Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Star参苓白术散 (Ginseng, Poria and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder)
Source: Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (1107)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder), from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang, is used to tonify the Spleen-Qi; transform dampness in the Middle-Jiao; tonify Lung-Qi indirectly.
Presentation: Spleen-Qi deficiency with marked dampness; Lung-Qi deficiency secondary to Spleen-Qi deficiency; chronic diarrhea; weak limbs; weight loss; low soft voice; shortness of breath; tongue: pale with a moist white coating; pulse: soft and slow.
Syndrome: Syndrome of Spleen-Qi deficiency.
Composition strategy:
- variation of Si Jun Zi Tang
- diarrhea strategies: dry dampness with warm-bitter Bai Zhu; leach dampness via urination with bland Fu Ling and Yi Yi Ren; stop diarrhea directly with astringent Lian Zi, Bai Bian Dou, Shan Yao
- Jie Geng with Spleen tonics tonifies Lung-Qi indirectly ('cultivate earth to generate metal')
Source: Yang Y. Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2010, p. 137, 143.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ren Shen (Ginseng radix)
|
10g | 12.9% | Jun (Chief) | strongly tonify Spleen-Qi |
|
Bai Zhu
as printed: Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma)
|
10g | 12.9% | Chen (Deputy) | tonify Spleen, dry dampness |
|
Shan Yao
as printed: Shan Yao (Dioscoreae rhizoma)
|
10g | 12.9% | Chen (Deputy) | strengthen Spleen-Qi, stabilize Spleen-essence lost through chronic diarrhea |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
|
10g | 12.9% | Chen (Deputy) | fairly large dose to aid Spleen-Qi tonification |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria)
|
10g | 12.9% | Zuo (Assistant) | transform dampness, tonify Spleen-Qi |
|
Bai Bian Dou
as printed: Bai Bian Dou (Dolichoris lablab semen)
|
7.5g | 9.68% | Zuo (Assistant) | leach out dampness; with Lian Zi and Shan Yao stabilize Spleen-Qi and stop diarrhea |
|
Yi Yi Ren
as printed: Yi Yi Ren (Coicis semen)
|
5g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | leach out dampness |
|
Lian Zi
as printed: Lian Zi (Nelumbinis semen)
|
5g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | astringent; stop diarrhea |
|
Sha Ren
as printed: Sha Ren (Amomi xanthioidis fructus)
|
5g | 6.45% | Zuo (Assistant) | promote Qi movement, eliminate dampness |
|
Jie Geng
as printed: Jie Geng (Platycodi radix)
|
5g | 6.45% | Shi (Envoy) | ascending; lead Spleen-Qi up to the Lung to tonify 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 (+0.35)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 7%, neutral 52%, warm 42%.
Taste
- pungent 10%
- sweet 65%
- bitter 16%
- bland 10%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 94%
- Lung 65%
- Kidney 58%
- Stomach 48%
- Heart 45%
- Large intestine 7%
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
Source: powder, 6g doses with warm water. Dang shen or tai zi shen now replaces ren shen at 2-2.5 times its dose; often decocted at about one-hundredth of the listed doses.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 314.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Si Jun Zi Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Shan Yao, Bai Bian Dou, Lian Zi, Sha Ren and Yi Yi Ren
- This formula = Jie Geng Tang + Si Jun Zi Tang + Shan Yao, Bai Bian Dou, Lian Zi, Sha Ren and Yi Yi Ren
Full herb lists
- Zi Sheng Wan = this formula without Sha Ren + Ze Xie Tang + Bai Dou Kou, Chinese giant-hyssop, Huang Lian, Ju Hong, Mai Ya, Qian Shi and Shan Zha
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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