In the vast collection of Chinese medicine, Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang is a shining pearl. This prescription originated from Li Dongyuan in the Jin and Yuan dynasties, who was famous for his in-depth research and treatment of spleen and stomach system diseases and was revered as the founder of the "Bu Tu School" by later generations. Li Dongyuan created many effective prescriptions, among which Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang is one of them. This article will introduce the composition, efficacy, modern application and precautions of Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang in detail.

The composition and efficacy of Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang prescription
Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang is made up of many Chinese medicinal herbs including Astragalus, Licorice, Ginseng, Cimicifuga, Pueraria, Semen Cynanchum, White Peony Root and Phellodendron. Each herb has its own unique function in the formula and they work together to achieve the therapeutic effect.
Junyao
Astragalus membranaceus: replenishes qi and raises yang, strengthens the exterior and stops sweating, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling, and relieves ulcers and discharges pus. Astragalus is used as the main ingredient in Yiqi Congming Decoction, mainly to replenish the spleen and qi, raise and clear yang, and improve symptoms of spleen and stomach weakness123 .
Minister medicine
Ginseng (Panax ginseng): Great for replenishing vital energy, nourishing the spleen and lungs, promoting the production of body fluids and quenching thirst, calming the mind and improving intelligence. Ginseng is used as a ministerial drug in Yiqi Congming Decoction, assisting Astragalus in replenishing the spleen and qi, and strengthening the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body.
Pueraria lobata: It can relieve muscle pain, reduce fever, promote the production of body fluids and quench thirst, promote the exfoliation of rashes, and stop diarrhea. Pueraria lobata is used as a ministerial drug in Yiqi Congming Decoction. It has the function of raising the clear qi, which can bring the clear yang qi of the spleen and stomach to the head and face, improving symptoms such as tinnitus, deafness, and blurred vision.
Adjuvant
Cimicifuga foetida: It can cause rash, clear away heat and detoxify, and raise Yang Qi.
Vitex trifolia : Disperses wind-heat and clears the head. -
Phellodendron amurense: clears away heat, dries dampness, relieves fire and detoxifies.
Drug
Red peony root (Paeonia lactiflora): clears heat, cools blood, dissipates blood stasis and relieves pain. Red peony root is used as a guiding drug in Yiqi Congming Decoction. It has the effect of dissipating blood stasis and relieving pain. It can guide the power of the medicine directly to the lesion and harmonize the other medicines at the same time.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis): tonifies the spleen and replenishes Qi, clears away heat and detoxifies, and harmonizes various medicines.

Pathogenesis of Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang
The pathogenesis of Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang mainly involves the weakness of spleen and stomach function, which leads to the failure of clear yang to rise and turbid yin to descend, thus causing a series of symptoms. The spleen and stomach are located in the central region and are the hub of the rise and fall of qi in the human body. The spleen is responsible for raising clear qi, and the stomach is responsible for descending turbid qi. If the spleen qi is insufficient, the power of raising and lifting will be reduced, resulting in a lack of clear qi in the upper part, which is called "clear qi not rising" in traditional Chinese medicine.
The causes of spleen and stomach weakness are often due to excessive eating and overwork, which damages the spleen and stomach functions and makes it impossible to properly transport and transform grain essence, thus affecting the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body. The clear yang qi should rise to the head and face to nourish the nine sense organs (including the eyes, ears, nose, etc.).

There is a sentence in Huangdi Neijing Suwen Yujizhendilun that says, "If the spleen is not in good condition, the nine orifices will be blocked." The nine orifices refer to the nine orifices of the body, including the mouth, ears, nose, eyes, and the front and back two yin. You see, among the nine orifices, seven are in the head and face.
The Neijing also says that the clear yang comes out of the upper orifices, and the muddy yin comes out of the lower orifices. These seven orifices are the ones that need the clear yang the most. The clear yang must rise, and the muddy yin must descend. They must pass through the spleen and stomach, which are the hubs. The spleen is responsible for raising the clear, and the stomach is responsible for descending the muddy. When the spleen is weak, the clear yang cannot rise, and the muddy yin cannot descend. The orifices on the brain cannot be nourished by the clear yang, but are disturbed by the muddy yin. Then problems will arise and they will become blocked.

