Tonifying herbs dosages

Gentle tonifying herbs can be used at low dosages for a long period of time to strengthen the body s resistance or to maintain good health. 

Tonifying herbs should initially be prescribed at low dosages because their cloying nature may cause indigestion. If all is well, the dosages may be gradually increased. 

In treating chronic diseases, or after intensive treatment for acute disorders lasting 1-4 weeks, the herbs in a formula should be prescribed at lower dosages. Herbs that tonify or harmonize the functions of the internal organs should be added. 

At times of great stress and high emotion, or of severe physical exertion and tiredness, the body becomes more sensitive, and herbs should be prescribed at lower dosages than normal. For instance, to treat severe tiredness due to Spleen-Qi and Heart-blood deficiency, herbs that tonify the Qi and blood should be used in the formula but their doses should be very low because any strong stimulation and tonification may cause further disorder in the body. If the patient suffers from insomnia and anxiety, formulas that calm the mind and sedate the Heart-spirit should be used first. At the time of menstruation, or if the patient has a bleeding... 

In these situations, treatment procedures in TCM that are similar in approach to the hypnotic and sedative drugs should not be used, or used only with caution. Instead, procedures that disperse constrained Qi, clear heat, promote digestion, and remove dampness and phlegm should be applied. Herbs and a diet that tonify the blood should be used for a long period of time. All of these can assist western drugs to calm the mind in an effective way and to reduce their side effects. TCM treatment can thus shorten the course of treatment required with hypnotic and sedative drugs and reduce their dosage. 

Besides directly tonifying the Spleen-Qi, the moderate nature of Zhi Gan Cao is often used in formulas to reduce the side effect of harsh herbs, such as herbs that stimulate the Qi or remove food or phlegm. It turns a quick action of herbs into a steady and constant action. It is also used to harmonize herbs that move in different directions and work on different levels. The dosage of Zhi Gan Cao should be low in cases of dampness accumulation as its sweet property has the tendency to retain dampness. 

Among the deputy herbs, Bai Zhu is used to tonify the Spleen and dry the dampness Shan Yao is used to strengthen the Spleen-Qi and stabilize the Spleen-essence which has been lost due to chronic diarrhea Zhi Gan Cao is used in quite a large dosage to aid the strength of the herbs that tonify the Spleen-Qi, hence its use as deputy in this formula. 

Zhi Gan Cao is sweet and slightly warm, which are the principal properties of herbs that can tonify the Qi. It enters all the ordinary meridians, can tonify the Qi, moderate the speed of Qi and blood, and harmonize the functions of the internal organs. It is particularly selected in the formula with a large dosage as chief to calm the mind and relieve the palpitations and restlessness caused by Heart-Qi deficiency. 

Since these substances are pungent and can consume the Qi, they should be used with a large number of herbs that tonify the Qi and blood of the Heart and their dosages should be small. 

Ren Shen and Huang Qi are strong herbs to tonify the Spleen-Qi and promote digestion. They are used for severe cases of deficiency of Spleen-Qi, especially in chronic conditions. A large dosage of Dang Shen is often used as a substitute for Ren Shen. 

Since each of the three aspects - deficiency of blood, deficiency of Spleen-Qi and stagnation of Liver-Qi - can be the cause or the consequence of each other, the roles and the dosages of the three groups of herbs that tonify the blood, tonify the Spleen and disperse the Liver-Qi can be changed according to the syndrome. 

Zhi Gan Cao is sweet in nature and enters all 12 regular meridians however, it primarily enters the Spleen meridian. If it is used in a reasonably large dosage (i.e. above 9 g as a crude herb) it can sufficiently tonify and smooth the Qi. Unlike Ren Shen, it does not cause restlessness and insomnia, and is particularly useful in an acute or persistent condition of anxiety. This is because its sweet taste can reduce the tension from the conflict between the body s resistance and the pathogenic factors, slow down the pathological process, ease the tendons and muscles, and thus calm the mind in a stable, gentle and pleasant way. 

Zhi Gan Cao is sweet and neutral, and enters all meridians. A large dosage of Zhi Gan Cao is excellent in tonifying Qi and harmonizing the Qi movement as it has a moderate action. As its sweet taste may release tension, this herb can be used in the condition of severe Yin and Qi deficiency if the Qi... 

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