Many people suffer from chronic Qi deficiency: they become short of breath and pant after climbing a few flights of stairs, speak with a weak and low voice, requiring others to lean in to hear them clearly. Trying to regulate by drinking Astragalus water or steeping Codonopsis tea might initially provide some energy boost, but they quickly revert to their original state. Those with a stagnant constitution may experience bloating and decreased appetite after such tonification.

In fact, the problem does not lie in "tonifying Qi" itself, but rather in that many common Qi-tonifying formulas often focus solely on supplementing either the spleen-stomach Qi or the lung Qi, failing to address the core of Qi deficiency.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the lungs govern the qi of the entire body, and the spleen is the source of qi and blood production." The generation of qi relies on the spleen transforming food into grain qi, while the circulation and distribution of qi depend on the lungs inhaling clear qi to transport it throughout the body.

Qi deficiency is often a combined deficiency of the lungs and spleen: if only the spleen is tonified without tonifying the lungs, the supplemented qi struggles to reach the entire body; if only the lungs are tonified without tonifying the spleen, the qi will be rapidly depleted, which is a key reason why single-target qi tonification is often ineffective.

For this condition, the classic Huangqi Renshen Tang (Astragalus and Ginseng Decoction) is a precise solution. Derived from "Medical Insights from Both Chinese and Western Traditions," it is a formula modified by Zhang Xichun to simultaneously tonify the lungs and spleen. It balances "tonifying, consolidating, elevating, and unblocking," addressing both the source of primordial qi and the pathways for its distribution.

Its standard composition includes: raw Astragalus root (Huangqi), ginseng (Renshen), fried Atractylodes rhizome (Baizhu), Poria (Fuling), aged tangerine peel (Chenpi), Cimicifuga rhizome (Shengma), Bupleurum root (Chaihu), and honey-fried licorice root (Zhigancao).

In the formula, Huangqi (Astragalus) replenishes lung qi and strengthens the superficial defense, while Ginseng replenishes the essential qi of the spleen and stomach. Together, they synergistically reinforce the foundation for the generation and transportation of qi. Baizhu (Atractylodes) and Fuling (Poria) strengthen the spleen and dispel dampness, addressing the issue of qi deficiency accompanied by dampness.

Chenpi (Tangerine peel) regulates qi to prevent stagnation from tonifying qi, while Shengma (Cimicifuga) and Chaihu (Bupleurum) lift and elevate the sunken qi dynamic. Zhigancao (Honey-fried Licorice) harmonizes the effects of all herbs in the formula. The overall efficacy is to greatly tonify the essential qi of the lung and spleen, strengthen the superficial defense to stop sweating, regulate qi, and harmonize the middle jiao. It is suitable for symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, reduced appetite and abdominal bloating, breathlessness upon exertion, spontaneous sweating, and aversion to wind caused by simultaneous deficiency of the lung and spleen.

It should be noted that this formula is intended for conditions of long-term simultaneous deficiency of the lung and spleen with insufficient essential qi, and is not suitable for all individuals with qi deficiency. If you experience related issues, it is recommended to use it based on a comprehensive pattern differentiation of your specific symptoms to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.