Tonify the Lungs Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Bu Fei Tang
English Translation: Tonify the Lungs Decoction
Formula Type: Augment the Qi and Stabilize the Exterior
Actions: Augments the qi & stabilizes the exterior.
Indications: Shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, occasional chills & feverishness, coughing, wheezing, a pale tongue, & a frail or deficient & large pulse. This is Lung qi deficiency.
Contraindications: Unknown.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 9g |
view: Huang Qi |
Astragalus | 24g |
view: Shu Di Huang |
Prepared Rehmannia | 24g |
view: Wu Wei Zi |
Schisandra | 6g |
view: Zi Wan |
Purple Aster | 9g |
view: Sang Bai Pi |
Mulberry Bark | 12g |
Ren Shen / Panax Ginseng | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage1-9g, up to 30 grams (hemorrhagic shock) |
ActionsRen Shen / Panax Ginseng is used in treating patterns of qi, yang & yin deficiency.1. Strongly tonifies the basal qi: for extreme collapse of the qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow respiration, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, & a minute or weak pulse. The herb is used alone for this condition after severe loss of blood. 2. Tonifies the Lungs & augments the qi: for wheezing, shortness of breath, & labored breathing with exertion caused by Lung qi deficiency. There is usually also a concurrent failure of the Kidneys to grasp the qi. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & tonifies the Stomach: for lethargy, lack of appetite, chest & abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea, & in severe cases, prolapse of the stomach, uterus, or rectum. 4. Generates fluids & stops thirst: for wasting & thirsting disorders, as well as in cases when the qi & fluids have been injured by high fever & profuse sweating. 5. Benefits the Heart qi & calms the spirit: for palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, & restlessness due to qi & blood deficiency. Notes: Red Ginseng is more warming than White Ginseng. American Ginseng is considered cool and is better suited for those patients having a tendency towards heat signs. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, heat excess, or in the absence of significant qi deficiency. Contraindicated for hypertensive patient with ascendant Liver yang, & in cases of very high blood pressure (systolic over 180mmHg). Overdose can lead to headache, insomnia, palpitations, & a rise in blood pressure. The traditional antidote is mung bean soup. This herb may antagonize wu ling zhi & may be incompatible with li lu. Patients taking this herb are advised to abstain from drinking tea & eating tunips, as this may reduce the effect of the herb. |
Huang Qi / Astragalus | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage9-30g, 30-60g exceptional cases |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen deficiency presenting with lack of appetite, fatigue, & diarrhea.2. Raises the yang qi of the Spleen & Stomach: for prolapse disorders such as prolapsed uterus, stomach, or rectum; also for uterine bleeding. 3. Augments the protective qi & stabilizes the exterior: for deficiency with spontaneous sweating, as the herb stabilizes the protective qi. It also tonifies the Lungs & is used for frequent colds or shortness of breath. Depending on the combination of herbs, it may be used for excessive sweating associated with qi, yang, or yin deficiency. Its action in stabilizing the exterior may be used to produce a therapeutic sweat when diaphoretics do not work. 4. Tonifies the qi & blood: for post partum fever due to qi & blood deficiency. Also used in the recovery stage from severe loss of blood. 5. Promotes urination & reduces edema: for edema from deficiency. 6. Promotes the discharge of pus & generates flesh: for chronic ulceration & sores due to deficiency that have formed pus but have not drained or healed well. 7. In appropriate circumstances, for wasting & thirsting disorder, numbness of the limbs, paralysis, & painful obstruction. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsSince this herb raises the yang, tonifies the qi, & stabilizes the exterior, it should no be used in cases of exterior excess, qi stagnation, damp obstruction, food stagnation, yin deficiency with heat signs, or skin lesions neither in their early stages nor where there is heat toxin. |
Shu Di Huang / Rehmannia Root, cooked in wine | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Tonifies the blood: for blood deficiency with such symptoms as pallid complexion, dizziness, palpitations, & insomnia. Very commonly used when blood deficiency leads to such problems as irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, & post partum bleeding.2. Nourishes the yin: for Kidney yin deficiency with such symptoms as night sweats, nocturnal emissions, steaming bone disorder, & wasting & thirsting disorder. 3. Nourishes the blood & tonifies the essence: for low back pain, weakness of the lower extremitites, lightheadedness & dizziness, tinnitus, diminished aural acuity, & premature graying of hair due to exhaused blood & essence. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Liver |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of Spleen &/or Stomach deficiency, & in cases of stagnant qi or phlegm. Overuse can lead to abdominal distention & loose stools. Toxicity: Side effects from using shu di huang are mild & include diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, lack of energy, & palpitations. These symptoms usually disappear with continued administration of the herb. |
Wu Wei Zi / Schisandra Fruit - "5 flavored seed" | |||
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Taste: Sour • Temperature: Warm • Category: Stabilize & Bind • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g, 1.5-3g (chronic cough), 6-9g (tonic) |
Actions1. Contains the leakage of Lung qi & stops coughing: for chronic cough & wheezing due to Lung deficiency or patterns of Lung & Kidney deficiency. This herb inhibits the leakage of Lung qi above, enriching the Kidney yin below, & also stops coughing. As such it is an important & effective herb for chronic cough.2. Tonifies the Kidneys, binds up essence, & stops diarrhea: for nocturnal emission, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, & urinary frequency due to Kidney deficiency. Also used for daybreak diarrhea due to Spleen & Kidey deficiency. 3. Inhibits sweating & generates fluids: for excessive sweating, especially when accompanied by thirst or dry throat. Depending on the other ingredients in the formula, it can be used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, or even wasting & thirsting disorders. 4. Quiets the spirit & calms the heart: for irritability, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep, nsomnia due to injury to the blood & yin of the Heart & Kidneys. 5. Recently used for allergic skin disorders & to improve liver function in patients with hepatitis. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated when an exterior condition is not cleared, when there is heat from excess in the interior, or in the early stages of coughs or rashes. This herb may occasionally cause heartburn. Toxicity: Symptoms of overdose include restlessness, insomnia, or dyspnea. |
Zi Wan / Aster (Purple) Root | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Relieve Coughing & Wheezing | |||
Dosage3-9g |
ActionsRelieves cough & expels phlegm: an important herb in stopping coughs of various etiologies. Primarily used for chronic cough, especially cold-induced cough with copious sputum that is difficult to expectorate, or coughing of blood-streaked sputum. |
MeridiansLung |
CautionsUse with caution in coughs due to yin deficiency with heat signs, or those associated with excessive heat patterns. Large dosage or long-term use is not recommended. May counteract with yin chen hao. |
Sang Bai Pi / Mulberry Root Bark | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Cold • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Relieve Coughing & Wheezing | |||
Dosage6-15g, honey-fried when used to stop coughing & wheezing |
Actions1. Stops coughing & wheezing & drains heat from the Lungs: for coughing & wheezing due to Lung heat.2. Promotes urination & reduces edema: used in disorders where Lung heat obstructs the downward movement of Lung qi, preventing water from moving & cutting off perspiration. This manifests as floating edema, facial edema, swelling of the extremities, fever & thirst, difficulty in urination, & a floating pulse. 3. Also recently used for hypertension. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excessive urination, & for cough due to wind-cold. |