Qi tonics — Chinese herbs that tonify Qi (补气药)
Qi tonics (补气药, bu qi yao) are the foundational herbs of Chinese tonification. They strengthen the Spleen and Lung — the two organs primarily responsible for producing post-Heaven Qi from food and breath — and treat the chronic fatigue, weakness, breathlessness on exertion and immune-deficient presentations of Qi deficiency.
Herbs in this category (14)
- Bai Bian Dou (White Hyacinth Bean)
- Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes rhizome)
- Da Zao (Chinese date / Red jujube)
- Dang Shen (Codonopsis root)
- Gan Cao (Licorice Root)
- Ginseng
- Hong Jing Tian (Rhodiola)
- Huang Qi (Astragalus Root)
- Lion's Mane Mushroom
- Maitake Mushroom
- Shan Yao (Chinese Yam (Dioscorea))
- Shiitake Mushroom
- Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellaria Root)
- Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng)
Clinical use and key formulas
Qi tonics are indicated whenever fatigue, weak digestion, post-prandial bloating, recurrent infections, organ prolapse, or chronic deficiency dominates the clinical picture. The foundational formula Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is built from four Qi-tonifying herbs (Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Gan Cao) and is the parent of an entire family of Qi-tonification formulas. For Qi deficiency with sinking (uterine prolapse, organ prolapse, heavy menses), the formula Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang adds Huang Qi to ascend the Qi.
Cautions
Qi tonics are warm-natured and sweet-flavoured. Use with care in patients with marked excess heat, food stagnation or acute pathogen invasion — tonifying in those settings can retain the pathogen. Where Damp is prominent, combine Qi tonics with Damp-resolving herbs (Fu Ling, Cang Zhu, Yi Yi Ren).
Related categories
Return to the Tonify category hub or browse the other tonic types: Qi tonics · Blood tonics · Yin tonics · Yang tonics. See also the main categories hub and the individual herb directory.
