From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese medicines such as ginseng, astragalus and atractylodes have the effect of replenishing qi.
1. Ginseng has the effects of tonifying the vital energy (replenishing the root qi of the body), tonifying the spleen and benefiting the lungs (tonifying the spleen and lungs). This drug has strong qi replenishing effect, and can be used to treat deficiency of the body, deficiency of the spleen, low food intake, and deficiency of the lungs, such as asthma and coughing. It should be noted that ginseng should not be used together with wulingzhi and veratrum.
2. Astragalus has the effect of tonifying qi and promoting yang (tonifying qi so that yang qi rises), benefiting Wei and consolidating the surface, etc. It can treat weak spleen qi (spleen qi is weak) with scanty food and loose stools (feces are thin and unshaped), and sinking of the middle qi (deficiency of the spleen and stomach qi, with the appearance of the internal organs falling down, etc.); and it can also treat coughing and shortness of breath caused by weakness of the lung qi. It should be noted that this drug is not suitable for those who are suffering from superficial solidity and evil, and those who are suffering from yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang.
3. Atractylodes macrocephala has the efficacy of strengthening the spleen and benefiting the qi, drying dampness and inducing diuresis (drying dampness and reducing water-dampness in the body), which can treat loose stools with little food, fatigue, as well as spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency. This drug should not be used by those with Yin deficiency, internal heat and fluid deficiency.
The above medicines should be taken under the guidance of physician’s diagnosis, and should not be used by oneself to avoid delaying the condition.