I. Origins and History

1. Origin and Developmental Lineage

Shiquan Dabu Tang originates from ancient classical medical texts, with a history reaching far back. It gradually took shape on the basis of traditional medicine's ever-deepening understanding and practice of the body's qi-blood and yin-yang theory. As early as ancient times, physicians recognised the importance of qi and blood for the body's health, and through prolonged clinical observation and accumulated experience, gradually developed a series of formulas for regulating qi and blood. Shiquan Dabu Tang is a classical work among these, continually optimised and refined.

2. Records in Related Medical Texts

Traces related to Shiquan Dabu Tang can be found in numerous ancient medical texts. For instance, the *Furen Liangfang Daquan* (Complete Compendium of Effective Formulas for Women), written by Chen Ziming in the Southern Song dynasty, contains a record of the prototype of a similar formula, laying the foundation for the eventual establishment of Shiquan Dabu Tang in later generations. As time passed, the Jin-Yuan physician Li Dongyuan emphasised the key role of the spleen and stomach in the generation of qi and blood, and his academic thought had a profound influence on the formula's development. By the Ming dynasty, Xue Ji, in the *Jiaozhu Furen Liangfang* (Annotated Compendium of Effective Formulas for Women), further organised and refined the formula, formally proposing the name "Shiquan Dabu Tang," and provided a detailed exposition of its composition, actions, and applications, allowing this formula to gain wider clinical application and recognition.

II. Herb Composition (Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy)

1. Chief Herbs: Renshen and Huangqi

Renshen (Ginseng) is sweet and slightly bitter in flavour, slightly warm in nature, and enters the spleen, lung, heart, and kidney channels. It has the actions of greatly tonifying original qi, restoring the pulse and stemming collapse, tonifying the spleen and benefiting the lung, generating fluids and nourishing blood, and calming the spirit and sharpening the intellect. It can greatly tonify the body's qi, providing power for life's activities, functioning like the body's energy engine. Huangqi (Astragalus Root) is sweet in flavour, slightly warm in nature, and enters the spleen and lung channels. It can tonify qi and raise yang, consolidate the exterior and stop sweating, promote urination and reduce swelling, generate fluids and nourish blood, move stagnation and unblock obstruction, expel toxin and drain pus, and promote tissue regeneration to heal sores. Combined with Renshen, it strengthens the power to tonify qi, together forming the core of the formula and laying the foundation for tonifying qi and blood.

2. Deputy Herbs: Shudihuang and Danggui

Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) is sweet in flavour, slightly warm in nature, and enters the liver and kidney channels. It has the action of nourishing yin, tonifying blood, and boosting essence to fill marrow. It can replenish the body's yin-blood, allowing blood to be sufficient and nourishing the organs and tissues throughout the body. Danggui (Angelica Root) is sweet and acrid in flavour, warm in nature, and enters the liver, heart, and spleen channels. It has the actions of tonifying and activating blood, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, and moistening the intestines to unblock bowel movements. It both tonifies blood and moves blood, allowing tonification without stagnation; combined synergistically with Shudihuang, it strengthens the power to tonify blood, assisting the chief herbs in tonifying qi and blood.

3. Assistant Herbs: Baizhu, Fuling, and Chuanxiong

Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) is bitter and sweet in flavour, warm in nature, and enters the spleen and stomach channels. It can strengthen the spleen and boost qi, dry dampness and promote urination, stop sweating, and calm the fetus. It can enhance spleen-stomach transportation and transformation function, promoting the generation of qi and blood. Fuling (Poria) is sweet and bland in flavour, neutral in nature, and enters the heart, lung, spleen, and kidney channels. It promotes urination and drains dampness, strengthens the spleen, and calms the heart. It assists Baizhu in strengthening the effect of fortifying the spleen and promoting urination, while also ensuring the whole formula tonifies without causing stagnation. Chuanxiong (Szechuan Lovage Rhizome) is acrid in flavour, warm in nature, and enters the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium channels. It activates blood and moves qi, dispelling wind and relieving pain. It can move the qi within the blood, promoting the movement of qi and blood, and preventing the tonifying herbs from causing stagnation.

