Sheng Yang Yi Wei Tang升阳益胃汤

Raise the Yang and Benefit the Stomach Decoction

Tonifying 补益剂Tonify Qi 补气

Ingredients14 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

黄Huang Qi黄芪Astragali Radix30gTonifies qi and raises the sunken clear yang 半Ban Xia半夏汤洗Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum15gDries damp, transforms phlegm and directs rebellious qi down 人Ren Shen人参去芦Ginseng Radix15gAugments the source qi of the middle burner 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata15gAugments qi and harmonizes a crowded formula 独Du Huo独活Angelicae Pubescentis Radix9gDisperses damp in the lower body with Qiang Huo 防Fang Feng防风Saposhnikoviae Radix9gHelps the Spleen yang rise and dries damp gently

白Bai Shao白芍药Paeoniae Radix Alba9gPreserves the yin so the many acrid herbs do not dry it out

羌Qiang Huo羌活Notopterygii Rhizoma seu Radix9gDisperses wind-damp and relieves the heavy aching body

橘Chen Pi橘皮Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium6gRegulates qi and harmonizes the Stomach

茯Fu Ling茯苓Poria5gLeaches damp out through the urine 柴Chai Hu柴胡Bupleuri Radix5gLifts the clear yang out of the middle 泽Ze Xie泽泻Alismatis Rhizoma5gDrains damp downward with Fu Ling 白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma5gStrengthens the Spleen and dries damp 黄Huang Lian黄连Coptidis Rhizoma1.5gA token bitter cold check on the damp-heat

Indications

Augments qi and strengthens the SpleenRaises yang and disperses lingering dampClears a small amount of damp-heat from the middle

Spleen and Stomach deficiency with damp-heat lodged in the middle burner. Deficiency comes first; the damp-heat is what deficiency allowed to accumulate, so clearing alone would fail.

Clinical Manifestations

Heavy aching limbs with drowsiness in a weak digestion
Poor appetite with a bitter dry mouth
Loose irregular stool with frequent urination
Aversion to cold in someone who is not externally invaded

TonguePale body with a greasy, slightly yellow coating

PulseModerate and weak

Health Categories

Digestive HealthBone & Joint HealthEnergy & FatigueStress & Emotional Balance

Modern Applications

Chronic fatigue Functional dyspepsia Irritable bowel Myalgia Post-viral fatigue

Common adjustments

Damp-heat more pronounced — increase Huang Lian 黄连 slightly and add Yi Yi Ren 薏苡仁
No heat signs at all — remove Huang Lian
Body aching predominates — keep Qiang Huo 羌活 and Du Huo 独活 at full dose

Contraindications

Not for yin deficiency with heat — the acrid drying herbs will further consume fluids. Not appropriate as a long-term tonic once the damp has cleared; step down to a simpler Spleen formula.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Use with caution in pregnancy. The formula is crowded with acrid dispersing and drying herbs and is not a routine choice in pregnancy; the treating practitioner decides.

Related Formulas

References

Source Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun 《内外伤辨惑论》 · Jin

Classical source as recorded in 《内外伤辨惑论》 (public domain).
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.