Ren Shen Huang Qi San
Star人参黄芪散 (Ginseng and Astragalus Powder)
Source: Wei Sheng Bao Jian
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Ren Shen Huang Qi San (Ginseng and Astragalus Powder), from Precious Mirror of Health (Yuan dynasty).
Associated formula of Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang.
Actions: Enriches the yin; Clears heat; Augments the qi; Strengthens the Spleen; Stops coughing; Transforms phlegm
Usage: For deficiency consumption with lethargy, weakness, cough with scanty sputum, dry throat, spontaneous sweating, poor appetite, afternoon fever, pale tongue with dark-red tip, deficient rapid pulse (yin, blood and qi deficiency with lurking heat affecting Lungs and Spleen).
Category: Formulas that Clear Heat from Deficiency.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 214.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ginseng Radix (ren shen) 30g
|
30g | 3.13% | — | |
|
Qin Jiao
as printed: Gentianae macrophyllae Radix (qin jiao) 60g
|
60g | 6.25% | — | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Poria (fu ling) 60g
|
60g | 6.25% | — | |
|
Zhi Mu
as printed: Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (zhi mu) 75g
|
75g | 7.81% | — | |
|
Sang Bai Pi
as printed: Mori Cortex (sang bai pi) 45g
|
45g | 4.69% | — | |
|
Jie Geng
as printed: Platycodi Radix (jie geng) 30g
|
30g | 3.13% | — | |
|
Zi Wan
as printed: Asteris Radix (zi wan) 45g
|
45g | 4.69% | — | |
|
Chai Hu
as printed: Bupleuri Radix (chai hu) 75g
|
75g | 7.81% | — | |
|
Huang Qi
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Astragali Radix (huang qi) 105g
|
105g | 10.94% | — | |
|
Di Gu Pi
as printed: Lycii Cortex (di gu pi) 60g
|
60g | 6.25% | — | |
|
Sheng Di Huang
as printed: Rehmanniae Radix (sheng di huang) 60g
|
60g | 6.25% | — | |
|
Ban Xia
as printed: Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum (zhi ban xia) 45g
|
45g | 4.69% | — | |
|
Chi Shao
as printed: Paeoniae Radix rubra (chi shao) 45g
|
45g | 4.69% | — | |
|
Tian Men Dong
as printed: Asparagi Radix (tian men dong) 90g
|
90g | 9.38% | — | |
|
Bie Jia
as printed: prepared Trionycis Carapax (zhi bie jia) 90g
|
90g | 9.38% | — | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Glycyrrhizae Radix preparata (zhi gan cao) 45g
|
45g | 4.69% | — |
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 cool (-0.67)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 34%, cool 22%, neutral 20%, warm 23%.
Small but decisive: Zhi Mu 75g (cold, 8% of the grams), Sang Bai Pi 45g (cold, 5% of the grams), Di Gu Pi 60g (cold, 6% of the grams), Sheng Di Huang 60g (cold, 6% of the grams), Tian Men Dong 90g (cold, 9% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 16%
- sweet 40%
- sour 2%
- bitter 27%
- salty 9%
- bland 6%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 66%
- Kidney 48%
- Liver 41%
- Spleen 34%
- Stomach 23%
- Heart 20%
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
Powder, 9g twice daily as a draft on an empty stomach; or decoct at about one-tenth of the doses.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Qin Jiao Bie Jia San without Dang Gui + Da Ban Xia Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Chi Shao, Fu Ling, Huang Qi, Sang Bai Pi, Sheng Di Huang, Tian Men Dong and Zi Wan
- This formula = Da Ban Xia Tang + Qin Jiao Bie Jia San + Jie Geng Tang + Chi Shao, Fu Ling, Huang Qi, Sang Bai Pi, Sheng Di Huang, Tian Men Dong and Zi Wan
- This formula = Jie Geng Tang + Qin Jiao Bie Jia San + Da Ban Xia Tang + Chi Shao, Fu Ling, Huang Qi, Sang Bai Pi, Sheng Di Huang, Tian Men Dong and Zi Wan
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
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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