- Ren Shen, Huang Qi and Bai Zhu tonify Qi.
- Dang Gui nourishes Blood.
- Fu Shen combines with the Qi tonics to prevent Dampness. It also calms the Mind.
- Suan Zao Ren, Long Yan Rou and Yuan Zhi nourish the Heart and calm the Mind.
- Mu Xiang moves Qi and is used to counterbalance the cloying nature of the Qi and
Blood tonics. - Zhi Gan Cao helps the Qi tonics to tonify Qi and harmonizes.
- Sheng Jiang and Hong Zao harmonize the formula, harmonize Defensive and Nutritive
Qi and help to tonify Spleen-Qi.
This well-tested prescription is excellent to tonify Spleen-Qi and Heart-Blood and calm the
Mind. Besides calming the Mind it also clears and stimulates it, helping memory, thinking and
concentration. The main manifestations are palpitations, tiredness, a pale complexion, insomnia
(difficulty in falling asleep), poor memory, poor appetite, menorrhagia in women (from
Spleen-Qi not holding Blood), a Pale tongue and a Weak or Choppy pulse.
Mental-Emotional Pattern
Worry and pensiveness over a long period of time injure the Spleen and Heart and lead to
Spleen-Qi deficiency and Heart-Blood deficiency. This weakens the Mind which is deprived of
its residence. Thus the patient becomes tired and depressed and finds sleep difficult. The Mind
controls memory and thinking and there is therefore a poor memory, poor concentration and
slow thinking. Another feature of this pattern is obsessive thinking or phobias which are due to
Spleen and Blood deficiency. The Spleen controls thinking, intelligence and concentration and,
when in disharmony, these same qualities may generate obsessive thinking or phobias.
Variations
- If Blood deficiency is pronounced add Shu Di Huang Radix Rehmanniae glutinosae
praeparata. With the addition of this herb, this formula is called Hei Gui Pi Tang Black
Tonifying the Spleen Decoction.
Shi Wei Wen Dan Tang
(Ten-Ingredient Warming the Gall-Bladder Decoction)