Ren Shen is sweet and slightly bitter, and enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. It can strongly tonify the Spleen-Qi and the Source-Qi. It is used as chief in the formula to treat severe conditions of Qi deficiency or critical conditions of Qi collapse. Except for Xi Yang Shen ( Panacis quinquefolii radix), all of the Ren Shen products are warm in nature. It is so strong in tonifying Qi that it can produce warmth in the body, and therefore should be used with caution in patients who suffer from Yin and blood deficiency accompanied by Qi deficiency. In most cases of Spleen-Qi deficiency, especially in chronic conditions, a large dosage of Dang Shen ( Codonopsis radix) is often used as an effective substitute for Ren Shen.

Dang Shen is sweet and neutral, and enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. It is effective for tonifying the Spleen-Qi and the Lung-Qi. Its function is much gentler than that of Ren Shen. The strong point of this herb is that, as it is not heavy and sticky, and does not generate heat and dryness in the body, it is more suitable to be selected in a formula to treat chronic, mild cases of Spleen-Qi and Lung-Qi deficiency. As it can also generate the Yin and body fluids, it is also used for both Qi and Yin deficiency.

Huang Qi is sweet and warm, and enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. It can strengthen the Middle-Jiao, tonify the Spleen-Qi and thus treat Spleen-Qi deficiency. Compared with Dang Shen ( Codonopsis radix), Huang Qi is sweeter and warmer, and its function of tonifying the Spleen-Qi is stronger. Its specific action is to tonify the Qi, raise the Yang-Qi of the Spleen and strengthen the muscles. It is selected as chief in the formula to treat sinking of Spleen-Qi, which manifests as chronic diarrhea, prolapsed internal organs, weakness and heaviness of the limbs and tiredness. It is also used as chief in formulas that promote wound healing after surgical operations or trauma.

Since Huang Qi can control circulation in the blood vessels, it can be applied as chief in the formula to stop chronic bleeding caused by Spleen-Qi deficiency, such as uterine bleeding, blood in the stool and purpura. As it is also able to tonify the Spleen-Qi and transport the dampness promptly, it can therefore treat edema.

Gan Cao is sweet and neutral, and enters all meridians. Yi Tang is sweet and slightly warm, and enters the Spleen meridian. Although they are mild ingredients, they are used in specific conditions as chief in the formula to treat Spleen-Qi deficiency. The moderate tonifying action is the most important characteristic of these two substances. They can be used for mild deficiency of Spleen-Qi, or for chronic conditions of Spleen-Qi deficiency when the body is too weak to bear strong tonification. As sweetness may moderate tension and ease muscles, these substances can be used in a reasonably large dosage to treat acute abdominal cramp and muscular pain due to weakness of the Spleen and attack by the Liver.

Bai Zhu is sweet and warm, and enters the Spleen meridian. It can tonify the Spleen-Qi directly and its bitter and warm property can dry dampness. It is often selected as deputy in the formula to enhance the ability of the chief as well as to dry dampness in the Middle-Jiao. It can effectively treat poor appetite, fullness in the stomach, distension in the abdomen, diarrhea and heaviness of the limbs.

Shan Yao is neutral and sweet, and enters the Spleen meridian. It can either tonify the Spleen-Qi or stabilize the Yin. It is especially selected in the formula as deputy to enhance the ability of the chief to tonify the Qi and treat both Qi and Yin deficiency in the Middle-Jiao. Shan Yao also possesses a slightly astringent property, which is helpful in stopping diarrhea. Furthermore, this herb also enters the Lung and Kidney meridians, and is often applied to tonify and stabilize the Qi and Yin of these organs. The common symptoms are lack of appetite, fatigue, loose stool, shortness of breath, thirst and sweating.

Fu Ling is neutral and bland, and can gently tonify the Spleen-Qi or eliminate dampness in the Middle-Jiao. As the function of Fu Ling is gentle, it can be used for a long period of time in chronic and mild syndromes of Qi deficiency of the Spleen. Moreover, Fu Ling can promote urination and leach out dampness from the Lower-Jiao, and therefore treat leukorrhea or reduce the cloying side effect of the sweet tonifying herbs.

As Fu Ling can also tonify the Heart-Qi, it is used for calming the mind. It is particularly useful for children with mild Heart-Qi and Spleen-Qi deficiency as it does not have a strong taste.

Bai Bian Dao is sweet and slightly warm. It has a gentle function of tonifying the Spleen-Qi, and is neither dry nor moist. It is particularly suitable for use in formulas to treat chronic mild deficiency of the Spleen-Qi or for use in the recovery period after chronic diseases when the condition of the patient is too weak to accept strong tonification. As Bai Bian Dou has a gentle astringent property, it is often used for diarrhea or soft stools caused by Spleen-Qi deficiency.

Besides directly tonifying the Spleen-Qi, the moderate nature of Zhi Gan Cao is often used in formulas to reduce the side effect of harsh herbs, such as herbs that stimulate the Qi or remove food or phlegm. It turns a quick action of herbs into a steady and constant action. It is also used to harmonize herbs that move in different directions and work on different levels. The dosage of Zhi Gan Cao should be low in cases of dampness accumulation as its sweet property has the tendency to retain dampness.

Ban Xia is pungent and warm, and enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It can soothe the Stomach-Qi and eliminate phlegm. Chen Pi is pungent, bitter and warm, and enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. It can regulate the Qi and remove phlegm. These two herbs are often used as assistants in formulas to regulate the Qi in the upper abdomen and reduce fullness and distending sensations that are caused by Spleen-Qi deficiency or by the heavy and cloying nature of tonifying herbs. They can therefore accelerate food and water transportation and transformation in the Middle-Jiao.

Mu Xiang and Sha Ren are pungent and warm, and enter the Spleen meridian. They are often used as assistants in formulas to regulate the Qi in the lower abdomen and reduce distension and abnormal bowel movement, which are caused by Spleen-Qi deficiency or by the heavy and cloying nature of tonifying herbs. In this way, they can accelerate food and water transportation and transformation in the Middle-Jiao.

Ho Po is pungent, bitter and warm. It enters the Lung, Stomach, Spleen and Large Intestine meridians. Since pungent and warm have an ascending tendency, and bitterness has a descending tendency, this herb can regulate the Qi in the Upper-, Middle- and Lower-Jiao, and remove dampness, food and phlegm accumulation. It can effectively treat fullness and distension.

Sheng Ma is sweet, pungent and slightly cold, and enters the Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Large Intestine meridians. Chai Hu is bitter and neutral, and enters the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians. These two herbs have an ascending property. They are mainly used as assistants in formulas to ascend the Spleen-Qi in the treatment of prolapse of the internal organs and chronic diarrhea caused by Spleen-Qi deficiency. However, they only bring about an effective result in combination with tonifying herbs in the same formula, such as Huang Qi ( Astragali radix).

Since all the chief herbs enter the Spleen meridian and focus on tonifying the Spleen-Qi, it is not necessary to use an envoy as guide. However , Zhi Gan Cao often serves as envoy to harmonize the whole formula. It harmonizes herbs that move in different directions and works on different levels. The dosage of Zhi Gan Cao should be low in cases of dampness accumulation as its sweet property has the tendency to retain dampness.