When most people think of herbal medicine, they picture a remedy for a cough or an upset stomach.
But in Chinese medicine, some herbs are not meant for treating anything. They are meant for building you up. These are tonic herbs.
What makes an herb a tonic?
The oldest Chinese herbal text, the Shennong Bencao Jing, sorted herbs into three grades.
| Grade | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Superior | Gentle herbs for long term use, to nourish and extend life |
| Middle | Herbs to strengthen the body and prevent illness |
| Inferior | Stronger herbs for treating illness, used short term |
Tonics come mostly from the superior grade. They are gentle, nourishing and meant to be taken regularly, often as food.
The four types of tonics
Chinese medicine groups tonic herbs by what they build.
Qi tonics, for energy
- Astragalus (Huang Qi), traditionally used for stamina and immunity. See our astragalus guide. Shop Astragalus Root Tincture
- Ginseng (Ren Shen), the most famous energy herb. Shop Asian Ginseng Tincture
- Codonopsis (Dang Shen), a gentler everyday option. Shop Codonopsis Tincture
- Chinese yam (Shan Yao). See our Chinese yam guide
The classic qi tonic formula is Four Gentlemen (Si Jun Zi Tang). See our Si Jun Zi Tang guide.
Blood tonics, for nourishment
- Goji berry (Gou Qi Zi). Shop Premium Goji Berries
- Red dates (Hong Zao). Shop Red Dates
- Dang gui (Dong Quai). Shop Angelica Sinensis Tincture
- Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang). Shop Wine-Prepared Rehmannia Tincture
Yin tonics, for cooling and moistening
Used when someone runs hot, dry or depleted. The classic formula is Rehmannia Six (Liu Wei Di Huang Tang).
Yang tonics, for warmth
Used when someone always feels cold and low on motivation. The classic formula is Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Shen Qi Tang).
Tonics for everyday goals
| Goal | Tonics to know |
|---|---|
| Energy and focus | Astragalus, ginseng, Lion's Mane |
| Digestion | Codonopsis, Chinese yam, White Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) |
| Sleep and calm | Reishi, Suan Zao Ren |
| Resilience | Astragalus, Jade Windscreen |
How to use tonics
Start small, stay consistent
Tonics work gradually. Pick one and use it daily for a few weeks rather than taking many at once.
Take them as food
Soups, teas and congee are the traditional way. Our Herbal Broth Bundle is an easy start.
Pause when you are sick
Chinese medicine traditionally stops most tonics during a cold or flu, since they are thought to "lock in" the illness.
Check with a professional
Talk to your doctor or a licensed herbalist before starting tonics if you are pregnant, nursing, on medications or managing a health condition. NCCIH notes, for example, that ginseng may interact with some medications.
For a curated list, see Top 10 Chinese Herbs for Everyday Wellness. For the bigger picture of daily self care in Chinese medicine, read What is Yang Sheng.
Sources
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Astragalus. nccih.nih.gov
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Asian Ginseng. nccih.nih.gov
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Reishi Mushroom. mskcc.org
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Traditional Chinese Medicine, What You Need To Know. nccih.nih.gov
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.