4. Envoy Herb: Zhigancao

Zhigancao (Honey-Fried Licorice) is sweet in flavour, neutral in nature, and enters the heart, lung, spleen, and stomach channels. It can tonify the spleen and harmonise the stomach, boosting qi and restoring the pulse. It harmonises the various herbs, coordinating the properties of the different herbs in the formula, allowing them to work together more effectively, while also moderating the fierce, potent nature of the herbs in the formula.

III. Pathomechanism, Actions, and Indications

1. Pathomechanism Analysis

The main pathomechanism targeted by Shiquan Dabu Tang is insufficiency of the body's qi and blood with declining organ function. Due to various causes such as insufficient congenital endowment, poor postnatal nourishment, prolonged illness leading to bodily weakness, or excessive physical strain, qi-blood generation lacks a source, leading to qi-blood deficiency, which in turn affects the normal function of the organs. When qi and blood are insufficient and the heart loses its nourishment, palpitations arise; when the spleen and stomach are weak and transportation and transformation lack power, poor appetite, abdominal distension, and loose stools arise; when qi and blood cannot nourish the skin, a sallow complexion and bodily emaciation arise; when qi and blood are deficient and cannot nourish the sinews and bones, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees arise.

2. Explanation of Actions

Shiquan Dabu Tang has the action of warmly tonifying qi and blood. Through Renshen and Huangqi greatly tonifying original qi, Shudihuang and Danggui nourishing yin and tonifying blood, Baizhu and Fuling strengthening the spleen and boosting qi, Chuanxiong moving qi and activating blood, and Zhigancao harmonising the various herbs, the herbs work together, tonifying both qi and blood, regulating both yin and yang, achieving the goal of warmly tonifying qi and blood.

3. Indications

It can treat the pattern of combined qi-blood deficiency. Symptoms include a sallow complexion, poor appetite, shortness of breath with palpitations, dizziness, fatigue of the four limbs, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, and excessive menstrual flow. Whether qi-blood insufficiency caused by taxation disorders and prolonged illness, or qi-blood deficiency in women after childbirth, this formula is suitable for conditioning such conditions.

IV. Formula Analysis

1. Tonifying Both Qi and Blood to Boost Immunity

In the formula, Renshen and Huangqi tonify qi, while Shudihuang and Danggui tonify blood; the two work together, tonifying both qi and blood. Qi is the commander of blood — qi can generate blood, move blood, and control blood; blood is the mother of qi — blood carries qi and nourishes qi. Tonifying qi helps generate blood, and tonifying blood allows qi to have something to rely on; qi and blood mutually generate and function, jointly exerting a tonifying action.

2. The Effect of Strengthening the Spleen to Aid Transportation

Baizhu and Fuling strengthen the spleen and boost qi, able to enhance spleen-stomach transportation and transformation function. The spleen and stomach are the source of qi-blood generation; only when spleen-stomach function is robust can the essence of food and water be better absorbed and transformed into qi and blood. By strengthening the spleen, a continuous material foundation is provided for the generation of qi and blood, allowing the tonifying herbs to better exert their action.

3. The Effect of Moving Qi and Activating Blood

Chuanxiong moves qi and activates blood, allowing qi and blood to move smoothly. In the process of tonifying qi and blood, it prevents the tonifying herbs from being too cloying and leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis. When qi moves, blood moves; when qi and blood flow smoothly, this is more conducive to the generation and distribution of qi and blood, allowing the whole formula to tonify without stagnation, achieving a state of harmonious qi and blood.

4. The Power of Harmonising the Various Herbs

Zhigancao harmonises the various herbs, not only coordinating the properties of the different herbs in the formula, allowing them to work together more seamlessly, but also moderating the fierce, potent nature of the herbs in the formula, making the whole formula's action gentle and enduring, better exerting the effect of warmly tonifying qi and blood.

