Do you often feel troubled by these discomforts? Constantly experiencing general fatigue, lack of energy, and feeling breathless even with slight activity; having no appetite, finding food tasteless, and struggling with digestion; tossing and turning at night, unable to fall asleep, or waking up easily, often accompanied by palpitations and heart flutters; experiencing worsening memory, forgetfulness, and easily breaking into bouts of cold sweats?

If you relate to most of these symptoms, there's a high chance that "deficiency of both Qi and blood affecting the heart and spleen" is at play—a mutual interplay between Qi and blood deficiency and weakened heart and spleen functions, creating a vicious cycle. Your body has already sent out warning signals.

Today, I'm sharing a classic formula from a Southern Song Dynasty medical text — the "Ginseng Nourishing and Nourishing Decoction." It is specifically designed to regulate this type of dual deficiency of heart-spleen qi and blood. In addition to the common symptoms mentioned above, conditions such as listlessness, emotional sensitivity and susceptibility to fright, gradual weight loss, dry and dull skin, dry throat and lips, and pale or sallow complexion can all be fundamentally regulated with it, helping the body regain its balance.

Though this formula may seem to contain many herbs, its regulating logic is clear and straightforward. It revolves around four progressive steps: "Supplementing Qi, Nourishing Blood, Calming the Spirit, and Regulating Qi," each layer delving deeper to directly address the root cause:

The first step is to supplement Qi and open the source. Ginseng and honey-fried Astragalus are paired with the core herbs of the Four Gentlemen Decoction to solidly reinforce the spleen's ability to generate Qi and blood. Ginseng greatly supplements primordial Qi, quickly improving the body's weak state. Astragalus not only supplements Qi but also stabilizes the exterior, specifically addressing the issue of spontaneous sweating due to physical weakness. Atractylodes and Poria cocos work together to help the spleen clear dampness obstructions, making its transportation and transformation functions smoother.

The second step is to nourish blood and secure the foundation. Rehmannia root (cooked), Angelica sinensis, and white peony root are used to replenish the body's depleted essence and blood. Among these, Angelica sinensis can both nourish blood and invigorate blood circulation, avoiding stagnation from over-supplementation. White peony root, on the other hand, can secure and consolidate yin blood, preventing its unnecessary dissipation, perfectly aligning with the TCM wisdom that "Qi can generate blood, and blood can carry Qi."

Step Three: Calming the Mind and Stabilizing the Spirit, targeting symptoms such as heart palpitations, insomnia, and forgetfulness, relies on Schisandra chinensis to consolidate scattered heart qi, helping to calm the mind, and further uses Polygala tenuifolia to connect the heart and kidneys, promoting the harmony between heart fire and kidney water, thereby improving conditions of restless insomnia due to deficiency. Step Four: Regulating Qi and Preventing Stagnation, this is the finishing touch of the formula. Adding herbs such as Citrus reticulata peel and Cinnamomum cassia can effectively prevent bloating caused by an excessive amount of tonic herbs that may burden the stomach. This ensures the smooth circulation of replenished qi and blood, enhancing the overall efficacy of the treatment.

Finally, it is essential to remind everyone that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment, as each person's constitution and symptom severity vary. If you experience any of the above discomforts, it is advisable to consult a professional doctor promptly and use medication scientifically under guidance.