Many of us just focus blindly on supplementing Yang Qi, without understanding the need to unblock it. If there is phlegm-dampness obstructing the interior, supplementing more Yang Qi is futile; it might even lead to internal heat. Money is spent, discomfort is endured, yet no effect is achieved. In such cases, one must first unblock Yang, clearing the phlegm-dampness and turbid qi in the body, so that Yang Qi can smoothly reach where it needs to go. It can even expel pathogenic wind, cold, and dampness from deep within the bone crevices.

Some people are usually very sensitive to cold, with cold hands and feet, low energy, and a lack of motivation in everything they do, as if they've lost interest in anything. Eating cold food leads to diarrhea, with loose and unformed stools, and they frequently get up at night to use the toilet... Yet, if they take medicine to supplement Yang Qi, they experience symptoms of internal heat like sore throat and swollen gums. Why is that?

Indeed, for such individuals, there is often some blockage in the body—it could be due to accumulated phlegm-dampness, stagnant qi, or blood stasis. If you also frequently experience sharp, needle-like pain in certain areas, cough with phlegm, or feel chest tightness and shortness of breath after climbing just two flights of stairs, no matter how many tonics you take, it's like drawing water with a bamboo basket—not only do the tonics fail to be absorbed, but the internal heat may actually intensify.

So, what should be done in such cases? First, the blocked pathways in the body must be unclogged. Today, I’d like to share a formula left behind by the Sage of Medicine, Zhang Zhongjing—the *Si Ni San* (Frigid Extremities Powder). With just four herbs, it may seem simple, but its effects are far from insignificant.

First, *Chaihu* (Bupleurum) enters the liver and gallbladder meridians, helping to regulate the flow of qi in the liver. The liver governs the smooth flow of qi, and once the liver meridian is unblocked, tonics can be properly absorbed by the body. Otherwise, any supplementation would be in vain. *Zhishi* (Immature Bitter Orange) has a strong, downward-moving nature, helping to expel turbid qi and stagnation from the abdomen. Together with Chaihu, which moves upward, they harmonize the flow of qi, balancing it throughout the body.

*Baishao* (White Peony Root) not only nourishes the blood and softens the liver, preventing the body from being overwhelmed by overly aggressive tonification, but also harmonizes the herbs in the formula. *Gancao* (Licorice Root) harmonizes the other herbs while strengthening the spleen and supplementing qi. When the spleen and stomach functions are robust, the tonics ingested can be properly digested, absorbed, and transported to where they are needed. These four herbs work together like a thorough cleansing of the body—clearing away phlegm-dampness, blood stasis, and other "debris," and ensuring that qi flows smoothly. Once this is achieved, tonifying yang qi becomes as effortless as sailing with the current—yang qi can steadily enter the body and fulfill its functions.

This content is intended for educational purposes in traditional Chinese medicine. In TCM, treatment is tailored to the individual based on their constitution. When it comes to replenishing Yang, some people may benefit from clearing pathways first before tonifying, while others may require a combination of clearing and tonifying concurrently. If you have similar concerns, it's important not to self-medicate with over-the-counter herbs. Consulting a qualified practitioner to assess your constitution before making any adjustments is the safest approach!