Shengxian Tang (Decoction for Raising the Sunken)

醫學衷中參西錄

Raw Jianqi (Astragalus) 18 g, Zhimu 9 g, Chaihu 5 g, Jiegeng 5 g, Shengma 3 g.

Simmer six bowls of water over medium-low heat until reduced to two bowls; take one bowl warm after breakfast and dinner.

湯劑

Raise and lift the great qi.

Treats sinking of the great qi in the chest, with shortness of breath insufficient to breathe. Sometimes there is strained breathing, resembling panting; sometimes the breath is about to stop, with danger imminent. Its accompanying signs may include alternating chills and fever, dry throat and thirst, fullness, oppression, and severe palpitations, or clouded spirit and forgetfulness. The various symptoms are truly difficult to enumerate. The pulse is deep, slow, weak, and faint, especially anterior to the guan. In severe cases, the six pulses may be incomplete, or irregular and uneven.

For extreme deficiency and sinking of the qi aspect: add Ren Shen (Ginseng): 10, Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus officinalis): 15. -- With concurrent cold pattern: add Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger): 10.