Ginseng and Atractylodes Decoction

Samchul-tang

한글 삼출탕 · Pinyin Shen Zhu Tang

參朮湯

Cut and made into one packet, decocted in water and taken.

Composition 構成

Hwanggi Huang Qi
黃芪 황기 · Astragalus

8 g
Chief 君
Changchul Cang Zhu
蒼朮 창출 · Black Atractylodes

4 g
Deputy 臣
Insam Ren Shen
人蔘 인삼 · Ginseng

2 g
Deputy 臣
Singok Shen Qu
神麴 신곡 · Medicated Leaven

2.8 g
Assistant 佐
Jinpi Chen Pi
陳皮 진피 · Aged Tangerine Peel

2 g
Assistant 佐
Cheongpi Qing Pi
靑皮 청피 · Green Tangerine Peel

2 g
Assistant 佐
Hwangbaek Huang Bai
黃柏 황백 · Phellodendron

1.2 g
Assistant 佐
Danggui Dang Gui
當歸 당귀 · Korean Angelica

1.2 g
Assistant 佐 body (身)
Gamcho Gan Cao
甘草 감초 · Licorice

2 g
Envoy 使
Seungma Sheng Ma
升麻 승마 · Cimicifuga

1.2 g
Envoy 使
Siho Chai Hu
柴胡 시호 · Bupleurum

1.2 g
Envoy 使

Total 27.6 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Lifts an origin Qi too weak to reach the Heart and Lung
Clears the heaviness and clouding that follow a meal

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Spleen and Stomach vacuous and weak
the origin Qi unable to flourish in Heart and Lung (元氣不能榮於心肺)
Four limbs heavy and sunken
Clouded oppression and heavy weariness after eating (食後昏悶沈困)

Biomedical correlates

Post-meal fatigue and mental fogging
Chronic fatigue with heaviness in the limbs
Digestive weakness with poor concentration

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治脾胃虛弱, 元氣不能榮於心肺, 四肢沈重, 食後昏悶沈困. 黃芪二錢, 蒼朮一錢, 神麴七分, 人參ㆍ陳皮ㆍ靑皮ㆍ甘草各五分, 升麻ㆍ柴胡ㆍ黃柏ㆍ當歸身各三分. 右剉, 作一貼, 水煎服. 《東垣》

Translation

Treats Spleen and Stomach vacuous and weak, the origin Qi unable to flourish in the Heart and Lung, the four limbs heavy and sunken, and clouded oppression with heavy weariness after eating. Astragalus 2 don; atractylodes 1 don; medicated leaven 7 fun; ginseng, tangerine peel, green tangerine peel, and licorice, 5 fun each; cimicifuga, bupleurum, phellodendron, and angelica body, 3 fun each. Cut the above, make one packet, decoct in water and take. — Dongwon 東垣 (Donguibogam · Naesang)

Clinical commentary 臨床

The chapter's own explanation of the post-meal crash, written as a formula: the origin Qi is too weak to reach the Heart and Lung, so after eating — when what little there is gets diverted to digestion — the head clouds and the limbs go heavy. Astragalus leads, atractylodes dries, and cimicifuga and bupleurum lift; the three fun of phellodendron at the bottom is Dongyuan's habitual check against the lifting turning into heat. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.