🌿 Folk Prescriptions

1. Numerous herbs are commonly used for tonifying qi. Here are several representative ones:① Ginseng—One of the most important and valuable qi-tonifying herbs. It has a sweet and slightly bitter taste, warm nature, and functions to greatly replenish vital energy, enhance mental clarity, and calm the spirit. It is an excellent tonic for health preservation. Research confirms that ginseng promotes cell development and increases cell division frequency. According to American scholar Heffley, human cells typically divide about 50 times before stopping, with each division taking approximately 2.4 years. If this limit is reached, one could live up to 120 years. Because ginseng strongly tonifies vital energy, it is often used for symptoms such as weak breathing, cold extremities, weak pulse, and low blood pressure associated with shock.
Additionally, due to its strengthening effect, ginseng resists aging and is suitable for long-term illness with physical weakness, palpitations, spontaneous sweating, cold limbs, shortness of breath, collapse, heart failure, and neurasthenia.
Modern research shows ginseng contains various saponins, volatile oils, polysaccharides, vitamins B1, B2, C, etc. It has a regulatory effect on the nervous system, exhibits estrogen-like activity, enhances cardiac function, reduces blood glucose levels, boosts hematopoietic function, strengthens adrenal cortex function, improves adaptability to external environments, and enhances immune function.
Moreover, ginseng promotes protein synthesis and inhibits hypercholesterolemia, aiding recovery from chronic diseases.
If stewed, dosage is generally 3–9 grams; stew slowly for over 1 hour to fully extract active components and ensure efficacy.
If swallowed, dry ginseng, grind into fine powder, take 1–2 grams per dose.
If soaked in wine, cut ginseng into pieces, soak in good rice wine; after about 1 month, drink 2 tablespoons twice daily.
② Astragalus—The dried root of a leguminous plant. High-quality Astragalus has yellowish-white flesh, firm texture easily broken, abundant powder, sweet taste, no black or hollow center. It has a mild warm nature and sweet taste, functioning to tonify qi, lift yang, strengthen the exterior, expel toxins, promote tissue regeneration, and eliminate dampness and edema. Used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, blood stagnation, 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 resistance to fatigue. It enhances immune function and disease resistance, effectively preventing qi deficiency, colds, and infections. It also has cardiotonic, diuretic, and antihypertensive effects. Containing trace element selenium—a known enemy of cancer—Astragalus has anti-cancer properties.
For decoction, use 9–30 grams per dose; contraindicated in cases of high fever, intense thirst, constipation, and other real-heat syndromes.
③ American Ginseng—Also known as "Guangqi," primarily produced in the United States and Canada. Cultivated varieties in China are called "seed ginseng." The root is used medicinally and is a precious herb, ideal for clear tonification and health preservation. Suitable for those who desire the benefits of ginseng but cannot tolerate its warming nature.
American ginseng has a sweet and slightly bitter taste, functions to tonify qi and nourish yin, clear heat, and generate body fluids. Used for lung deficiency with chronic cough, prolonged cough, asthma, hemoptysis, pulmonary atrophy with hoarseness, etc.
Take 1–3 grams, decoct and drink like tea. It has a moistening effect on the throat and improves vocal quality—commonly used by opera and singing performers for voice care.
It is also an excellent tonic for athletes, beneficial for fatigue, dry mouth, thirst, and profuse sweating after intense exercise.
Can be ground into fine powder, 1–1.5 grams per dose, taken 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 tightly, or keep in a cool, dry place.
Contraindicated with Ligustrum; not recommended for individuals with cold deficiency.
④ Codonopsis—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, B2, etc. It stimulates the central nervous system, enhancing mental alertness and reducing fatigue. Increases red blood cells and hemoglobin levels, and boosts immunity. Additionally, it can elevate blood cell counts reduced by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
It has a neutral nature and sweet taste, functions to tonify the middle energizer and boost qi, generate body fluids, and nourish blood. Commonly used for fatigue due to qi deficiency, shortness of breath, palpitations, poor appetite, loose stools, thirst due to qi and fluid deficiency, and symptoms of both qi and blood deficiency such as pallor, dizziness, post-illness weakness, and malnutrition.
If soaked in wine, cut Codonopsis into pieces, soak in 1 jin of rice wine or baijiu, consume after 1 month, 2–3 tablespoons twice daily.
If decocted, use 9–15 grams per dose, orally.
Contraindicated with Ligustrum; should not be used together.
⑤ Prince's Ginseng—The tuberous root of a perennial herb from the Caryophyllaceae family, also known as "Child Ginseng." A highly effective mild tonic. Contains fructose, starch, saponins, various amino acids, and vitamins. Has a strengthening effect and enhances immune function.
Traditional Chinese medicine considers it neutral in nature, sweet and slightly bitter, functions to tonify the lungs and spleen, boost qi, and generate body fluids. Used for poor appetite, fatigue, and underweight children due to spleen deficiency; lung deficiency with cough, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, and thirst due to insufficient body fluids; and post-illness deficiency of both qi and yin.
Dosage: 9–30 grams; must be kept dry and ventilated, or dried and sealed for storage.
⑥ White Atractylodes—The rhizome of a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family. Zhejiang-produced White Atractylodes is considered superior and is a primary herb for strengthening the spleen and tonifying qi. Contains essential oil, mainly composed of atractylodin and atractylon, and vitamin A-like substances. It protects the liver, lowers blood glucose, and enhances physical strength. Promotes secretion of gastric and intestinal fluids, improving digestive function. Exhibits significant and lasting diuretic effects and increases blood cell count.
TCM views it as warm in nature, sweet and bitter in taste, functions to tonify qi and strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, promote urination, stop sweating, and stabilize pregnancy. Used for poor appetite and loose stools due to spleen qi deficiency, fatigue, lack of energy, spontaneous sweating; dampness retention due to impaired spleen transformation and transportation causing phlegm, edema; pregnancy-related spleen deficiency and qi weakness with fetal instability and foot swelling.
Dosage: 5–15 grams. Not suitable for individuals with yin deficiency and internal heat, fluid depletion, smooth tongue coating, dry lips, and dry mouth.
⑦ Licorice—The root and rhizome of a perennial leguminous herb. High-quality licorice is heavy, solid, with fine tight skin and grooves, cross-section yellowish-white, abundant powder, sweet taste, few fibers when chewed. Contains glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizin, isoliquiritin, glycyrrhizin glycoside, isoliquiritin glycoside, etc. Animal studies confirm that glycyrrhizin has adrenal corticosteroid-like effects, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic actions. Also possesses expectorant, analgesic, and anticonvulsant effects.
TCM considers it neutral in nature, sweet in taste, functions to tonify the spleen and harmonize the middle energizer, relieve urgency and pain, moisten the lungs and stop coughing, detoxify, and harmonize other herbs. Used for spleen and stomach weakness, epigastric pain, cough, palpitations, abscesses, poisoning, etc.
Dosage: 1.5–9 grams. Should not be used with Euphorbia, Daphne, Kansui, or Sea Algae.<Qi Tonification>