Bu Fei Tang
Star补肺汤 (Tonify the Lung Decoction)
Source: Yong Lei Qian Fang (1331)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Bu Fei Tang (Tonify the Lung Decoction), from the Yong Lei Qian Fang, is used to directly tonify the Lung-Qi.
Presentation: shortness of breath; cough; spontaneous sweating; pale complexion; tongue: pale; pulse: weak.
Syndrome: Syndrome of Lung-Qi deficiency.
Composition strategy:
- tonifies all three sources of Lung-Qi, so it comprehensively tonifies the Lung
- useful for weak constitutions, chronic Lung deficiency and repeated colds with slow recovery
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 141.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Ginseng radix)
|
9g | 10.71% | Jun (Chief) | tonify Lung-Qi and Kidney-Qi |
|
Huang Qi
as printed: Huang Qi (Astragali radix)
|
24g | 28.57% | Jun (Chief) | tonify Spleen-Qi and Lung-Qi |
|
Shu Di Huang
as printed: Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae radix praeparata)
|
24g | 28.57% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify blood and Kidney-essence |
|
Zi Wan
as printed: Zi Wan (Asteris radix)
|
9g | 10.71% | Zuo (Assistant) | tonify Lung-Qi, transform phlegm for chronic cough |
|
Sang Bai Pi
as printed: Sang Bai Pi (Mori cortex)
|
12g | 14.29% | Zuo (Assistant) | descend Lung-Qi for shortness of breath and chest stuffiness |
|
Wu Wei Zi
as printed: Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae fructus)
|
6g | 7.14% | Zuo (Assistant) | stabilize the dispersed Lung-Qi |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net slightly warm (+0.57)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 14%, warm 86%.
Taste
- pungent 5%
- sweet 80%
- sour 4%
- bitter 11%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 71%
- Spleen 54%
- Kidney 46%
- Liver 29%
- Heart 18%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Decoction. Codonopsis Radix (dang shen) is now usually substituted for ren shen at 2-3 times its dose.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 331.
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Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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