney Yin and assist kidney Yang. Suitable for both healthy individuals and those with various deficiencies. The commentary notes suitability for “summer deficiency,” indicating particular effectiveness for symptoms of Qi and Yin depletion.
<Blood Tonification>