V. Comparison with Related Formulas

1. Comparison with Bazhen Tang

Bazhen Tang is composed of eight herbs — Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, Gancao, Danggui, Chuanxiong, Baishaoyao, and Shudihuang — with the action of tonifying qi and blood. Compared with Shiquan Dabu Tang, Bazhen Tang emphasises tonifying both qi and blood, while Shiquan Dabu Tang, building on this, adds Huangqi and Rougui (Cinnamon Bark). Huangqi strengthens the power to tonify qi, while Rougui exerts a yang-warming action, giving Shiquan Dabu Tang a stronger effect in warmly tonifying qi and blood, making it more suitable for patients with qi-blood insufficiency accompanied by yang-deficiency symptoms.

2. Comparison with Siwu Tang

Siwu Tang mainly treats blood tonification and menstrual regulation, using the four herbs Danggui, Shudi, Baishao, and Chuanxiong, emphasising the nourishment and regulation of blood, relieving a sallow complexion, irregular menstruation, and dizziness caused by blood deficiency. Shiquan Dabu Tang (also known as Shiquan Yin) is formed by combining Siwu Tang with Sijunzi Tang (Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, Gancao) and adding warming interior herbs such as Rougui and Paojiang (Blast-Fried Ginger), tonifying both blood and qi while also having a warming, tonifying action, suited to those with combined qi-blood deficiency, a pale complexion, fatigue with spontaneous sweating, and aversion to cold with cold limbs.

3. Comparison with Sijunzi Tang

Sijunzi Tang mainly treats spleen qi deficiency, using the four herbs Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, and Gancao to tonify qi and strengthen the spleen, mainly used for simple qi-deficiency patterns such as poor appetite, fatigue, and a sallow complexion. Shiquan Dabu Tang, building on Sijunzi Tang, combines Siwu Tang to tonify blood, and adds warming interior, yang-assisting herbs (such as Rougui and Paojiang), thereby combining the tonification of qi and blood with a warming action, suited to more severe conditions of combined qi-blood deficiency, presenting with fatigue, a pale complexion, and aversion to cold with cold limbs, or accompanied by blood deficiency.

4. Comparison with Guipi Tang

Guipi Tang's main actions are boosting qi and tonifying blood, and strengthening the spleen and nourishing the heart, mainly treating the pattern of combined heart-spleen qi-blood deficiency. It mainly uses qi-tonifying, blood-nourishing herbs together with spleen-strengthening, heart-nourishing herbs, with the focus on regulating the heart and spleen. Shiquan Dabu Tang, on the other hand, is a comprehensive warming tonic for qi and blood, involving multiple organs. Guipi Tang places greater emphasis on nourishing the heart and calming the spirit, with more pronounced effect for symptoms such as insomnia and excessive dreaming caused by combined heart-spleen deficiency; Shiquan Dabu Tang places greater emphasis on tonifying the body's overall qi and blood, with better conditioning effect for systemic symptoms caused by qi-blood insufficiency, such as a sallow complexion and bodily emaciation.

VI. Clinical Applications

1. Internal Medicine Applications

In chronic fatigue syndrome, patients commonly present with symptoms of combined qi-blood deficiency such as prolonged fatigue, shortness of breath with lack of strength, dizziness, and a lacklustre complexion. Shiquan Dabu Tang, by warmly tonifying qi and blood, can improve the patient's bodily condition, strengthen physical stamina, and relieve fatigue. For anaemia patients, particularly those with iron-deficiency anaemia and megaloblastic anaemia, if manifestations of qi-blood insufficiency appear, Shiquan Dabu Tang may also be used for conditioning, promoting the generation of haemoglobin and improving blood quality.

