Qi deficiency

Indications Prostration syndrome due to deficiency of qi deficiency svndrorne of the spleen syndrome of deficiency of the lunq-ai thirst and diabetes due to impairment of body fluid irritability, insomnia, dreaminess, palpitation induced bv frioht. forgetfulness, listlessness, lassitude and others due to deficiency of both the heart and spleen syndromes of deficiency of the blood or both the ai and blood. 

This book mainly considers individual syndromes, such as the syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency, and it discusses the composition of individualized formulas, such as a formula to tonify the Spleen-Qi. In practice, a syndrome can be much more complicated. The sections on Common accompanying symptoms and treatment offer more possibilities for herb selection in complicated situations. To treat a syndrome with different kinds of secondary syndromes, such as Spleen-Qi deficiency with dampness accumulation or food accumulation, a practitioner should consult different chapters to compose an effective formula. 

A secondary syndrome might be a coexisting syndrome that is less important at the time of treatment. For example, in an acute condition of Liver-Yang ascending and generating Liver-wind, the patient may also have a syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency but this is less important for treatment in this acute condition. 

When patients suffer from chronic liver or kidney disease, the selection of the herbs and their dosages should be determined carefully to avoid placing an unnecessary workload on these weakened organs. At the same time, herbs that protect these organs and promote their function should also be included. For instance, acute or chronic liver diseases are mainly differentiated into a syndrome consisting of Spleen-Qi deficiency, damp-heat and heat-toxin accumulation, and herbs that treat this syndrome can be used. Chronic kidney diseases are mainly differentiated as Kidney-Yang and Spleen-Yang deficiency, dampness accumulation and heat-toxin in the blood. Herbs that treat this syndrome should be used in appropriate doses to help restore kidney function. 

If the Qi and Yang are weak and sinking, formulas that move downwards should be used with caution. The relevant formulas here are those that reduce heat and those that purge or break up accumulation of phlegm, Qi and blood. Since these formulas are very active in stimulating the Qi and blood, they may also consume the Qi. Patients may feel tired, especially if they are already Qi deficient. 

When a patient who has Qi deficiency suffers from constipation, formulas that tonify and ascend the Qi should be used with caution as they can worsen the constipation. 

In TCM, hypothyroidism is considered a syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency and accumulation of dampness or damp-phlegm in the body. Although western drugs may help to keep thyroid hormone levels normal, symptoms such as tiredness, coldness, weight gain and constipation may still exist. In the differentiation of the syndrome, many patients still show signs of Spleen-Qi deficiency and accumulation of dampness in the body, therefore treatment should be given to tonify the Spleen-Qi, activate Qi movement and leach out dampness. 

Bei Sha Shen can nourish the Lung-Yin and Mai Men Dong can nourish the Heart-Yin. Both can also slightly tonify the Qi. Since they are sweet in taste and their sticky tendency may bring some burden to a weak Stomach, dosages should be appropriate if the patient has Stomach-Qi deficiency. 

Bai Bian Dou not only has a very gentle function of tonifying the Spleen-Qi but is also able to transform dampness. Because it is an astringent herb it can stabilize the fluid in the intestines. This herb is particularly useful for treating chronic diarrhea due to Spleen-Qi deficiency and dampness accumulation in the Middle-Jiao. 

This formula primarily treats Spleen-Qi and Yang deficiency. In fact, it treats a chronic syndrome of deficiency of the Middle-Jiao, where not only Qi and Yang, but also Yin and blood are deficient, due to long-term Yang and Qi deficiency. 

The Yang and Qi deficiency is manifested as intermittent, spasmodic abdominal pain that responds favorably to local application of warmth and pressure, reduced appetite, cold and sore extremities. 

The main substances of the body are the Qi and essence that further generate blood, body fluids, Yin and Yang. In pathological conditions, the deficiency often shows four aspects, namely deficiency of the Qi, deficiency of the blood, deficiency of the Yin and deficiency of the Yang. The deficiency can be found in specific organs, such as Kidney-Yin deficiency, Spleen-Qi deficiency or Heart-blood deficiency. A deficiency syndrome also exists in patients with a weak constitution or those in the recovery period of disease, in elderly people or in children. In those situations, it is difficult to determine which organ is weak and which part should be tonified, as the general condition of the patient is weak. 

When considering the source of Qi, Qi in humans is an integration of the Qi inherited from parents, the Qi from nature from inhalation and contact, and the Qi transformed from food and drink. In etiology and pathology, all factors that weaken the sources of the Qi, overconsume the Qi or obstruct its generation can cause Qi deficiency. (See Figure 5.1 on page 189.)... 

When considering the function of the Qi, the five internal organs all contain Qi, which supports and carries out their functions. If the Qi is insufficient, certain syndromes of Qi deficiency may exist. 

Spleen-Qi deficiency may weaken the strength of the muscles and cause tiredness, heaviness of the limbs and prolapse of the internal organs. 

As Fu Ling can also tonify the Heart-Qi, it is used for calming the mind. It is particularly useful for children with mild Heart-Qi and Spleen-Qi deficiency as it does not have a strong taste. 

Bai Bian Dao is sweet and slightly warm. It has a gentle function of tonifying the Spleen-Qi, and is neither dry nor moist. It is particularly suitable for use in formulas to treat chronic mild deficiency of the Spleen-Qi or for use in the recovery period after chronic diseases when the condition of the patient is too weak to accept strong tonification. As Bai Bian Dou has a gentle astringent property, it is often used for diarrhea or soft stools caused by Spleen-Qi deficiency. 

These two herbs are often used as assistants in formulas to regulate the Qi in the upper abdomen and reduce fullness and distending sensations that are caused by Spleen-Qi deficiency or by the heavy and cloying nature of tonifying herbs. They can therefore accelerate food and water transportation and transformation in the Middle-Jiao. 

Diarrhea due to Qi deficiency use Fu Ling [Poria], Bai Zhu [Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma) and Bai Bian Dou [Dolichoris lablab semen) to tonify the Spleen-Qi and transform the dampness. For chronic diarrhea, use Lian Zi [Nelumbinis semen) to bind up the intestines and stop diarrhea. 

Heaviness of the limbs due to Qi deficiency and obstruction of water metabolism use Huang Qi [Astragali radix) to tonify the Qi and promote... 

Si Jun Zi Tang is a principal formula to tonify the Spleen-Qi and treat the syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency. Although there are only four herbs in this... 

Bai Zhu serves as deputy. On the one hand, it can tonify the Spleen-Qi and reinforce the action of the chief to treat Qi deficiency on the other hand, it can dry dampness in the Middle-Jiao, which often coexists when Qi is deficient. 

This formula tonifies the Spleen-Qi and transforms dampness from the Middle-Jiao. It treats the syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency with obvious accumulation of dampness in the Middle-Jiao, and at the same time treats deficiency of Lung-Qi due to Spleen-Qi deficiency. The symptoms are chronic diarrhea, weakness of limbs, weight loss, a low and soft voice and shortness of breath. A pale tongue with a moist white coating and a soft and slow pulse indicate the presence of dampness with Qi deficiency. 

This formula demonstrates the treatment of a complicated case resulting from Spleen-Qi deficiency. 

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