四君子汤 扶胃降火，补虚固本，气虚有热，用之性缓不暴，不助虚阳，故称君子。治男子一切内伤外
感及小儿脾胃不调等证，若女子气虚亦宜用之，惟血虚者不宜，单服耗血。一切大病后最宜服之，以调脾胃。
人参一钱，补中益气。白术二钱扶胃健脾。茯苓二钱，养心利水，气弱肾无邪水者去之。甘草六分，和中降火。
生姜三片，有汗去之。枣子一枚，水煎，不拘时温服。痰加陈皮、半夏、竹沥、姜汁；虚劳有热合四物汤；
内伤停饮目眩去参，加官桂，减甘草；吐泻加藿香、黄 、扁豆，泄泻不止加诃子、豆蔻；阳虚加附子；脾胃
虚弱加官桂、当归、黄 ；胃冷加附子、丁香、砂仁；脾困气短加木香、砂仁、人参；腹胀不思食加白豆蔻、
枳实、砂仁；胸膈喘急加枳实、半夏、枳壳；咳嗽加桑白皮、五味子，杏仁；心烦口渴倍参，加黄 ；心烦不
安加辰砂、酸枣仁、远志；心热加麦门冬、茯苓、莲肉；气痛加玄胡索、小茴、当归；气块加三棱、莪术、茴
香、附子；腹痛加干姜、赤芍、官桂；遍身疼痛加赤芍、官桂；气虚成痿加苍术、黄柏、黄芩；外感寒热，冬
加麻黄、桂枝，三时加防风、羌活；风热邪加荆芥、黄芩、薄荷；潮热往来加前胡、川芎；口渴加木瓜、干葛、
乌梅；小便不通加泽泻、木通、猪苓；大便不通加槟榔、大黄；小儿风疾加全蝎、白附子、细辛；疹痘已出未
成加升麻、干葛；妇人产难加麝香、白芷、百草霜。凡病后调理加陈皮，病后虚热加柴胡、当归、升麻，余可
类推。量病根据药性，百般加减由人。又有变方之法，如三白汤、六君子汤、观音散、异功散、补中益气汤及乌
药顺气散、木香匀气散、七气汤，凡温气、快气、行气、散气、降气、破气、消气、补气、清气，皆自此方而
变化之也。
六君子汤 治脾脏不和，呕吐少食，头目不清，上燥下寒，用热药不得者。即四君子汤加陈皮、半夏各等
分，甘草减半，姜枣煎服。凡人参养胃汤、四兽饮、卫生汤、托里清中汤之类，皆自此方而变化之也。
Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) supports Stomach Qi, descends fire, tonifies deficiency, and consolidates the root. For conditions of Qi deficiency with heat, its nature is mild and not violent; it does not assist deficient Yang, hence it is called a "Gentleman's" formula. It treats various internal injuries and external contractions in men, as well as syndromes of spleen and stomach disharmony in children. It is also suitable for women with Qi deficiency, but should be avoided in those with Blood deficiency, as taking it alone may consume Blood. It is most appropriate to take after major illnesses to regulate the Spleen and Stomach.
Ingredients: Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 1 qian, to tonify Middle Jiao and benefit Qi; Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) 2 qian, to support the Stomach and strengthen the Spleen; Fu Ling (Poria) 2 qian, to nourish the Heart and promote urination; remove if Qi is weak and there is no pathological water retention in the Kidneys. Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 6 fen, to harmonize the Middle and descend fire. Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) 3 slices; remove if sweating is present. Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus) 1 piece. Decoct with water and take warm at any time.
Modifications: Add Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Zhu Li (Bambusae Succus), and Jiang Zhi (Zingiberis Juice) for phlegm; combine with Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) for consumptive disease with heat; for internal injury with fluid retention causing dizziness, remove Ren Shen, add Guan Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex), and reduce Gan Cao; add Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), and Bian Dou (Dolichoris Semen) for vomiting and diarrhea; add He Zi (Terminalia Chebulae Fructus) and Dou Kou (Tsaoko Fructus) if diarrhea persists; add Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) for Yang deficiency; add Guan Gui, Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) for Spleen and Stomach weakness; add Fu Zi, Ding Xiang (Caryophylli Flos), and Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) for cold Stomach; add Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Sha Ren, and Ren Shen for Spleen stagnation with shortness of breath; add Bai Dou Kou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), and Sha Ren for abdominal distension and loss of appetite; add Zhi Shi, Ban Xia, and Zhi Qiao (Aurantii Fructus) for wheezing and urgency in the chest and diaphragm; add Sang Bai Pi (Mori Cortex), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), and Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) for cough; double the dose of Ren Shen and add Huang Qin for vexation, thirst, and irritability; add Chen Sha (Cinnabar), Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), and Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix) for restlessness; add Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Fu Ling, and Lian Rou (Nelumbinis Semen) for Heart heat; add Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizoma), Xiao Hui Xiang (Foeniculi Fructus), and Dang Gui for Qi pain; add San Leng (Curcumae Rhizoma), E Zhu (Curcumae Rhizoma), Hui Xiang, and Fu Zi for Qi masses; add Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), and Guan Gui for abdominal pain; add Chi Shao and Guan Gui for body-wide pain; add Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), and Huang Qin for Qi deficiency leading to flaccidity syndrome; for external contraction with chills and fever, add Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba) and Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) in winter, and Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) and Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) in other seasons; add Jing Jie (Schizonepetae Herba), Huang Qin, and Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) for wind-heat pathogen; add Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix) and Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) for tidal fever and alternating chills and fever; add Mu Gua (Chaenomelis Fructus), Gan Ge (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), and Wu Mei (Mume Fructus) for thirst; add Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis), and Zhu Ling (Polyporus) for urinary obstruction; add Bing Lang (Arecae Semen) and Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) for constipation; add Quan Xie (Scorpio), Bai Fu Zi (Typhonii Rhizoma), and Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) for pediatric wind disorders; add Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Gan Ge for exanthems that have erupted but are not yet mature; add She Xiang (Moschus), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), and Bai Cao Shuang (Carbo Vegetabilis) for difficult labor in women. For post-illness regulation, add Chen Pi; for post-illness deficient heat, add Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Dang Gui, and Sheng Ma; other modifications can be inferred by analogy. Adjust according to the pathology and drug properties; myriad modifications depend on the practitioner.
There are also modified formulas derived from this base, such as San Bai Tang (Three Whites Decoction), Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), Gu Yin San (Guanyin Powder), Yi Gong San (Yi-Gong Powder), Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), Wu Yao Shun Qi San (Wuyao Regulate Qi Powder), Mu Xiang Yun Qi San (Muxiang Harmonize Qi Powder), and Qi Qi Tang (Seven Qi Decoction). Methods for warming, moving, circulating, dispersing, descending, breaking down, eliminating, tonifying, and clearing Qi all evolve from this formula.
Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) treats Spleen disharmony manifesting as vomiting, poor appetite, cloudiness of the head and eyes, upper dryness with lower cold, and cases where hot herbs are ineffective. It consists of Si Jun Zi Tang plus equal parts of Chen Pi and Ban Xia, with half the amount of Gan Cao, decocted with Sheng Jiang and Da Zao. Formulas such as Ren Shen Yang Wei Tang (Ginseng Nourish Stomach Decoction), Si Shou Yin (Four Beasts Drink), Wei Sheng Tang (Health Protection Decoction), and Tuo Li Qing Zhong Tang (Support Interior and Clear Middle Decoction) all evolve from this formula.