First, the eyes. For example, in winter, the glass windows are always covered with a layer of mist. Even if you put your face close to it, you can't see the outside world clearly. When the mist covers your eyes, you can't see things clearly.
The second is the ears. When the mucus is stuck in the ear canal, it is called tinnitus. This kind of tinnitus is not loud and will get worse after fatigue. In severe cases, it will cause deafness.
If the Qing Yang does not rise, the orifices of the head and face cannot be nourished by the Qing Yang, and symptoms such as tinnitus, deafness, and blurred vision will appear. The main reason why the Qing Yang does not rise is that the spleen and stomach are weak and cannot rise normally, resulting in the Qing Yang Qi not being able to reach the head and face.
If the turbid yin does not descend but instead rises upward, it will disturb the orifices of the head and face, leading to symptoms such as tinnitus, deafness, and blurred vision.

Benefits of Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang
The main effect of Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang is to nourish the spleen and replenish qi, raise the clear and lower the turbid, and achieve the effect of hearing and vision. The herbs in the recipe, such as astragalus, licorice, and ginseng, have the effect of nourishing the spleen and replenishing qi, which can fill the emptiness of spleen qi, enhance the function of spleen and stomach, promote digestion and absorption, and improve the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body.
The herbs in the recipe, such as Pueraria root and Cimicifuga heracleifolia, have the effect of invigorating the clear yang and ascending the head, which can effectively relieve the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo. Yiqi Congming Decoction can effectively improve the symptoms of spleen and stomach weakness, enhance digestive function, and promote nutrient absorption by nourishing the spleen and replenishing qi.

Tonifying the spleen and replenishing Qi is the fundamental method for treating spleen and stomach weakness. Only when the spleen and stomach function normally can the normal rise of the clear Yang Qi be guaranteed. The herbs in the prescription, such as Pueraria root, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, and Semen raphis, have the function of raising the clear Yang Qi, which can bring the spleen and stomach's clear Yang Qi to the head and face, nourish the nine apertures, and improve symptoms such as tinnitus, deafness, blurred vision, and dizziness.
Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang can effectively improve the symptoms of tinnitus and deafness by tonifying the spleen and replenishing qi, raising the clear and lowering the turbid, especially for tinnitus and deafness caused by spleen deficiency. The herbs such as white peony root and phellodendron in the prescription have the effect of lowering turbidity, which can lower the turbid yin qi in the head and face, prevent the turbid yin from rising and disturbing the orifices of the head and face. Yiqi Congming Decoction can achieve the effect of improving hearing and vision by tonifying the spleen and replenishing qi, raising the clear and lowering the turbid.
Modern Application of Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang
Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang is mainly used to treat weak spleen and stomach function caused by excessive eating and overwork, which leads to symptoms such as cataracts, tinnitus or blurred vision. Modern medical research shows that Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang has significant therapeutic effects in the following aspects:
Tinnitus and deafness : Yiqi Congming Soup can effectively improve the symptoms of tinnitus and deafness by nourishing the spleen and replenishing qi, raising the clear and lowering the turbid.
Blurred vision : The various herbs in the prescription have the effect of enhancing the clear Yang Qi, which can improve the symptoms of blurred vision, especially for myopia caused by spleen deficiency.
Dizziness : The herbs such as Pueraria root and Cimicifuga heracleifolia in the prescription have the effect of invigorating the clear yang and ascending the head, which can effectively relieve the symptoms of dizziness.
Weak spleen and stomach : Yiqi Congming Soup can effectively improve the symptoms of weak spleen and stomach by nourishing the spleen and replenishing qi, enhancing digestive function and promoting nutrient absorption.

Notes
Treatment based on syndrome differentiation : Yiqi Congming Decoction is mainly used for symptoms of spleen and stomach insufficiency and failure of clear yang to rise. When used clinically, it should be increased or decreased according to specific symptoms. The changes are ingenious and should be carefully understood.
Warmth and dryness problem : Most Qi-tonifying drugs are warm in nature and may cause internal heat. The heat-clearing and fire-purging effects of Phellodendron chinense in the prescription can effectively prevent the warmness and dryness of Qi-tonifying drugs.
Long-term use : Long-term use of Yiqi Congming Soup will not cause internal or external obstacles, tinnitus or deafness, and will make you more energetic, improve your vitality, and make you feel healthy and sharp. However, long-term use should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor to avoid overdose or improper use.
Individual differences : Everyone has different constitutions and conditions. When using Yiqi Congming Soup, adjustments should be made according to individual conditions to avoid blindly following the trend.
Conclusion
Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang is the crystallization of the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine. It can improve hearing and vision by nourishing the spleen and replenishing qi, raising the clear and lowering the turbid. Modern medical research has also confirmed its significant efficacy in treating tinnitus, deafness, blurred vision, dizziness, etc. However, when using Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang, attention should be paid to syndrome differentiation and treatment, avoiding the problem of warm and dryness, and long-term use under the guidance of a doctor. I hope this article can help readers better understand and apply Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang to restore physical health.