What Drugs Are Typically Employed for Enhancing Qi?

Qi-Tonifying Drugs and Their Benefits

In our daily lives, we often encounter various external factors that can potentially harm our physical health. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes the concept of tonifying qi or utilizing qi-tonifying drugs to strengthen the body's vital energy. Qi-tonifying drugs primarily focus on nourishing lung qi and benefiting spleen qi, making them suitable for conditions such as lung qi deficiency and spleen qi deficiency. Common examples of qi-tonifying drugs include ginseng, astragalus, atractylodes macrocephala, and licorice.

What are Qi-Tonifying Drugs?

1. Ginseng

Ginseng is a highly valued qi-tonifying herb in TCM. Its slightly sweet and bitter taste, coupled with a slightly warm nature, makes it renowned for invigorating vital energy, enhancing mental function, and promoting tranquility. Modern research has validated its content of saponins, volatile oils, polysaccharides, vitamins BI, B2, C, and other components, which positively regulate the nervous system, exhibit gonadotropic-like effects, and strengthen the heart. Ginseng also aids in lowering blood sugar, enhancing hematopoiesis, strengthening adrenal cortex function, improving the body's adaptability to the environment, and boosting immune function.

2. Astragalus

Astragalus, the dried root of the Astragalus membranaceus plant, is characterized by its yellowish-white color, firm yet easily breakable texture, high powder content, and sweet taste. It is slightly warm in nature and is used to tonify qi, raise yang, strengthen the exterior, detoxify, promote muscle growth, and aid in urination and reducing swelling. It is suitable for conditions like spontaneous sweating, night sweating, blood stasis, edema, unhealing ulcers, exhaustion-induced internal injuries, spleen deficiency diarrhea, rectal prolapse, and various qi and blood deficiency symptoms.

3. American Ginseng

Also known as Panax quinquefolius, American ginseng is primarily grown in the United States and Canada. When cultivated in China, it is referred to as cultivated ginseng. Its roots are highly valued medicinally and serve as an excellent tonic and health-promoting herb. It is suitable for those who desire the benefits of ginseng but cannot tolerate its warmth.

4. Atractylodes Macrocephala

Atractylodes macrocephala, the rhizome of a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family, is particularly esteemed when sourced from Zhejiang. It is primarily used to strengthen the spleen and invigorate qi. Its volatile oil content, primarily comprising atractylodes alcohol and atractylodes ketone, along with vitamin A-like substances, offers liver protection, blood sugar reduction, physical strength enhancement, and improved digestive function. It also promotes gastrointestinal juice secretion, has a significant diuretic effect, and increases blood cell counts.

5. Licorice

Licorice, the root and rhizome of the perennial herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis, is characterized by its solid and heavy texture, fine and tight skin with furrows, a yellowish-white cross-section, high powder content, and sweet taste. Its components include glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, isoliquiritigenin, and others. Animal studies have shown that glycyrrhetinic acid exhibits adrenocortical hormone-like effects, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, as well as antitussive, analgesic, and anticonvulsant effects.

Qi-Tonifying Dietary Therapy

1. Sugar枣荔圆 (Sugar-Jackfruit-Lychee)

Ingredients: Jujube, longan, and lychee each 50g, Panax notoginseng powder 5g, excessive amount of sugar. Preparation: Place the jujube in a casserole, add an excessive amount of water, boil, and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Then add the other ingredients, boil again, and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix in the sugar and serve. Consume a warm and excessive amount daily.

2. 参枣米饭 (Codonopsis and Jujube Rice)

This dish typically combines the nourishing properties of codonopsis (