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Danxi stated: For deficiency syndromes, tonification and nourishment should be employed. Why does the *Ju Fang* (Formulas of the Imperial Medical Bureau) routinely use acrid, aromatic, dry, and hot agents? This is akin to using fire to extinguish fire, inevitably leading to the disaster of "making the excess more excessive and the deficiency more deficient." If one argues that Tusi Zi Wan (Cuscuta Seed Pill) treats Kidney deficiency, Jinchai Shihu Wan (Dendrobium Nobile Pill) treats Qi insufficiency, Huixiang Wan (Fennel Pill) treats coldness in the Zang organs, Yushuang Wan (Jade Frost Pill) treats Qi deficiency, Yangzheng Dan (Nourishing Righteousness Elixir) treats various deficiencies, Pufu Wan (Magnolia Bark and Aconite Pill) treats Spleen weakness, Anqi Dan (Regulating Qi Elixir) treats depletion of True Yuan, Sishen Dan (Four Miracles Elixir) treats Five Viscera deficiency, Congrong Dabu Wan (Cistanche Great Tonification Pill) treats Yuan Zang (Primordial Organ) deficiency, Zhongru Baize Wan (Tricalcium Carbonate and White Luster Pill) treats various deficiencies, Sanjian Tang (Three Strengths Decoction) treats severe Qi deficiency... All these internal pills are termed as tonifying the Spleen and Stomach, tonifying the Kidney, tonifying the Five Viscera, and tonifying True Qi. However, examining the symptom descriptions under each formula: bitter taste in the mouth with sallow complexion, shortness of breath and panting, bland taste in the mouth, rough tongue, belching with acid reflux, dry tongue, frequent urination, painful and difficult urination, dry lips and mouth—these signs clearly indicate Heat patterns. How can they be classified as dry-hot agents and claimed to strengthen the Spleen, warm the Stomach, nourish the Kidney, and benefit Qi?

Furthermore, Gusuibu Wan (Drynaria Pill) treats Wind-Deficiency of the Liver and Kidney; Ruxiang Xuanjing Wan (Frankincine Meridian-Unblocking Pill) treats Body Deficiency; Huantui Wan (Leg-Changing Pill) treats Deficiency of the Foot Shaoyin, Jueyin, and Taiyin meridians. Since it is stated as Body Deficiency, Liver-Kidney Deficiency, and Foot Three Yin Meridian Deficiency, the condition is not minor, and tonification and nourishment should naturally be indicated. Yet, the formulas contain a majority of herbs for unblocking collaterals and drying dampness/diseases, such as Ziran Tong (Natural Copper), Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome), Weilingxian (Clematis Root), Jingjie (Schizonepeta Spike), Dilong (Earthworm), Chuanlianzi (Melia Fruit), Wuyao (Lindera Root), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Qianniu (Pharbitis Seed), Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung), Caowu (Aconitum Carmichaelii Root), Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Shinan (Rhododendron Dauricum Stem), Tianma (Gastrodia Rhizome), Nanxing (Arisaema Rhizome), and Binglang (Areca Seed). On what basis do these constitute the majority of a tonifying agent and claim to treat deficiency?

Dixian Dan (Immortal Earth Elixir) claims to tonify the Kidney, yet half the ingredients are moistening tonics and half are drying, acrid, and penetrating agents. Using this, given that the Kidney dislikes dryness, how can it be said to tonify the Kidney? Even if one argues that the Foot Shaoyin Meridian cannot reach its target without agents like Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) is Zhang Zhongjing’s formula for Kidney meridian diseases. It uses eight liang of Dihuang (Rehmannia Root) assisted by only one liang of Fuzi. From this, right and wrong can be determined.

The Guizhi Jia Longgu Muli Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell) in the *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) treats various pulse presentations of Kong (Hollow), Dong (Fluctuating), Wei (Fine), and Jin (Tight), seminal emission in men, and nocturnal emissions/sexual dreams in women.
Formula: Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Baishao (White Peony Root), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) (each 3 qian), Gancao (Licorice Root) (1 qian), Dazao (Jujube) (1 piece), Longgu (Dragon Bone), Muli (Oyster Shell) (each 3 qian).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, decoct in water, take before meals.

Xiao Jianzhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction) treats Xu Lao (Consumptive Disease) with Li Ji (abdominal urgency/tightness), Ji (palpitations), Nu (epistaxis), Fuzhong Tong (abdominal pain), Shijing (seminal emission), Sizhi Suanteng (soreness and pain in four limbs), Shouzhu Fanre (heat in hands and feet), Yangan Kouzao (dry throat and mouth).
Formula: Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Zhigancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) (each 3 qian), Dazao (Jujube) (2 pieces), Baishao (White Peony Root), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) (2 qian), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) (1 he, stir-fried).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, decoct in water.

Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Astragalus Construct the Middle Decoction) treats Xu Lao with Li Ji and various insufficiencies.
Add Huangqi (Astragalus Root) (2 qian) to the previous formula.

