What is Shi Quan Da Bu Tang and what does it do?

Shi Quan Da Bu Tang ('Ten-Significant Tonic Decoction') is one of the most comprehensive Qi and Blood tonifying formulas in TCM. It contains ten herbs that together tonify Qi, nourish Blood, and warm Yang. It essentially combines the four-herb Qi tonic Si Jun Zi Tang and the four-herb Blood tonic Si Wu Tang, then adds Huang Qi (Astragalus) for stronger Qi tonification and Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark) for warming. It is used for severe exhaustion, chronic illness recovery, post-surgical weakness, and any condition with significant Qi-Blood deficiency.

How is Shi Quan Da Bu Tang different from Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang?

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang primarily tonifies Spleen Qi and lifts Yang — it's best for fatigue with organ prolapse, chronic low-grade fever, and shortness of breath. Shi Quan Da Bu Tang is more comprehensive — it tonifies both Qi AND Blood simultaneously, plus adds warmth (Rou Gui). Use Shi Quan Da Bu Tang when there is combined Qi-Blood deficiency with cold signs (pale complexion, cold limbs, fatigue, dizziness). Use Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang when the primary issue is Qi sinking without significant Blood deficiency.

Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (十全大补汤): Ten-Significant Tonic Decoction — The Ultimate Qi and Blood Formula

What Is Shi Quan Da Bu Tang?

Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (十全大补汤), the “Ten-Significant Great Tonifying Decoction,” is one of the most comprehensive tonifying formulas in TCM. It was created by Chen Shiwen during the Song Dynasty and recorded in the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary, 1110 AD).

The formula’s genius lies in its comprehensive coverage: it combines the two most famous four-herb tonics — Si Jun Zi Tang (Qi tonic) and Si Wu Tang (Blood tonic) — then adds Huang Qi and Rou Gui for even greater tonifying and warming power. The result is a formula that addresses every aspect of Qi-Blood deficiency in a single prescription.

Formula Composition (10 Herbs)

Herb	Pinyin	Dosage	Role	Source Formula
Ginseng	Ren Shen	9g	Tonifies primal Qi	Si Jun Zi Tang
Atractylodes	Bai Zhu	9g	Strengthens Spleen	Si Jun Zi Tang
Poria	Fu Ling	9g	Drains dampness	Si Jun Zi Tang
Honey-fried licorice	Zhi Gan Cao	6g	Harmonizes	Si Jun Zi Tang
Prepared Rehmannia	Shu Di Huang	12g	Nourishes Blood	Si Wu Tang
White peony	Bai Shao	9g	Nourishes Blood	Si Wu Tang
Angelica	Dang Gui	9g	Nourishes + moves Blood	Si Wu Tang
Szechuan lovage	Chuan Xiong	6g	Moves Blood	Si Wu Tang
Astragalus	Huang Qi	12g	Tonifies Qi, lifts Yang	Added
Cinnamon bark	Rou Gui	3g	Warms Yang, unblocks	Added

Formula Architecture

The ten herbs form a complete tonifying system:

Qi Group (Si Jun Zi Tang + Huang Qi):

Ren Shen + Bai Zhu + Fu Ling + Zhi Gan Cao + Huang Qi
Tonifies Spleen Qi, generates energy, strengthens immunity

Blood Group (Si Wu Tang):

Shu Di Huang + Bai Shao + Dang Gui + Chuan Xiong
Nourishes and circulates Blood, supports the Liver and Heart

Warming Spark:

Rou Gui — warms Kidney Yang and Mingmen fire
Provides the warmth needed to “activate” the tonics

Primary Indications

Core Pattern: Severe Qi and Blood Deficiency with Cold

Key symptoms:

Extreme fatigue — exhaustion not relieved by rest
Pale or sallow complexion — Blood cannot fill the face
Shortness of breath — Qi too weak for normal breathing
Dizziness and lightheadedness — insufficient Blood reaching the head
Cold extremities — Yang too weak to warm the body
Poor appetite — Spleen Qi deficiency
Palpitations — Heart Blood deficiency
Weak, thready pulse — general deficiency

Tongue and Pulse

Sign	Typical Finding
Tongue	Pale, possibly swollen, thin white coat
Pulse	Fine (xi), weak (ruo), deficient at all positions

Clinical Applications

1. Post-Surgical Recovery

Weakness after major surgery
Blood loss during operations
Poor wound healing
Combined Qi and Blood depletion

2. Chronic Illness Convalescence

Recovery from prolonged disease
Cancer patients after chemotherapy/radiotherapy
Severe anemia
Wasting diseases

3. Severe Exhaustion

Chronic fatigue from overwork
Nervous exhaustion
Postpartum depletion with severe weakness
“Burnout” with cold deficiency signs

4. General Constitutional Weakness

Frail elderly patients
Constitutional Qi-Blood deficiency
Poor immune function with cold intolerance

Formula Family Tree

Shi Quan Da Bu Tang sits at the top of a family of increasingly comprehensive tonics:

Formula	Herbs	Focus
Si Jun Zi Tang	4 herbs	Spleen Qi deficiency
Si Wu Tang	4 herbs	Blood deficiency
Ba Zhen Tang	8 herbs (Si Jun Zi + Si Wu)	Combined Qi-Blood deficiency
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang	10 herbs (Ba Zhen + Huang Qi + Rou Gui)	Qi-Blood deficiency + cold
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang	14 herbs	Even more comprehensive

Each step adds tonifying power for deeper or more complex deficiency.

Dosage and Administration

Decoction

Soak herbs 30 minutes
Simmer 40-60 minutes
Divide into 2-3 doses daily
Take warm, with meals
Course: 2-4 weeks, then reassess

Patent Forms

Widely available as pills, powders, and extracts
Pills: 6-9g, 2-3 times daily
Take with warm water

Usage Tips

Best taken with food to aid absorption
Avoid during active infections — do not tonify during acute illness
Discontinue if signs of heat develop (dry mouth, constipation, irritability)

Cautions and Contraindications

Contraindication	Reason
Acute illness / fever	Do not tonify while fighting acute pathogens
Excess heat patterns	Warming tonics worsen heat
Damp-heat	Sweet tonics increase dampness
Yin deficiency with fire	Rou Gui’s warmth aggravates fire
Hypertension	Monitor — some patients may be sensitive

Key Takeaways

Shi Quan Da Bu Tang is the most comprehensive Qi-Blood tonic — 10 herbs covering all aspects of deficiency
Combines Si Jun Zi Tang (Qi) + Si Wu Tang (Blood) + Huang Qi (Qi) + Rou Gui (Yang)
Best for severe exhaustion, post-surgical recovery, and chronic Qi-Blood-Yang deficiency
Too warming for Yin deficiency with heat — use Ba Zhen Tang without Rou Gui instead
Do not use during acute illness — tonics should be given after the pathogen is resolved

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed TCM practitioner before using this formula.