Weakness and Deficiency is caused by a weakness in any one of the following:

1. Three Faculties (Natural, Vital and Animal Spirits)
2. Three Treasures (Essence, Qi, Spirit)
3. Four Substances (Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang)
4. Five Organ-systems (Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen and Kidney)
5. Seven Constituents (Lymph/Chyle, Blood, Muscles/Flesh, Fat, Bone, Marrow/Nerves, Essence)

Each system tends to focus on one or 2 of these groupings. For example, the Greeks use Three Faculties and Organs as categorizing deficiency, the Chinese use Four Substances and Five Organs, while Ayurveda pays special importance to the Seven Constituents.

As can be seen, there are cross connections between these categories. The Vital Faculty produces Vital Spirit, which is Qi from the Chinese viewpoint; the Natural Spirits are largely akin to the Chyle of Ayurveda; Yin or Yang deficiency is associated with a particular Organ, which from another viewpoint can be classed as a weakness of that Organ. So there can be seen to be varying levels of overlap.

What is remarkably consistent within the different systems is the concept of Health and Longevity being essentially connected to the digestion. The origin of Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang, Essence, Spirit, the Organs and Constituents are all initiated in the digestive system.

Both Chinese and Western writers note an “Inherited” basis of the body, and an “Aquired”. That is, strength and constitution are partly related to family genetics, and partly from how that inherited constitution is fed throughout life. While some special medicines (like Ginseng) are said to be able to increase “Inherited” (Yuan or Source) Qi, the primary modality of increasing strength and longevity is primarily focused on that which is acquired through digestion. And if we take Hippocrate’s statement “All Disease begins in the Stomach” as relevent, the basic premise makes good sense.

One simple way of conveying a concept of treating weakness or deficiency is to focus on the Organs. Once we know the correspondances of the organs, we can use this to deduce a rational explanation to a given disorder. For example, the Kidneys control the Bones, and therefore, Osteoprosis is primarily a disease of Kidney deficiency. The Liver controls the Eyes, and chronic or degenerative Eye diseases are often associated with Liver (Yin or Blood) deficiency.

Using the 4 Elements concept, we can use 4 pairs of differing qualities to form a diagnosis of the weakness:
1. Cold and Dry
2. Cold and Moist
3. Warm and Dry
4. Warm and Moist

So for example, if the Heart is Cold and Moist, there will be a feeling of cold, slow and weak pulse, slow heart rate, pale tongue with a moist coating. This type of pattern can be associated with Congestive Heart Failure, and is what would be diagnosed in TCM as Heart Yang deficiency.

If the Lungs are Hot and Dry, there maybe dry, irritable Cough, red face, fast pulse, red tongue with a dry or slightly yellow coat. In both East and West this will be considered a Lung Heat condition, and cooling herbs appropriated to the Lungs will be given.

Strengthening and Tonic Formula

Strengthening and Tonic herbs and formulas are used either to strengthen the body when weak, support the body during chronic disease and old age, or as a health tonic. 

They are also an important part of cleansing, such as Purging. After due purging, strengthening tonics are given to support the body after purging, and to strengthen the body to prevent the return of an illness.

A list of various Tonic Medicines used in the various systems can be found here Here.

Kitchen Tonic Recipes:

1. Rice boiled with Milk. with Honey added; Mastic, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Almond meal and others can be added.
2. Boil Walnut, Pistachio, Almond, Raisins, Dates and Figs together and drink the tea.
3. Powder Sesame seed and Walnut, mix with water to make a thick drink and add Honey.
4. Steep Dates in water, then blend with Milk and a little Cardamon and drink.
5. Chicken boiled in a closed pot in wine with Saffron.
6. Chicken and Parsley broth
7. Capon or Pigeon broth
8. Capon (or Chicken) broth boiled with Rice, with Borage, Egg Yolk, with a little Rose Vinegar or Sour Apple, or Citron, or Wine, with Marjoram, Nutmeg, Saffron and Salt.
9. Chicken Soup cooked with Dang Gui, Codonopsis Dang Shen, Goji berries, Chinese Red Dates (Qi and Blood tonic Soup)
10. “Wine does suddenly and greatly refresh”. (Platerus)
11. Prologed boiled feet of Deer, Sheep or Lamb makes a nourishing broth.
12. A German dish: Egg Yolks, Wine, Sugar and Butter cooked together “does restore excellently”. (Platerus)

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Special Formulas: