Shen Ling Bai Zhu San: A Classic TCM Formula for Spleen and Energy Support
Health Lab- Nov 29, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: May 6
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is a time-honored Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula designed to strengthen the spleen, boost energy (qi), and balance digestion.
This gentle yet effective remedy supports the stomach without causing dryness and promotes fluid balance without depleting the body. It’s especially helpful for those who feel constantly tired, lack appetite, or struggle with digestion, even when they don’t feel “sick.”
1. Historical Roots of Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San first appeared in the Song Dynasty’s Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang, a collection of trusted TCM prescriptions. The formula reflects TCM’s deep understanding of the spleen and stomach as the body’s foundation for nutrient absorption and energy production. In TCM, these organs are vital for transforming food into energy and maintaining overall health.
When the spleen and stomach weaken, symptoms like poor appetite, bloating, or loose stools can arise. In ancient times, poor diet or overwork often strained these organs, and Shen Ling Bai Zhu San became a go-to remedy for restoring balance. Its effectiveness has kept it relevant for centuries.
2. Herbal Ingredients and Their Benefits
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San combines a blend of herbs to support the spleen, boost energy, and clear excess moisture. Here’s a look at its key ingredients and their roles:
Ginseng: Sweet and slightly warm, ginseng is a powerhouse for revitalizing energy. It strengthens the spleen and stomach, enhancing digestion and nutrient absorption, giving a tired body a much-needed energy boost.
Poria (Tuckahoe): Mild and sweet, poria supports the spleen while helping the body flush out excess moisture through urine. It reduces bloating and improves digestion by creating a better environment for the spleen and stomach.
White Atractylodes: Bitter, sweet, and warm, this herb strengthens the spleen and dries out dampness. It tackles poor appetite, bloating, and loose stools caused by a sluggish spleen.
Yam: Sweet and gentle, yam nourishes the spleen and balances its energy and fluids. It’s ideal for those recovering from long illnesses or with weak digestion, restoring harmony without being too heavy.
White Lentil: Slightly warm and sweet, white lentils aid digestion and clear dampness, easing indigestion and bloating caused by a weak spleen.
Coix Seed (Job’s Tears): Mild and slightly cool, coix seed supports the spleen, reduces dampness, and balances the warmer herbs in the formula. It helps with swelling and sluggish digestion.
Lotus Seed: Sweet and mild, lotus seeds strengthen the spleen, stop diarrhea, and calm the mind. They also support kidney health, addressing weakness and restlessness.
Amomum (Cardamom): Warm and aromatic, cardamom promotes smooth digestion and clears bloating by invigorating the spleen’s energy.
Platycodon (Balloon Flower): Bitter and neutral, this herb supports lung health and helps the spleen manage moisture by improving lung function. It also guides the formula’s effects throughout the body.
Licorice: Sweet and mild, licorice harmonizes the formula, ensuring all herbs work together safely and effectively.
These herbs fall into three groups: energy boosters, spleen strengtheners, and moisture clearers. The formula can be tailored by adding herbs like hawthorn for poor appetite, or almond and tangerine peel for coughs, depending on symptoms.
3. Conditions and Symptoms It Helps
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is versatile, addressing a range of issues tied to spleen and stomach weakness:
Digestive Issues: It’s ideal for loss of appetite, bloating after meals, or loose, shapeless stools. It also helps with chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or colitis when digestion is weak.
Poor Nutrient Absorption: For those recovering from illness, surgery, or elderly individuals, this formula boosts the spleen’s ability to absorb nutrients, easing weight loss, fatigue, and sallow skin.
Childhood Malnutrition: Children with picky eating, stunted growth, or bloating due to weak digestion benefit from this formula, which supports healthy growth and nutrient absorption.
Modern research backs its benefits, showing it fights inflammation, boosts immunity, reduces fatigue, and supports digestion. It’s used for conditions like chronic gastritis, bronchitis, anemia, and post-illness recovery.
4. Diet and Lifestyle Tips
Pairing Shen Ling Bai Zhu San with the right diet and habits can amplify its effects:
Nourishing Foods:
Jujube Porridge: Cook rice with a few jujubes (red dates) to boost energy, nourish blood, and support digestion.
Chestnut Chicken Stew: Combine chestnuts and chicken for a spleen-strengthening, energy-boosting meal perfect for weak digestion.
Pumpkin Porridge: Warm and sweet, pumpkin porridge is easy to digest and supports spleen health.
Healthy Habits:
Eat regular, balanced meals and avoid overeating or greasy, spicy, or cold foods that strain the spleen.
