Herbs That Tonify Qi Flashcards
PinYin for Pseudostellariae Radix:
Tai Zi Shen (Prince’s/sons root)
- Younger/More YANG
- *Supermarket Herb - used in soup
Properties & Fx. for Tai Zi Shen:
- SWEET, sl. bitter, NEUTRAL
- Strengthens SP & AUGMENTS Qi - (LU qi def sweating, strengthens SP & ST)
- Generates fluids - (TONIFIES w/o CAUSING HEAT/DRYING like ren shen)
C/I: none
DOSAGE: 9-30g - 3x higher for Tonifying
Latin for Tai Zi Shen:
Pseudostellariae Radix
PinYin for Astragali Radix:
Huang Qi (Yellow Qi) aka Bei Qi *Supermarket Herb - (toothpick color type for soup NOT high quality which is more Yellow) - QUALITY WILL MAKE OR BREAK Formula
Properties & Fx. for Huang Qi:
- sweet, sl. warm
- Tonifies SP & raises Yang - (SP/LU Qi def/MJ prolapse)
- Augments protective Qi & stabilizes Ext. (LU/KD def/Wei, Jade Wind Screen Powder)
- Tonifies Qi & Blood (Qi w/in BLood - post-partom xue/qi def, hemorrhages)
- Promotes urination & reduces edema: ONLY YIN EDEMA
- Promotes discharge of pus & generates flesh - by tonifying qi, stimulates nerve growth
- For wasting & thirsting disorder,
numbness of the limbs, paralysis, & painful obstruction/post stroke
C/I: Yin def w. heat s&S
DOSAGE: 9-15g; in exceptional cases, 30-60g (post stroke) Dry-fry or honey-fry to tonify the Qi & raise yang; use raw for abscesses & other cx.
Latin for Huang Qi aka Bei Qi:
Astragali Radix
PinYin for Dioscoreae Rhizoma
Shan Yao (Mountain Medicine)
- used for SP accum damp diarrhea
- no strong taste is good for pediatrics
- primarily SPLEEN TONIC
Properties & Fx. for Shan Yao:
- SWEET, NEUTRAL
- Tonifies & AUGMENTS SP/ST (Diarrhea, fatique, spon. sweating, lack/appetite)
- Tonifies LU Qi & Augments LU YIN (**MORESO ASTRINGES) - prevents loss of fluid due to COUGHING
- Tonifies KD *TO stabilize & bind - ESSENCE: (Branch sx - e.g. - spermatorrhea/vag. discharge, Wasting & thirsting) Since herb is neutral & moistens, it benefits both Yin/Yang of LU & KD’s)
C/I: Dampness, use with others
DOSAGE: 9-30g. 60-240g may be used to Stab/bind. 18-30g/Tonic.
Latin for Shan Yao:
Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Mountain Medicine)
- used for SP accum damp diarrhea
- no strong taste is good for pediatrics
- primarily SPLEEN TONIC
PinYin for Jujubae Fructus:
Da Zao (Big Date) *hong zao - RED Date - XUE hei zao - BLACK Date - QI & XUE * One of the 3 amigos * Supermarket Herb
Properties & Fx for Da Zao:
- Sweet, Warm
- Tonifies SP & AUGMENTS Qi (ST/SP def. loose stools)
- Nourishes blood (HT) & calms spirit (also a XUE TONIC) - emotions due to restless organ disorder
- Moderates/Harmonizes harsh props of other herbs( often w. toxic herbs) (supports MJ)
C/I: CLOYING - TOO MUCH can cause dampness & damp heat
DOSAGE: 3-12 pieces (10-30g)
Latin for Da Zao
Jujubae Fructus (Big Date) *hong zao - RED Date - XUE hei zao - BLACK Date - QI & XUE * One of the 3 amigos *Supermarket Herb
Latin for Yi Tang:
Maltosum (Simple sugar)
* Supermarket herb
Properties & Fx for Yi Tang:
- Sweet, Sl. warm
- Tonifies SP & AUGMENTS qi - (S.O.B & reduce appetite)
- Tonifies MJ Qi & alleviates pain - (abd cold from def pain/ MJ - but NOT a longterm TONIC)
- Moistens LU’s & stops coughs (dry coughs ONLY) - honey fry
C/I: D/H, phlegm/H, or childhood
nutritional impairment
DOSAGE: 15-60g aka 4 tablespoons in strained decoction - *Do not cook in Decoction
PinYin for Polygonati Rhizoma:
Huang Jing (Yellow Essence)
*Supermarket Herb like:
Shen Di Huang (nourishes Yin) & Shu Di Huang (Xue/Yin/Essence Tonic)
Properties & Fx for Huang Jing:
- Sweet, NEUTRAL
- Tonifies SP Qi & AUGMENTS SP YIN (moreso ST Yin)
- Enriches Yin & Moistens Lungs (dry cough/consumption cough)
- Exhaustion of KD Essence w. lower back pain
- Wasting & thirsting disease (USED OFTEN IN SOUP STOCK)
C/I: VERY CLOYING/HEAVY; SP def w. damp; poor digestion
DOSAGE: 9-15g. can be taken long term.
Latin for Huang Jing:
Polygonati Rhizoma (Yellow Essence)
*Supermarket Herb like:
Shen Di Huang (nourishes Yin) & Shu Di Huang (Xue/Yin/Essence Tonic)
PinYin for Lablab Semen Album:
Bai Bian Dou (white flat bean/ pan fried bc sl. toxic)
Properties & Fx of Bai Bian Dou:
*Sweet, Neutral
* Strengthens SP, nourishes ST, transforms damp, & harmonizes middle (Superfic level/wakes up)
* Clears SUMMERHEAT accompanied by dampness
* Treats poisoning (food related poisoning)
C/I: Do NOT take w/o cooking - toxic in raw form
DOSAGE: 9-30g
What is Tai Zi Shen’s claim to fame when compared with other Qi Tonics such as Ren Shen?
Tai Zi Shen can tonify Qi in Px. with otherwise Strong Yang –
healthy constitution. Both gen fluids but REN SHEN is more warming and stronger.
Huang Qi can tonify SP Qi, but what other well known Qi can it also tonify?
LUNG Wei Qi - **its “Marquee” role
Huang Qi can be used to treat prolapses, what TCM Fx. does it owe this to?
Huang Qi Raises/PULLS UP Spleen Qi – raises YANG
Large does of Huang Qi is sometimes warranted. Under what condition do we use large doses? Does Huang Qi Tonify Blood? Explain.
channel obstrx. post stroke paralysis; yes qi & blood go hand in hand-‐need one to make the other, post partom, post sx
According to TCM text, Shan Yao can tonify LU Qi? Is it a strong tonic for LU Qi?
ASTRINGENT quality on LU qi -‐ preserves it more than tonifying
