Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), originating from the Song Dynasty’s “Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang”.
Si Jun Zi Tang is a formula that tonifies Qi, and its Qi-tonifying effects are quite comprehensive. Many later formulas for tonifying the spleen and Qi have derived from this one. Do not underestimate the four herbs within; they are excellent for supporting the body’s Zheng Qi (upright Qi). Many diseases may seem difficult to address, but as long as there is Qi deficiency, one can find a breakthrough through Qi tonification.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has always emphasized the importance of a person’s “Zheng Qi”, also known as “Zhong Qi”. When Zheng Qi is abundant, one is not afraid of external pathogens. In the past, some physicians likened Si Jun Zi Tang to a situation where, after taking this decoction, the Zheng Qi is so sufficient that when pathogens enter, they find the body filled with “gentlemen” and have no place to settle, thus retreating. “Zheng Qi exists within, and evil cannot invade” is the principle behind this. This formula tonifies Qi and strengthens the spleen, making it effective for symptoms such as weak organ function, pale complexion, weakness in the limbs, abdominal distension, loss of appetite, intestinal rumbling and diarrhea, pale tongue, thin white coating, and weak pulse. Its clinical application focuses on symptoms like pale complexion, reduced appetite, shortness of breath, fatigue, pale tongue with white coating, and weak pulse as key diagnostic points.
A Renowned Qi-Tonifying Formula with the Virtue of Gentlemen
Modern life and work pressures are significant, often leading to a busy lifestyle and excessive eating, which can easily weaken the spleen and stomach, resulting in insufficient energy and poor physical condition. At this time, Si Jun Zi Tang can help strengthen the spleen and stomach, resist fatigue, and boost energy. Si Jun Zi Tang is one of the most famous ancient formulas, derived from “Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang”, primarily composed of Ren Shen (Ginseng), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Fu Ling (Poria), and Gan Cao (Licorice).
In the Qing Dynasty, physician Wu Kun provided insightful commentary on the indications and interpretation of this formula in his work “Yi Fang Kao”: “For those with a pale complexion, soft speech, weak limbs, and a weak pulse, this formula is indicated. A pale complexion indicates Qi deficiency; soft speech indicates Qi deficiency; weak limbs indicate Qi deficiency; and a weak pulse indicates Qi deficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to tonify Qi. This formula contains Ren Shen, which is warm and moistening, capable of tonifying the Yuan Qi of the five organs; Bai Zhu, which is sweet and warm, strengthens the spleen and tonifies the maternal Qi of the five organs; Fu Ling, which is sweet and warm, purifies the clear Qi of the five organs; and Gan Cao, which is sweet and warm, harmonizes the Qi of the five organs.”
Many people do not understand the origin of the term “gentlemen” in the formula’s name. Historically, those with outstanding talents and virtues were referred to as gentlemen.
According to Zhang Lu’s “Shang Han Xu Lun”: “For those with Qi deficiency, tonify with sweet herbs: Ren, Zhu, Ling, and Cao, which are sweet and warm, benefit the stomach, have the function of strengthening the movement, and possess the virtue of harmony, hence the name gentlemen.”
Wang Jin San in “Jiang Xue Yuan Gu Fang Xuan Zhu” stated: “The decoction is named after gentlemen, as its function is to strengthen the spleen and harmonize the stomach, allowing the essence of food and grains to be absorbed and distributed to the four organs, just as gentlemen possess the virtue of nurturing others.”
Wang Ang in “Yi Fang Ji Jie” said: “Because they are all products of moderation, they are called gentlemen.”
The four herbs in this formula—Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Gan Cao—are all harmonizing substances. They tonify Qi gently without causing dryness or heat, and they nourish without being overly forceful, embodying the ancient meaning of “gentlemen achieving harmony”, thus earning the name “Si Jun Zi Tang”.
Si Jun Zi Tang is a renowned formula for tonifying Qi, specifically designed to treat conditions caused by internal and external factors leading to spleen and stomach deficiency, and the diseases arising from it. If you often feel short of breath, become breathless after running a few steps; if your complexion is pale and you often feel weak; if you eat little, have poor digestion, and experience unformed stools; if you have a congenital weak constitution or have experienced a major illness leading to disharmony of the spleen and stomach, you can take Si Jun Zi Tang. As times change, many effects of Si Jun Zi Tang continue to be discovered. Modern research indicates that this formula also regulates gastrointestinal motility, inhibiting gastrointestinal peristalsis to alleviate diarrhea, while restoring normal motility in the small intestine and reducing gastric secretion, which is beneficial for the healing of gastrointestinal ulcers.
Si Jun Zi Tang primarily achieves the effect of nourishing the acquired essence to support the innate essence, or we can understand it as enhancing the body’s immunity, allowing for quicker recovery during illness.
