12 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Formulas: A Comprehensive Guide & Precautions

This article presents 12 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas, detailing their ingredients, benefits, and precautions for use.

General Precautions:

• This information is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

• Before using any TCM formula, it’s crucial to consult with a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare professional to determine the suitability and appropriate dosage for your individual health condition.

• Dosage and duration of use should be strictly guided by the practitioner’s instructions.

• Thoroughly research the properties and potential side effects of each herb within the formula to minimize the risk of unwanted reactions.

1. Teshen Shenqi Huan (Kidney Essence and Qi Pill)

Ingredients:

• Eight Treasures (Batu Wei): Nourishes the kidneys, strengthens yang, tonifies qi, and generates essence.

• Niutou (Achyranthes Bidentata Root): Promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

• Xianqian (Cyperus Rotundus Tuber): Promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

Benefits:

• Nourishes the kidneys, strengthens yang, tonifies qi, and enhances kidney function.

• Promotes diuresis, reduces swelling, and alleviates edema.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea.

2. Qiwu Duqi Huan (Seven Treasure Nourishing Qi Pill)

Ingredients:

• Six Treasures (Liu Wei): Nourishes the lungs, tonifies qi, strengthens the kidneys, and moistens the lungs.

• Wuweizi (Schisandra Chinensis Fruit): Astringes, nourishes the kidneys, and replenishes essence.

Benefits:

• Treats coughs, shortness of breath, sticky phlegm, excessive sweating, and conditions caused by lung yin deficiency and qi deficiency.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea.

3. Mingmu Dihuang Huan (Bright Eye Rehmannia Pill)

Ingredients:

• Six Treasures (Liu Wei): Nourishes the liver and kidneys, nourishes yin, and clears heat.

• Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root): Nourishes blood, moistens the liver, and promotes blood circulation.

• Baishu (Paeonia Lactiflora Root): Nourishes blood, moistens the liver, and promotes blood circulation.

• Jizi (Lycium Barbarum Fruit): Brightens the eyes, clears liver heat, and cools the body.

• Ju hua (Chrysanthemum Flower): Brightens the eyes, clears liver heat, and cools the body.

• Zhilei (Cornus Officinalis Fruit): Clears liver heat, brightens the eyes, and cools the body.

• Shijueming (Semen Coicis): Clears liver heat, brightens the eyes, and cools the body.

Benefits:

• Brightens the eyes, nourishes the liver and kidneys, and disperses wind-heat.

• Treats eye pain, blurred vision, impaired vision, and conjunctivitis.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea.

4. Da Bu Yuan Jian (Grand Nourishing Origin Decoction)

Ingredients:

• Six Treasures (Liu Wei) minus the “three cold” herbs: Nourishes the kidneys, tonifies qi, and nourishes blood.

• Jizi (Lycium Barbarum Fruit): Nourishes the kidneys, replenishes essence, and nourishes blood.

• Du Zhong (Eucommia Ulmoides Bark): Nourishes the kidneys, strengthens yang, and tonifies qi.

• Dang Shen (Codonopsis Pilosula Root): Tonifies qi, generates fluids, and nourishes blood.

• Gui (Rehmannia Glutinosa Root): Nourishes the kidneys, replenishes essence, and nourishes blood.

• Zhi Gancao (Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root): Harmonizes the stomach, tonifies qi.

Benefits:

• Treats liver and kidney deficiency with internal heat and phlegm-dampness.

• Enhances overall health and vitality.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea.

5. Mai Wei Dihuang Huan (Wheat Germ Rehmannia Pill)

Ingredients:

• Eight Immortals of Longevity (Baxian Changshou): Nourishes the kidneys, tonifies qi, nourishes blood, and strengthens the body.

• Six Treasures (Liu Wei): Nourishes the lungs, tonifies qi, strengthens the kidneys, and moistens the lungs.

• Wuweizi (Schisandra Chinensis Fruit): Astringes, nourishes the kidneys, and replenishes essence.

• Maimen (Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root): Promotes diuresis and nourishes the kidneys.

Benefits:

• Astringes the lungs, replenishes kidney qi, and treats chronic coughs with internal heat (lung yin deficiency).

• Nourishes the kidneys, enhances kidney function, and promotes vitality.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea.

6. Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction)

Benefits:

• Clears heat, drains fire, generates fluids, and quenches thirst.

• Treats high fever, dry mouth, constipation, scanty urination, and conditions caused by heat pathogens.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea, or yin deficiency with internal heat.

7. Longdan Zhigan Tang (Dragon Gallbladder Clearing Liver Decoction)

Origin:

• Y Fang Ji Jie (Collected Prescriptions of the Healing Method)

Mnemonic:

• Longdan (Dragon Gallbladder) Ceng chi (Scute)

• Sheng di (Raw Rehmannia) Gui (Rehmannia) Zheqian (Curcuma) Tong (Atractylodes)

• Saihao (Bupleurum)

Ingredients:

• Longdancao (Dracocephalum Moldavica Herb): Clears liver and gallbladder heat, eliminates fire, and removes damp-heat from the lower burner.

• Huangqin (Scutellaria Baicalensis Root): Clears heat and drains fire.

• Chizi (Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit): Clears heat and drains fire.

• Shengdi (Raw Rehmannia Glutinosa Root): Clears heat, cools blood.

