Description
Brew a tradition of wellness & Nourish your body’s deepest reserves. Simply simmer the herbs & ingredients to create a nourishing and delicious therapeutic soup.
Four Gentlemen Decoction / Herbal Soup (Si Jun Zi Tang) – Restoring Qi, Especially for the Spleen and Stomach
Core Indications : Spleen-Stomach Qi Deficiency
Four Gentlemen Decoction is best for Spleen-Stomach Qi deficiency marked by fatigue, poor appetite, and loose stools.
Four Gentlemen Decoction / Herbal Soup (Si Jun Zi Tang) (四君子汤), or “Four Gentlemen Decoction,” is a foundational formula in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), often called the “Number One Formula for Tonifying Qi.” It is the archetypal formula for gently and fundamentally restoring Qi, particularly in the Spleen and Stomach. Its simple, balanced composition serves as the foundation for many other Qi-tonifying formulas in TCM.
The formula is known for its simplicity : just four herbs, considered mild, warm, and balanced. This gentle tonic can be used year-round to tonify Qi and strengthening the Spleen. Drink it warm on an empty stomach before meals.
Who Is This Soup For ?
This soup is ideal for individual experiencing ;
· Sallow or pale complexion, shortness of breath, fatigue, and a weak, low voice.
· Poor appetite or digestive system, reduced food intake, and loose or watery stools.
· Tongue & Pulse (for TCM diagnosis) : A pale tongue with a white coating; and a weak, forceless pulse.
· Anyone seeking a natural way to support vital energy and promote a healthy digestive system.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Twig(Gui Zhi), white atractylodes rhizome (Bai Shu), Poria (Fu Shen), honey-fried licorice root (Zhi Gan Cao), black dates (Hei Zao).
Health Benefits
Tonifies Qi (vital energy), strengthens the spleen and stomach (support digestive health), to effectively alleviate fatigue, promotes healthy circulation, a healthy and radiant complexion, resolves dampness, promotes metabolic & cognitive health and boosts immunity.
· Digestive Comfort
Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. Improves appetite and nutrient absorption, and reduces bloating and digestive sluggishness.
· Energy and Vitality (Qi)
Combats fatigue and weakness, improves physical stamina and endurance, support recovery after illness or overwork, and reduces spontaneous sweating and shortness of breath.
Recommended Usage
A gentle and mild tonifying food therapy.
Precautions
This is a warm, tonifying herbal soup and is not suitable for everyone. It is normal if you feel warm after consumption. Keep hydrated with drinking more water after consumption. Best consumed during day time to minimize the risk of overheating.
- Avoid during acute illness : cold, flu, fever, sore throat, cough or infections.
- Damp-Heat or Heat Constitution : Not suitable for those with signs of “heat,” such as a bitter taste, dry mouth, mouth ulcers, acne, insomnia, or a red tongue with little coating.
- Avoid during pregnancy.
- Not for high blood pressure
- Avoid taking radish and strong tea together.
- Avoid before surgery
Consultation with a physician / healthcare professional is advised prior to consumption for those with diabetes, any ongoing medical conditions, known allergies, or individuals on medication, especially when you have underlying health conditions.
** Disclaimer : Not a substitute for medicine. Individual results may vary.
The Essence of the Brew
The preparation is a slow, patient process. The ingredients are simmered gently allowing the essence of the herbs to fully infuse into the broth / soup. The result is a deeply aromatic, savoury and subtly sweet.
The herbs are always simmered with a meat, commonly pork ribs or chicken, to create a nourishing broth.
【Non-Vegan Soup】– Pair with chicken / pork ribs / pork bones / lean pork (chunks) / meat bone for a rich and nourishing soup.
【Vegan Soup】 – meat-free soup – Pair with corn / shiitake mushroom / etc, for a light, naturally sweet vegan soup.
Preparation
Mini Pack : 1-2 servings
· Rinse all ingredients. Add them to a pot with blanched pork ribs or chicken. Cover with water 900ml – 1000ml, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Add Salt to taste and serve.
Regular Pack : 2-3 servings
· Rinse all ingredients. Add them to a pot with blanched pork ribs or chicken. Cover with water 2000ml, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 2 to 2.5 hours. Add Salt to taste and serve.
Tip : Always blanch the chicken/ribs in boiling water first to remove scum, ensuring a clear broth.
How to Blanch meat / bone
Blanching meat removes impurities like blood and protein scum, giving you a clearer, cleaner-tasting soup. Here’s how :
· Cut the chicken / pork ribs / lean pork (chunks) / meat bone, etc into pieces. Rinse and Blanch in a pot of cold water with ginger slices (optional). Then rinse clean and set aside.
