Qi Ge San
Star启膈散 (Diaphragm-Activating Powder)
Source: Yi Xue Xin Wu (1732)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Qi Ge San (Diaphragm-Activating Powder), from Medical Revelations (Yi Xue Xin Wu).
Actions: Rectify qi and resolve constraint, moisten dryness, and dissolve phlegm
Indications: Indicated for the treatment of dysphagia due to long-term depression, qi stagnation and failing to distribute fluids, with difficulty in swallowing, slight relief with belching, dry vomiting or vomiting of phlegm-drool, or accompanied by difficult and hard defecation, dry mouth and throat, gradual emaciation, red tongue with white coating, thready and wiry pulse
Category: Formulas That Move Qi.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas: New Century Traditional Chinese Medicine. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 671–673.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sha Shen
as printed: Radix Adenophorae seu Glehniae (sha shen) 9 g
|
9g | 27.52% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Chuan Bei Mu
as printed: Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae (chuan bei mu) 4.5 g
|
4.5g | 13.76% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Yu Jin
as printed: Radix Curcumae (yu jin) 1.5 g
|
1.5g | 4.59% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Sha Ren Ke
as printed: Pericarpium Amomi (sha ren qiao) 1.2 g
|
1.2g | 3.67% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Dan Shen
as printed: Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae (dan shen) 9 g
|
9g | 27.52% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Poria (fu ling) 3 g
|
3g | 9.17% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
He Ye Di
as printed: Folium Nelumbinis Basis (he ye di) 4.5 g
|
4.5g | 13.76% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
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 cool (-1.02)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 32%, cool 41%, neutral 23%, warm 4%.
Small but decisive: Yu Jin 1.5g (cold, 5% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 6%
- sweet 25%
- bitter 64%
- bland 5%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 55%
- Heart 55%
- Liver 46%
- Stomach 31%
- Pericardium 28%
- Spleen 27%
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
Decoct the ingredients with water for oral use
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Similar Formulas by composition
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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