If spleen deficiency persists, do not only focus on tonifying the spleen and stomach. Today's prescription is more targeted than drinking Sijunzi Decoction for a yearDo you often feel weak and out of breath after climbing just two flights of stairs? Do you have a sallow complexion all year round and pale lips? When you comb your hair, does the comb get filled with broken strands?Do you always attribute these ailments to "spleen deficiency," drinking Sijunzi decoction every day, but see no improvement for a long time?
Actually, this is a common knowledge misconception for many people:Prolonged spleen deficiency is not merely an issue of the "spleen and stomach" but quietly depletes qi and blood.Qi and blood are the fundamental substances of life activities, just like crops in a field. The spleen and stomach are the roots responsible for "watering and fertilizing," while qi and blood are the land itself. When the land is barren, even daily watering is useless.
Although the Four Gentlemen Decoction is a good formula for strengthening the spleen, its main effect lies in making nutrient transportation smoother, more like a "pipe repairman," but it cannot fill the already empty "qi and blood granary." At this point, it is necessary to introduce the formula known in traditional Chinese medicine as the "Number One Blood-Tonifying Formula"Four-Substance DecoctionOnly four herbs are used in this formula (Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Rehmannia glutinosa preparata). Though seemingly simple, it achieves a thorough and detailed effect in "nourishing the blood."
Angelica sinensis acts like a "qi and blood transporter," capable of nourishing heart blood and liver blood while promoting blood circulation, preventing stagnation from supplementation without movement. Rehmannia glutinosa serves as the main force in blood tonification, gradually replenishing the depleted "blood reservoir." Paeonia lactiflora is responsible for stabilizing qi and blood, preventing the newly supplemented qi and blood from being wasted. The unique dispersing and moving characteristics of Ligusticum chuanxiong help circulate qi and blood throughout the body, avoiding blockage in the spleen and stomach due to overly greasy tonics and preventing additional burden on the spleen and stomach.
Of course, Siwu Tang is not a "cure-all." If the tongue coating is thick and greasy, and there is a constant feeling of abdominal bloating, it indicates dampness in the body. In such cases, it is advisable to add some Poria and dried tangerine peel to dispel dampness. If one is prone to excessive internal heat, with symptoms like dry mouth and throat, reducing the amount of prepared rehmannia root and adding a spoonful of Ophiopogon japonicus can help nourish yin. However, rather than blindly drinking spleen-strengthening soup for a year, the first step in finding the right direction is to determine whether one has "simple spleen deficiency" or "spleen deficiency combined with blood deficiency."