Zhigancao Tang (Honey-fried Licorice Decoction) treats Xu Lao insufficiency, sweating with chest oppression, Jie Dai (knotted or intermittent pulse), Xin Ji (palpitations). If the patient moves normally, death may occur within 100 days; otherwise, within 11 days.
Formula: Zhigancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) (2 qian), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) (each 1.5 qian), Maimendong (Ophiopogon Tuber) (1 he), Maziren (Hemp Seed) (1 he), Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) (each 1 qian), Dazao (Jujube) (2 pieces), Shengdihuang (Raw Rehmannia Root) (3 qian).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, decoct in water with a small amount of wine, divide into three or four doses per day.

Ju Fang Renshen Yangrong Tang (Imperial Bureau Ginseng Nourishing Blood Decoction)
See Hot Category section.

Note: The above formulas all belong to the Taiyang pattern examples.

Shiwei Renshen San (Ten-Ingredient Ginseng Powder)
Huangqi Renshen San (Astragalus and Ginseng Powder)
Dongyuan Butong Yiqi Tang (Dongyuan Tonify the Middle and Benefit Qi Decoction)
See Hot Category section.

Yiwei Shengyang Tang (Benefit Stomach and Raise Yang Decoction): "Tonifying Qi in cases of Blood loss" is the method of the ancient sages. First tonify Stomach Qi to assist the generating Qi; hence it is called "Yang generates Yin." Sweet herbs are the primary task. The world generally considers this to tonify Qi, but little do they know that sweet flavors generate Blood; this is the principle of "Yang generates Yin." Therefore, first regulate Stomach Qi. Internal grain is the treasure of the human body.
Add Chaoqu (Stir-fried Divine Leaven) (1.5 qian) and Sheng Huangqin (Raw Scutellaria Root) (to drain latent Metal/Lung rebellion from summer heat, take a small amount per dose, remove when autumn cools) to the previous formula.
Preparation: Coarsely crush, decoct in water.

Note: The above formulas all belong to the Shaoyang pattern examples. Dongyuan stated: For Exterior Deficiency, use Guizhi Tang with Huangqi; for Interior Deficiency, use Renshen Shaoyao Tang. The above formulas have combined uses for treating both Exterior and Interior Deficiency. However, observing their methods, there are distinctions in main treatments of Acrid-Warm, Sweet-Warm, and Sweet-Cold, and in auxiliaries of Bitter-Cold and Sour-Bitter, with meanings of ascending-descending and odd-even combinations. These differ because Deficiency may involve concurrent Cold or Heat, or Qi and Blood deficiency, or simultaneous Yin and Yang deficiency, or Yin/Yang collapse, or sinking of Stomach Qi and insufficiency of Spirit. Thus, users must distinguish carefully.

Qi Bu Zhi Ji (Agents for Tonifying Qi):
Yan Shi Fuzi Tang (Master Yan's Aconite Decoction) treats Qi deficiency and Yang weakness with continuous spontaneous sweating and limb fatigue.
Formula: Huangqi (Astragalus Root, honey-fried), Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) (equal parts).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, add ginger, decoct for 4 qian per dose.

Renshen Fuzi Tang (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction) treats insufficiency of True Yang with rapid breathing, spontaneous and night sweats, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Formula: Renshen (Ginseng Root) (0.5 liang), Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root, peeled and umbilicus removed) (1 liang).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, divide into three doses, add ginger, decoct.

Note: These two formulas belong to the Shaoyin pattern examples.

Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) treats Lung damage causing skin aggregation and hair fall; this formula is suitable to benefit Qi.
Formula: Renshen (Ginseng Root), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Fuling (Poria), Zhigancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, decoct in water, take orally.

Jisheng Fushen Tang (Jisheng Spore-bearing Poria Decoction) treats extremely deficient pulses, or heart pain upon coughing, sensation of obstruction in the throat, or swelling.
Formula: Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Renshen (Ginseng Root), Yuanzhi (Polygala Root), Tongcao (Tetrapanax Pith), Maimendong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Huangqi (Astragalus Root), Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), Gancao (Licorice Root) (equal parts).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, add ginger, decoct for 0.5 liang per dose.

Ruizhutang Bqi Tang (Ruizhu Hall Tonify Qi Decoction) treats Qi deficiency with floating and soft pulses, palpitations, weakness, and spontaneous sweating.
Formula: Huangqi (Astragalus Root, 3 liang, stir-fried with honey water), Renshen (Ginseng Root), Zhigancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) (each 0.5 liang), Maimendong (Ophiopogon Tuber, core removed), Jiegeng (Platycodon Root, stir-fried) (each 1 liang).
Preparation: Coarsely crush, decoct in water for 4 qian per dose, add three slices of ginger. In the *San Yin Fang*, this is named Runshen San (Moisten Spirit Powder).

Note: These three formulas belong to the Hand Taiyin and Hand Shaoyin meridian medicines.