Stay active with gentle exercises like walking or Tai Chi to improve digestion and energy flow.
Manage stress and maintain a positive mood, as emotional strain can weaken the spleen.
5. Precautions
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is powerful but not suitable for everyone:
Avoid it during colds or fevers, as its nourishing nature could trap illness in the body, worsening symptoms.
If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, consult a doctor, as some herbs may affect blood sugar or pressure.
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is a trusted TCM formula for strengthening the spleen, boosting energy, and improving digestion. Combined with smart diet and lifestyle choices, it supports lasting health and vitality. Always consult a TCM practitioner for personalized guidance.
Chinese Name | 參苓白朮散 |
Phonetic | Shen Ling Bai Zhu San |
English Name | Ginseng, Poria and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder |
Classification | Tonic formulas |
Source | 《Formulas from the Imperial Pharmacy》Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang《太平惠民和劑局方》 |
Combination | Nelumbinis Semen (Lian Zi Xin) 1 jin (500g), Coicis Semen (Yi Yi Ren) 1 jin (500g), Amomi Fructus (Sha Ren) 1 jin (500g), Platycodonis Radix (Jie Geng dried fried) 1 jin (500g), Lablab Semen Album (Bai Bian Dou dried fried) 1.5 jin (750g), Poria (Fu Ling) 2 jin (1000g), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) 2 jin (1000g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao dry-fried) 2 jin (1000g), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu) 2 jin (1000g), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shan Yao) 2 jin (1000g) |
Method | Grind the medicinals into a thin powder. Take 6g each time with Da Zao Tang (Jujube Decoction). The proper dosage for children is related to their age. (Modern use: prepare as a decoction, reduce the dose of each medicinal by adhering to the ratio from the original formula.) |
Action | Boosts qi and fortifies the spleen, drains dampness and arrests diarrhea. |
Indication | Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is indicated for patterns of spleen deficiency with excessive dampness accumulation marked by epigastric bloating or stuffiness, borborygmus, diarrhea, lack of strength in the four limbs, thin body, and lusterless yellow facial complexion. The tongue is pale with a white, greasy coating and the pulse is moderate and deficient. |
Pathogenesis | The stomach governs the reception of food, while the spleen governs its transportation and transformation. If the spleen and stomach are deficient, there is not enough energy to support the reception of food; therefore, the food ingested can hardly be digested. A deficient stomach-spleen can barely separate the clear from the turbid, leading to borborygmus and diarrhea. Excessive dampness accumulates in the middle jiao. This causes the qi to move in disorder resulting in chest and epigastric bloating and stuffiness. When the production of qi and blood is reduced, it fails to provide enough nutrition to the body. The four limbs lack strength, weight is lost, and the facial complexion becomes withered-yellow. So the necessary treatment is to supplement and boost the spleen-stomach and percolate dampness. |
Clarification | There are three reasons for the use of jie geng. First, it opens the lung qi so that the essence can spread all over the body. Second, it can free and regulate the water passageways. An open and smooth waterway is good for the elimination of dampness. Third, it carries all of the spleen-supplements upwards to the lung, so that essence transformed by spleen can be sent to the lung, referred to as “banking up earth to generate metal.” |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation This formula has a mild nature. It is warm, but not dry. Besides the basic spleen-stomach qi deficiency symptoms, the key points that differentiate this pattern include diarrhea, white greasy tongue coating, and a deficient, moderate pulse. 2. Modern applications Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is frequently used for chronic gastritis or enteritis, anemia, chronic bronchitis, nephritis, and leucorrhea that manifest with spleen deficiency and excessive dampness signs. |
Additonal formulae | Qi Wei Bai Zhu San (Seven Ingredients Atractylodes Macrocephalae Powder 七味白朮散) [Source]《Key to Diagnosis and Treatment of Children’s Diseases》Xiao er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue《小兒藥證直訣》 [Ingredients] Ren shen 2.5 qian (6g), fu ling 5 qian (12g), bai zhu (dry-fried) 5 qian (12g), gan cao 1 qian (3g), huo xiang ye 5 qian (12g), mu xiang 2 qian (6g), ge gen 0.5-1 liang (15-30g) [Preparation and Administration] Prepare it as a decoction. [Actions] Fortifies the spleen, boosts qi, harmonizes the stomach, and promotes fluid production. [Applicable Patterns] Spleen-stomach weakness, fluid deficiency and internal heat. Symptoms include: vomiting, diarrhea, hot sensation, and extreme thirst. |
Remark | Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II. Its trade is allowed but subject to licensing controls. |
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