Ren Shen and Sheng Huang Qi are two strong herbs for tonifying the Qi. They are characterized by their quick action. Both are sweet and slightly warm, and enter the Spleen and Lung meridians. Sweetness possesses tonifying and moistening qualities and the slight warmth may gently strengthen the Yang, which further generates the Qi. They strongly tonify the Spleen-Qi, strengthen the Middle-Jiao, and promote the function of the Spleen to generate blood, essence and body fluids. When the Spleen-Qi is strong enough, it can transport the Qi to the Lung so as to strengthen the Lung-Qi and the Defensive-Qi. Both herbs are very effective for treating Lung-Qi deficiency.

Ren Shen is particularly able to tonify the Source-Qi, grasps the Qi that is sent downward by the Lung, and therefore improves quick and shallow respiration. It can also strengthen the Defensive-Qi, and is used to counter the propensity to catch the common cold in people who have a poor constitution. It is often selected as chief in the formula to treat Qi deficiency in both Lung and Kidney.

Unlike Ren Shen, Huang Qi has no function in tonifying the Source-Qi. On the other hand, Huang Qi – in particular the raw version, called Sheng Huang Qi – has a strong ability to ascend Qi and enter the Lung meridian directly. It can strongly tonify the Lung-Qi, as well as strengthen the Defensive-Qi, promote the Qi and blood circulation on the surface of the body, and control the pores so as to strengthen and stabilize the exterior. Thus, Huang Qi is very often selected as chief in formulas to tonify the Lung-Qi and Defensive-Qi.

Bai He is sweet and slightly cold in nature and enters the Lung, Heart and Stomach meridians. It can be selected as chief in a formula to tonify the Lung-Qi. The strong point of this herb is that it moistens the Lung and smoothes the Qi, thus relieving depression, grief and restless sleep. It can moisten the Lung-Yin and clear heat. It has a lubricating property and is able to regulate the Qi movement in the Upper-Jiao. It treats dry cough, a tight sensation in the chest and difficulty in expectorating scanty and thick sputum.

Hu Tao Ren is sweet and warm, and enters the Kidney and Lung meridians. E Jiao is sweet and neutral, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Both are moist in nature and are able to moisten the Lung and tonify the Kidney-essence and blood. They are mainly selected in formulas to treat chronic conditions of Lung-Qi deficiency where Kidney deficiency is obviously involved. The difference between these two substances is that Hu Tao Ren is more suitable for treating Kidney-Yin and Kidney-essence deficiency; E Jiao is better suited for use in cases of blood deficiency.

Mai Men Dong and Bei Sha Shen are sweet and cold, and enter the Lung meridian. Both tonify the Yin of the Lung primarily, and tonify the Lung-Qi secondly. They can tonify the Qi slightly and are particularly suitable for use in conditions where the Qi and Yin are both injured by pathological heat. They treat shortness of breath, dry cough, thirst and tiredness. However, Mai Men Dong is bitter, and its function of reducing heat is stronger than that of Bei Sha Shen. Moreover, it enters the Heart meridian, and if the patient suffers from restlessness, irritability and insomnia, which indicate a deficiency of Heart-Yin and Heart-Qi, Mai Men Dong is more suitable than Bei Sha Shen.

Shan Yao is sweet, neutral and astringent, and enters the Lung, Spleen and Kidney meridians. It can moisten the Lung and tonify the Qi of the three organs and is mainly used as deputy in formulas to treat chronic conditions of Lung-Qi deficiency with Spleen-Qi and Kidney-Qi deficiency.

When Ma Huang is fried with honey, it is called Zhi Ma Huang. After this treatment, the pungent and hot properties of the raw herb are moderated by the nature of honey, which is sweet and moistening. Although the dispersing action of honey-fried Ma Huang is no longer strong and quick, it is perfect to moisten the Lung, and disperse and descend the Lung-Qi. In the syndrome of Lung-Qi deficiency, it is often used as assistant for treating shortness of breath, wheezing, a stifling sensation in the chest and asthma.

Jie Geng is bitter, pungent and neutral, and enters the Lung meridian. It is light in nature and is able to ascend and disperse the Lung-Qi. In addition, since it can eliminate phlegm and stop cough, it is often used as assistant in conditions of Lung-Qi deficiency. It treats shortness of breath and expectoration of phlegm. Jie Geng is particularly useful if there is a full sensation in the body or constipation accompanied by Lung-Qi deficiency because it can disperse the Lung-Qi, open the obstruction in the Upper-Jiao, and activate the Qi movement and water metabolism in the whole body. Together with herbs that move downwards, Jie Geng can be used to treat constipation as it ascends the Lung-Qi and activates the Qi movement in the Large Intestine, which is internally/externally related to the Lung.

Jie Geng should be used in a small dosage in the normal dosage range. A large dosage may cause irritation in the throat, a stifling sensation in the chest, retention of phlegm and constipation.

Pi Pa Ye is bitter and cold, and enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. It is able to clear heat in the Lung, descend the Lung-Qi, stop cough and remove phlegm. When it is processed with honey, which is sweet and neutral, it develops a moist nature and can moisten the Lung, descend the Lung-Qi and stop cough. It is particularly suitable for treating both Qi and Yin deficiency in the Lung, and when the dispersing and descending function of the Lung is disturbed. The manifestations are cough without phlegm or with scanty sputum that is difficult to expectorate, and dryness in the nasal cavities, mouth and throat. In some cases, chest pain and difficult breathing are present.

Qian Hu is pungent and cold, and enters the Lung meridian. It is able to descend the Lung-Qi, clear the heat and is very effective for relieving cough. It is used for treating fullness in the chest, cough with green and thick sputum, wheezing and irritability due to obstruction of the Lung-Qi.

Xing Ren is bitter, warm and slightly poisonous. The bitter taste gives Xing Ren a descending quality. Warmth can disperse the accumulation of phlegm and the stagnation of Qi. Xing Ren contains oil, which gives this herb a moist nature. The function of Xing Ren is characterized by descending the Lung-Qi and transforming phlegm in order to stop cough. It is particularly selected in formulas to treat cough with a large amount of phlegm, fullness in the chest, shortness of breath and nasal obstruction, as it has no side effect of injuring the Lung-Yin. It can also eliminate phlegm in Lung-Qi deficiency.

Zhi Ke is bitter and slightly cold, and enters the Stomach and Spleen meridians. It moves horizontally in the Upper- and Middle-Jiao. It is characterized by opening the chest and reducing fullness, irritability and depression due to Qi stagnation. It has the function of dissolving phlegm and can treat cough due to heat in the Lung.

Wu Wei Zi is sour and warm, and enters the Lung, Heart and Kidney meridians. It is often used as assistant to stabilize the Lung-Qi when the Lung-Qi is dispersed widely by shallow and quick breathing, particularly in chronic conditions of Lung-Qi deficiency. It should not be used in a large dosage or in any condition where there is accumulation of a large amount of phlegm.

Gan Cao enters the 12 meridians, and its sweet taste gives this herb tonifying, modifying and harmonizing abilities. It is able to tonify and moisten the Lung, moderate the hot or harsh herbs in the formula, and integrate the actions of the herbs that work at different levels and in different directions.

Jie Geng is pungent, bitter and neutral, and enters the Lung meridian. It is used mainly as envoy in the formula that tonifies the Spleen-Qi so as to generate the Lung-Qi. It serves as guide, and lifts the Spleen-Qi to the Lung so as to strengthen the Lung-Qi.