Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan - Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Formula - TCM Herbal Formula

Chinese Name: Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan
English Name: Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Formula

Formula Category


Clinical Usage and Indications

For Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency - spontaneous sweating, aversion to cold, desire for warm beverages, shortness of breath, intermittent fever, weak speech/low voice, weak limbs, loose/watery stools.

The Pulse will be deficient and rootless in the spleen position or simply deficient overall and the Tongue will be pale with a thin white coat.

Related TCM Diagnostic Patterns


Staff Clinician Notes:

There are no staff notes at this time.

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Cautions and Contraindications:

None at this time.  As always consult with an acupuncturist/herbalist before use.

Related Western Medical Conditions:


Individual Chinese Herbs In This Formula:


  • Bai Zhu
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies the spleen, augments qi, dries dampness - diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, vomiting, edema.
    • Stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating - spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency.
    • Calms the fetus - arising from spleen deficiency.

  • Chai Hu
  • Herb Functions
    • Clears shao yang disorders and reduces fever - alternating chills and fever, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, vomiting, stifling sensation in the chest.
    • Relieves liver qi stagnation (often used with Bai Shao) - vertigo, menstrual disorders, chest and flank pain, the most common herb to treat stress, irritability, depression, etc.; also for liver and spleen disharmony - bloating, nausea, indigestion, flank pain.
    • Raises yang qi in spleen and stomach deficiency patterns (often used with Sheng Ma) - prolapsed organ, diarrhea, hemorrhoids.

  • Contraindications
    • Due to its rising and dispersing nature avoid in yin deficiency or liver yang rising.
    • May cause nausea or vomiting - use a smaller dose if necessary.

  • Chen Pi
  • Herb Functions
    • Regulates Qi, improves transportive function of the spleen, relieves diaphragm - epigastric/abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting (promotes movement of qi in general; specifically directing it downward - good for different types of nausea/vomiting).
    • Important herb for drying dampness and the transformation of phlegm - coughs with stifling sensation in the chest/diaphragm, and copious viscous sputum (qi-level herb).
    • Prevents stagnation - prevents cloying of tonifying herbs.
    • Ju Hong is the red part of the tangerine peel - it is more drying and aromatic.

  • Dang Gui
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies the blood, regulates menses - pallid, ashen complexion, tinnitus, blurred vision, palpitations, irregular menses, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea.
    • Invigorates/harmonizes the blood, disperses cold - important herb to stop pain due to blood stasis - abdominal pain, trauma, carbuncles due to blood stasis, chronic bi.
    • Moistens dry intestines due to blood deficiency.
    • Reduces swellings, expels pus, generates flesh - sores.

  • Huang Qi
  • Herb Functions
    • Tonifies spleen qi - lack of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea.
    • Raises yang qi of spleen and stomach - prolapse of uterus, stomach, rectum, uterine bleeding.
    • Augments the wei qi and stabilizes the exterior - deficiency w/spontaneous sweating, frequent colds or shortness of breath.
    • Tonify qi and blood due to loss of blood - postpartum fever.
    • Edema from deficiency.
    • Promote discharge of pus, generate flesh - sores due to deficiency.

  • Ren Shen
  • Herb Functions
    • Strongly tonify yuan qi - extreme collapse of qi, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, weak pulse (often used alone for this condition after severe blood loss).
    • Tonify lung qi - wheezing, shortness of breath, w/kidneys failing to grasp the qi.
    • Strengthen the middle warmer - lethargy, no appetite, chronic diarrhea, prolapse of organs, distended chest/abdomen.
    • Generates fluids, stops thirst - xiao ke, damaged fluid due to high dever and profuse sweating.
    • Benefits heart qi, calms the spirit - palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, restlessness due to qi and/or blood deficiency.

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid tea and turnips while taking ginseng.
    • Antagonist with Wu Ling Zhi, Incompatible with Li Lu.
    • Avoid with high blood pressure and/or liver yang rising.

  • Sheng Ma
  • Herb Functions
    • Releases the exterior, vents muscles - accelerates the early stages of skin rashes, headache from wind-heat (forehead - stomach channel).
    • Clears heat, relieves toxicity - toxins in the upper or superficial areas, swelling, painful, sore gums, lips, and/or throat.
    • Raises yang, lifts spleen qi sinking (strong than Ge Gen) - for middle qi deficiency leading to shortness of breath, fatigue, prolapse of stomach, uterus, or rectum.
    • Serves to guide other herbs upwards.

  • Contraindications
    • Avoid in cases of yin-deficient heat, upper-excesses and lower deficiencies.
    • Avoid with fully erupted measles.
    • Avoid in patients with breathing difficulties.

  • Zhi Gan Cao
  • Herb Functions
    • This preparation increases the qi tonifying aspects of the heart and spleen along with its general harmonizing function within formulas.  See Gan Cao for complete information.