• Gui (Rehmannia Glutinosa Root): Nourishes the kidneys, nourishes blood.

• Zheqian (Curcuma Longa Rhizome): Promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

• Tongcao (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome): Promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

• Saihu (Bupleurum Chinese Root): Dispels exterior pathogens, clears heat, and promotes blood circulation.

Benefits:

• Treats hepatitis, jaundice, high fever, bitter mouth, red urine, constipation, and conditions caused by liver fire and damp-heat.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea, or yin deficiency with internal heat.

8. Xiaoyao Tang (Free and Easy Wanderer Decoction)

Origin:

• He Ze Ju Fang (Prescriptions of the Hòa Ze Bureau)

Key Herbs:

• Baishu (Paeonia Lactiflora Root) and Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root): Nourish blood, harmonize the circulation of vital substances, and nourish the liver.

• Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) and Fuling (Poria Cocos): Strengthen the spleen, tonify the middle jiao (middle burner).

• Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger): Enhances the liver-soothing and stagnation-resolving effects of Saihu (Bupleurum).

• Bohe (Mentha Haplocalyx): Dispels stagnation, clears heat, and refreshes the mind.

Benefits:

• Treats headaches, dizziness, insomnia, chest tightness, pain in the liver region, irregular menstruation, and conditions caused by liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea, or yin deficiency with internal heat.

9. Xiaosaihu Tang (Small Bupleurum Decoction)

Mnemonic:

• Sai (Bupleurum) Shen (Ginseng) Can (Scute)

• Ban (Pinellia) Tao (Jujube)

Key Herbs:

• Saihu (Bupleurum Chinese Root): Dispels exterior pathogens, clears heat, and resolves stagnation in the chest and flanks.

• Huangqin (Scutellaria Baicalensis Root): Clears heat in the liver and gallbladder.

• Renshen (Panax Ginseng Root): Tonifies qi, harmonizes the stomach, and descends rebellion, treating heart agitation, poor appetite, and vomiting.

• Banxia (Pinellia Ternata Tuber): Harmonizes the stomach, descends rebellion, treating heart agitation, poor appetite, and vomiting.

• Gancao (Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root): Harmonizes the stomach, tonifies qi.

• Dacao (Jujube): Nourishes the spleen and harmonizes the middle jiao.

• Jiang (Ginger): Nourishes the spleen and harmonizes the middle jiao.

Benefits:

• Treats colds, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, chest tightness, and conditions caused by external pathogens invading the body and liver qi stagnation.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea, or yin deficiency with internal heat.

10. Danchi Xiaoyao Tang (Dandelion Free and Easy Wanderer Decoction)

Ingredients:

• Xiaoyao Tang (Free and Easy Wanderer Decoction): Treats liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency.

• Danpi (Cortex Moutan): Clears heat, drains fire, cools blood, and promotes blood circulation.

• Heizi (Lycium Barbarum Fruit): Nourishes the kidneys, replenishes essence, nourishes blood, and reduces liver fire.

Benefits:

• Treats liver stagnation and spleen deficiency, liver yin deficiency with liver fire.

• Treats headaches, dizziness, insomnia, chest tightness, pain in the liver region, irregular menstruation, and conditions caused by liver qi stagnation, spleen deficiency, liver yin deficiency, and liver fire.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea, or yin deficiency with internal heat.

11. Heixiaoyao Tang (Black Free and Easy Wanderer Decoction)

Ingredients:

• Xiaoyao Tang (Free and Easy Wanderer Decoction): Treats liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency.

• Shengdi (Raw Rehmannia Glutinosa Root) or Shudi (Steamed Rehmannia Glutinosa Root): Nourishes the kidneys, replenishes essence, nourishes blood, and reduces liver fire.

Benefits:

• Treats liver stagnation and spleen deficiency, blood deficiency.

• Treats headaches, dizziness, insomnia, chest tightness, pain in the liver region, irregular menstruation, and conditions caused by liver qi stagnation, spleen deficiency, and blood deficiency.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea, or yin deficiency with internal heat.

12. Huazhi Ju Fang (Prescriptions of the Hòa Ze Bureau)

Ingredients:

• Four Generals (Si Jun):

• Baishu (Paeonia Lactiflora Root) and Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root): Nourish blood, harmonize the circulation of vital substances, and nourish the liver.

• Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) and Fuling (Poria Cocos): Strengthen the spleen, tonify the middle jiao (middle burner).

• Four Objects (Si Wu):

• Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger): Enhances the liver-soothing and stagnation-resolving effects of Saihu (Bupleurum).

• Bohe (Mentha Haplocalyx): Dispels stagnation, clears heat, and refreshes the mind.

• Gancao (Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root): Harmonizes the stomach, tonifies qi.

• Saihu (Bupleurum Chinese Root): Dispels exterior pathogens, clears heat, and promotes blood circulation.

Benefits:

• Treats headaches, dizziness, insomnia, chest tightness, pain in the liver region, irregular menstruation, and conditions caused by liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency.

Precautions:

• Not recommended for individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency (coldness) or diarrhea, or yin deficiency with internal heat.

Remember:

• This information is for general knowledge and should not replace professional medical advice.

• Please consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare professional for personalized guidance regarding your health condition and appropriate herbal remedies.

• Follow your practitioner’s instructions carefully to avoid potential side effects.

• Always prioritize your well-being and discontinue use if you experience any unusual symptoms.