2. Conditioning for Gynaecological Disorders

For irregular menstruation caused by qi-blood insufficiency, presenting with scanty menstrual flow, pale colour, and delayed menstrual cycle, Shiquan Dabu Tang can, by tonifying and nourishing blood, regulate qi and blood in the chong and ren channels, restoring the menstrual cycle to normal. In postpartum conditioning, when new mothers, having depleted qi and blood during childbirth, present with a pale complexion, dizziness with palpitations, and unresolved lochia, Shiquan Dabu Tang can help replenish qi and blood, promote bodily recovery, and strengthen the body's resistance.

3. Surgical Postoperative Recovery Conditioning

After surgery, a patient's original qi is severely damaged and qi and blood become insufficient. Shiquan Dabu Tang can be used for postoperative conditioning, promoting wound healing, strengthening the body's resistance to infection, and accelerating bodily recovery. For example, after gastrointestinal surgery, patients commonly present with qi-blood insufficiency and poor appetite; taking Shiquan Dabu Tang can improve digestive function, promote nutrient absorption, and provide sufficient nutritional support for bodily recovery.

VII. Clinical Modifications for Shiquan Dabu Tang

1. Pronounced Yang Deficiency (Add Rougui and Fuzi)

Fuzi (Aconite) and Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) may be added to strengthen the yang-warming action. Fuzi is acrid and sweet in flavour, intensely hot, and toxic, entering the heart, kidney, and spleen channels. It can restore yang and rescue from collapse, tonify fire and assist yang, and disperse cold and relieve pain. Rougui is acrid and sweet in flavour, intensely hot in nature, and enters the kidney, spleen, heart, and liver channels. It can tonify fire and assist yang, disperse cold and relieve pain, and warm and unblock the channels. Combined with Shiquan Dabu Tang, the two can effectively improve yang-deficiency symptoms such as aversion to cold with cold limbs, and cold pain in the lower back and knees.

2. Pronounced Blood Deficiency

The dosages of Shudihuang and Danggui may be increased, or blood-nourishing substances of animal origin such as Ejiao (Donkey-Hide Gelatin) and Lujiaojiao (Deer Antler Gelatin) may be added to strengthen the blood-tonifying action. Ejiao is sweet in flavour, neutral in nature, and enters the lung, liver, and kidney channels. It can tonify blood, nourish yin, moisten dryness, and stop bleeding. Lujiaojiao is sweet and salty in flavour, warm in nature, and enters the liver and kidney channels. It can warmly tonify the liver and kidney, and boost essence and nourish blood. This allows the blood-tonifying power to be stronger, better improving blood-deficiency symptoms.

3. Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis

Taoren (Peach Kernel), Honghua (Safflower), and Zhiqiao (Bitter Orange) may be added to move qi and activate blood. Taoren is bitter and sweet in flavour, neutral in nature, and enters the heart, liver, and large intestine channels. It can activate blood and dispel stasis, and moisten the intestines to unblock bowel movements. Honghua is acrid in flavour, warm in nature, and enters the heart and liver channels. It can activate blood and unblock the menses, dispersing stasis and relieving pain. Zhiqiao is bitter, acrid, and sour in flavour, warm in nature, and enters the spleen and stomach channels. It can regulate qi and relieve middle-burner distension, moving stagnation and reducing bloating. This strengthens the action of moving qi and activating blood, improving symptoms such as chest and hypochondriac distending pain and irregular menstruation caused by qi stagnation with blood stasis.

VIII. Dosage and Preparation (Traditional Method and Modern Concentrated Granules)

1. Traditional Decoction Method

Generally, the herb slices in Shiquan Dabu Tang are soaked in water and then simmered slowly over a low flame. Typically, one dose is decocted twice: for the first decoction, an appropriate amount of water is added, soaked for around 30 minutes, and decocted down to 200–300 ml, then the liquid is strained off; for the second decoction, an appropriate amount of water is added again and decocted down to 150–200 ml, then combined with the first decoction and taken warm in two divided doses, morning and evening. The specific dosage is determined by the physician according to the condition and the patient's constitution; generally, one dose contains Renshen 6–10g, Huangqi 10–15g, Shudihuang 10–15g, Danggui 8–12g, Baizhu 10–12g, Fuling 10–12g, Chuanxiong 6–9g, and Zhigancao 6–10g.

2. Method of Taking Modern Concentrated Granules

Modern concentrated granules are a granule preparation produced from traditional Chinese herbs through extraction, concentration, and other processing methods. When taking, follow the product instructions or a physician's guidance, dissolving an appropriate amount of granules in boiled water. Generally, one dose is equivalent to one dose of the traditional herb slices, taken in two divided doses. This method of administration is convenient and quick, saves time, and preserves the active constituents of the herbs relatively well, making it easier for patients to accept.

IX. Precautions and Contraindications

1. Constitution and Medication

Patients with excess patterns or heat patterns should not use this formula. Patients with excess patterns have exuberant pathogenic qi within the body; using a warming, tonifying preparation may cause the pathogen to linger, worsening the condition. Patients with heat patterns already have internal heat; Shiquan Dabu Tang is warm in nature and may foster this internal heat, worsening the condition. If the patient presents with symptoms such as high fever, vexation and agitation, thirst, and dry, hard stools, use should be avoided.

2. Dietary Precautions

Raw, cold, and greasy foods should be avoided while taking this formula. Raw and cold foods readily damage spleen-stomach yang qi, affecting spleen-stomach transportation and transformation function, which is unfavourable for the absorption and efficacy of the herbs. Greasy foods are difficult to digest and increase the burden on the spleen and stomach, running counter to the action of the warming, tonifying herbs. For example, cold drinks, raw fish, and fried foods should all be avoided.

3. Special Circumstances

Use with caution in pregnancy. Although Shiquan Dabu Tang has a certain tonifying action, a pregnant woman's constitution is special and medication requires caution. If a pregnant woman presents with qi-blood insufficiency symptoms, it should be used under a physician's strict guidance, avoiding adverse effects on the fetus. In addition, use should be suspended during fever from a common cold, to avoid trapping the pathogen; once the cold has resolved, whether to continue medication should be decided according to the condition.

X. Modern Research

1. Research on the Pharmacological Actions of the Herbs

Shiquan Dabu Tang is a classical formula from the *Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang* (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Taiping Era), formed by combining Sijunzi Tang and Siwu Tang with the addition of Huangqi and Rougui. It has the actions of tonifying both qi and blood, tonifying qi, and tonifying blood, and is suited to those with a weak constitution presenting with taxation cough and declining immunity. The formula's ten herbs — Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, Gancao (honey-fried), Danggui, Chuanxiong, and Baishao, among others — are often used as a medicinal food, closely related to Bazhen Tang. Before use, a qualified TCM practitioner should be consulted, and attention should be paid to side effects; Chinese herbal medicine should be used according to proper pattern differentiation.

Modern research shows that Shiquan Dabu Tang has a variety of pharmacological actions. It can promote haematopoietic function, raising the levels of peripheral red blood cells, white blood cells, and haemoglobin, strengthening the body's haematopoietic capacity. It also has a regulatory effect on the immune system, able to strengthen the body's immune function and enhance the body's resistance, defending against invasion by external pathogens. At the same time, it also has an action of improving cardiovascular function, able to dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure, increase coronary flow, and improve myocardial blood supply, exerting a certain protective and regulatory effect on the cardiovascular system.

2. New Findings in Disease Prevention and Treatment

In tumour prevention and treatment, research has found that Shiquan Dabu Tang may, by regulating the body's immune function, inhibit tumour cell growth and metastasis, improving quality of life and prolonging survival in tumour patients. In the adjunctive treatment of certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease, Shiquan Dabu Tang has also shown certain advantages, able to improve the patient's qi-blood state, regulate organ function, alleviate symptoms, and delay disease progression. As research continues to deepen, the application prospects of Shiquan Dabu Tang in the field of modern medicine will become even broader, bringing more benefit to human health.