Herbal Tea Name: Ginseng, Astragalus, and Black-Bone Chicken Soup
Chinese Name: 参芪乌骨鸡汤
Efficacy
Nourishes qi and strengthens the spleen. Suitable for benign prostatic hyperplasia caused by spleen qi deficiency.
Usage
Serve the soup with a meal; the Codonopsis and Astragalus slices in the herb pouch can also be chewed and eaten at the same time.
Ginseng, Astragalus, and Black-Bone Chicken Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Nourishes qi and strengthens the spleen. Suitable for benign prostatic hyperplasia caused by spleen qi deficiency.
the warming-tonic nature is inadvisable during damp-heat, yin deficiency with fire, or episodes of exterior-heat
Commentary
The formula is led by astragalus as the sovereign herb; nature slightly warm, flavor sweet, channeled into the Spleen, Lung, it chiefly tonifies qi, raises yang, secures the exterior and promotes the discharge of pus, striking at the root of the condition. The ministerial support — codonopsis (of neutral nature and sweet flavor, entering the Spleen, Lung, tonifies qi, strengthens the spleen and nourishes the lung), and black-boned chicken (nature neutral, flavor sweet, channeled into the Liver, Kidney, nourishes the liver and kidneys and supplements qi and blood) — reinforces the sovereign’s main effect and coordinates the drug strength. Completing the formula, cooking wine, acting as the envoy to harmonize the various ingredients, so that potency is moderated and stomach qi protected. Together the herbs converge on this action, in accord with the qi deficiency pattern.