Si Jun Zi Tang 四君子汤
Four Gentlemen Decoction

Tradition:

TCM

Source / Author:

Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People in the Taiping Era: 1107

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Ren Shen (Ginseng)	Panax ginseng	3–9 grams
Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes)	Atractylodes macrocephala
Fu Ling (Poria)	Poria cocos	6–9 grams ea.
Zhi Gan Cao (Fried Licorice)	Glycyrrhiza uralensis	3–6 grams

Preparation:

Decoction; often used in pill or powder form

Function:

Strengthens Spleen, increases Qi

Use:

Fatigue, pale face, poor appetite, weak limbs, loose stool, pale tongue, weak pulse
1. Chronic digestive disorders with weakness: chronic gastritis, chronic diarrhea, duodenal Ulcers
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
3. Celiac disease
4. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
5. Childhood Nutritional Impairment
6. Hypoglycemia
7. Diabetes
8. Immunodeficiency
9. Anemia
10. Neurasthenia
11. To strengthen following abdominal surgery

Dose:

the above is taken over the course of the day; often used as powder or pills in doses of 6–9 grams, 2–3 times daily.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. Usually Codonopsis Dang Shen replaces Ginseng with double or triple the dose.
2. If Citrus Chen Pi and Pinellia Ban Xia are added, it is stronger for Spleen weakness with Phlegm and Damp accumulation. This is then called Liu Jun Zi Tang, Six Gentlemen Decoction.
3. If to Liu Jun Zi Tang (above) is added Costus Mu Xiang and Amomum Sha Ren, it becomes Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang, Six Gentlemen Decoction with Saussurea and Amomum. This is more aromatic, and better to move the Qi and activate the digestion. In modern practice, when used as a powder, this last version is most applicable as most westerners with Spleen deficiency usually also have Damp accumulation.
4. If with Blood deficiency, take with Si Wu Tang.
5. Diarrhea due to cold, add Dry Ginger.
6. Chronic Diarrhea or loose stool, add Chebulic Myrobalan He Zi.
7. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, add Costus (Mu Xiang), Cyperus Xiang Fu, Paeonia Bai Shao,
8. Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Blood and Mucus in the stool, add Costus (Mu Xiang), Burnet (Di Yu), Ash tree bark (Qin Pi)
9. Chronic Hepatitis, add Bupleurum Chai Hu, Scutellaria Huang Qin
10. If there is food stagnation and Indigestion, add Hordeum Mai Ya (Barley sprout).
11. Uterine Fibroids, add Zedoary (E Zhu), Paeonia Mu Dan Pi, Peach kernel (Tao Ren)
12. Morning Sickness, add Amomum Sha Ren and Citrus Chen Pi.
13. Edema during pregnancy, take with Wu Pi San.