Astragalus and Pork Liver Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Nourishes qi and blood. Suitable for amenorrhea caused by deficiency of both qi and blood.
given the warm nature, caution is advised if the tongue is red with scant coating or there is tidal fever and night sweats; in the absence of frank deficiency, or where an excess or heat pattern prevails, indiscriminate warming tonic use is inadvisable; the tonifying-warming action may aggravate internal heat; avoid during feverish or inflammatory episodes
Commentary
Astragalus occupies the sovereign position; of slightly warm nature and sweet flavor, entering the Spleen, Lung, it tonifies qi, raises yang, secures the exterior and promotes the discharge of pus and becomes the guiding principle of the whole formula. These are joined ministerially by pork liver (with warm nature and sweet, bitter flavor, having Liver tropism, nourishes liver blood and brightens the eyes), and ginger (nature warm, flavor pungent, channeled into the Lung, Spleen, Stomach, disperses cold, relieves cough and harmonizes the stomach), reinforcing the sovereign’s main effect. The formula is rounded out by scallions, harmonizing the stomach and supporting dietary nourishment, and cooking wine, acting as the envoy to harmonize the various ingredients, keeping the combination balanced and well-tempered. Viewed as a whole, the formula addresses the qi-blood presentation, treating both root and branch.