Jun, Chen, Zuo, Shi
Si Jun Zi Tang is known as the “premier formula for strengthening the spleen and tonifying Qi”. Although it consists of only four herbs, the proportions are exquisite, and the combination of Jun, Chen, Zuo, and Shi is remarkable.
From the original formula’s proportions, the tonifying herbs are used in small amounts. Since it is for Qi deficiency, why not use stronger tonifying herbs? The “Huang Di Nei Jing” states: “For those with little Qi, tonifying Yang will deplete Yin, and draining Yin will exhaust Yang; in such cases, sweet herbs can be used, but not in excessive doses.” This is because if a person has insufficient Qi, it can be inferred that the blood will also be insufficient. Therefore, if large amounts of sweet and warm substances are used for Qi tonification, it may affect appetite and even cause chest tightness. Only by using smaller amounts can one achieve a balanced tonification of Qi without harming the blood.
In the formula, Ren Shen serves as the Jun herb, warming and benefiting Qi, strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach. Ren Shen is a well-known and precious medicinal material, especially the wild mountain ginseng, which has the highest medicinal value. From the perspective of TCM, Ren Shen is neutral in nature, sweet in flavor, slightly bitter, and enters the spleen, lung, and heart meridians, with effects of tonifying Yuan Qi, calming the spirit, benefiting the brain, and generating fluids. It is mainly used to treat conditions of physical weakness, fatigue, forgetfulness, dizziness, impotence, and frequent urination.
The Chen herb is Bai Zhu, which is warm and bitter, strengthens the spleen, dries dampness, and enhances the ability to aid Qi movement. Bai Zhu is warm in nature, sweet and bitter in flavor, and enters the spleen and stomach meridians, with effects of strengthening the spleen, benefiting Qi, drying dampness, and promoting urination. Bai Zhu in Si Jun Zi Tang is generally prepared Bai Zhu, suitable for patients whose internal dampness is not too heavy and only need to tonify the spleen. If making Si Jun Zi Tang oneself, and the patient has significant internal dampness with symptoms like lower back soreness, then raw Bai Zhu should be used, as it has a stronger effect on dampness and can also “benefit the Qi between the waist and abdomen”.
Qing Dynasty physician Chen Shi Duo was adept at using raw Bai Zhu. When encountering patients with water-dampness in the spleen and kidney, he would prescribe large doses of raw Bai Zhu, which was a notable feature of his treatment. Raw Bai Zhu also has the effect of stopping sweating, and the famous formula for stopping sweating, Yu Ping Feng San, contains raw Bai Zhu. In gynecological applications, prepared Bai Zhu is used more frequently. Additionally, prepared Bai Zhu can be roasted with wheat bran or soil, with the former having a stronger effect on tonifying the spleen, while the latter is better for stopping diarrhea.
Assisting with the sweet and mild Fu Ling, which strengthens the spleen and drains dampness. Qi deficiency is caused by the weakness of the spleen and stomach function, leading to insufficient transformation and transportation. The spleen’s function of transformation not only involves converting the essence of food and grains into Qi and blood but also includes the transformation of dampness and the excretion of excess. When the spleen is deficient, its ability to transform dampness is weakened, so while tonifying the spleen and Qi, it is necessary to use some mild herbs that promote downward drainage. Using some mild herbs that promote downward drainage in formulas for tonifying the spleen and Qi can enhance the effectiveness of spleen tonification.
Using Zhi Gan Cao, which benefits Qi and harmonizes the formula. It is important to note that when a patient has Qi deficiency in the spleen and stomach, Zhi Gan Cao can be used, but if the patient also has throat discomfort, it can be replaced with Sheng Gan Cao to utilize its detoxifying and throat-soothing properties. The four herbs work together to achieve the function of benefiting Qi and strengthening the spleen.
A Good Medicine for Qi Deficiency Constitution
Qi deficiency constitution refers to a state characterized by insufficient Yuan Qi, with weak breath and low organ function. During flu season, in the same office, some people are particularly prone to catching colds, while others may only sneeze a couple of times, and some may not be affected at all. We often say that those who easily catch colds have a weak constitution, which is essentially “Qi deficiency”.
As early as in the “Huang Di Nei Jing: Su Wen”, it is stated: “When Zheng Qi exists within, evil cannot invade; where evil gathers, Qi must be deficient.” This means that those with sufficient Qi are better able to resist various pathogens, while those with insufficient Qi will exhibit various symptoms. The modern concept of sub-health, where one often feels fatigued, falls under the category of Qi deficiency constitution.
The manifestations of Qi deficiency constitution are diverse, but the most basic symptoms are few. If you find the characteristics described above hard to remember, you can use the following mnemonic to grasp the symptoms of Qi deficiency: “Short of breath, lazy in speech, low voice, spontaneous sweating, aversion to wind, exacerbation with movement, prone to colds, fatigue, pale complexion, pale tongue, weak pulse.”
When a person has insufficient Zhong Qi, the lung Qi is also deficient, leading to a reluctance to speak and a low voice. Qi deficiency and spleen deficiency result in a feeling of overall weakness, even without heavy labor, one may feel low in energy and particularly prone to sweating, especially after activity. Additionally, due to Qi deficiency, the facial color appears pale, with a pale hue that is different from a light pale; the pale hue has a bluish tint. These are the main characteristics of Qi deficiency.
Si Jun Zi Tang is suitable for most individuals with Qi deficiency constitution, as it can greatly tonify Yuan Qi while being gentle in nature, thus not overwhelming the deficient state. Of course, if the patient has been exposed to cold and has a cold, Si Jun Zi Tang should not be taken to avoid trapping external cold pathogens and worsening the condition.
“Si Jun Zi” can also be combined with glutinous rice to make congee, which is ideal for daily nourishment. It is best to replace Ren Shen with Dang Shen (Codonopsis) in this congee. This congee is suitable for tonifying Qi and can be a first choice for men experiencing fatigue due to Qi deficiency, lack of concentration, and low work efficiency. Women with spleen deficiency often have a yellowish complexion and excessive fatigue, while the elderly are also prone to spleen deficiency and decreased immunity, and can also try this decoction.
Versatile Si Jun Zi Tang
Si Jun Zi Tang can be enhanced with aromatic Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel), known as Yi Gong San, which remains a Qi-tonifying medicine. Formulas evolve over time; initially, Si Jun Zi Tang helps people tonify the spleen and stomach, but in practice, it was found that when the spleen and stomach are more deficient, adding a herb that regulates Qi and strengthens the stomach, such as Chen Pi, can make the entire formula more effective in tonifying Qi without causing stagnation, thus better restoring spleen and stomach function. With the spleen and stomach properly regulated and nourished, the generation of Qi and blood has a source, and other discomfort symptoms will naturally decrease.
From this formula, other famous formulas can also evolve, such as Liu Jun Zi Tang, which primarily consists of Si Jun Zi Tang plus Chen Pi and Ban Xia (Pinellia). The function of this formula is to add phlegm-transforming properties to the Qi tonification of Si Jun Zi Tang. In TCM, when the internal dampness flows poorly and becomes thick, it is referred to as “phlegm”. Chen Pi, Ban Xia, along with Fu Ling and Zhi Gan Cao in the formula, form the well-known phlegm-transforming formula—Er Chen Tang. The principle of Liu Jun Zi Tang in transforming phlegm is that some dampness, once thickened, obstructs the generation of Yang Qi. By transforming it and then using methods to drain it, layer by layer, the obstacles to the generation and flow of Yang Qi are cleared away.
Additionally, Si Jun Zi Tang can be adjusted according to changes in the patient’s condition. For example, if the patient has heat, warming herbs should not be used, so Ren Shen can be replaced with Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellaria) which, while milder, is still effective; if the patient has some Yin deficiency, Ren Shen can be replaced with Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng); if urgent, it can be replaced with stronger mountain ginseng, but the dosage must be carefully controlled, as mountain ginseng is indeed very potent; usually, when Qi deficiency is not very pronounced, Dang Shen can be used, which is also effective.
A Nourishing Soup for the Whole Family
Here is a recipe for Si Jun Zi Tang that is suitable for the whole family, especially for men.
Ingredients (this recipe is for reference only): Dang Shen 10g, Fu Ling 10g, Chao Bai Zhu 10g, Zhi Gan Cao 10g, lamb 500g (or old hen, pork ribs), 2 dates, 3 slices of ginger, appropriate amount of green onion, appropriate amount of yellow wine, appropriate amount of salt, and appropriate amount of pepper.
Steps:
1. Wash the four herbs and place them in a herbal bag.
2. Blanch the lamb (or other ingredients) and wash it clean, then place it in a clay pot, adding enough water along with green onion, ginger, yellow wine, and the herbal bag.
3. Simmer for about 5 hours until the lamb is tender, then add salt and pepper before serving.
Women focus on blood tonification, while men emphasize Qi tonification. Men are the pillars of the family, often busy and under work pressure, making them prone to Qi deficiency, leading to insufficient energy, poor physical condition, and reduced work efficiency. Therefore, this soup is most suitable for men, helping to resist fatigue and boost energy.
The spleen and stomach are the source of Qi and blood generation. This soup can ensure sufficient spleen Qi, thus providing a source for Qi and blood generation. When Qi and blood are sufficient, the complexion becomes rosy, and physical strength is abundant, which is also beneficial for women prone to low blood pressure and anemia.
For the elderly, all bodily functions may decline, and all five organs are prone to deficiency. Regular consumption can benefit Qi and strengthen the spleen, enhancing immunity and allowing for a peaceful old age.