A most familiar concern is occasional fatigue and a temporary lack of stamina or endurance − not having what we feel we should to maintain the pace of our lives. Of course, the body does not produce energy the way electricity is generated by hydroelectric turbines, a nuclear power plant or solar battery cells. In fact, one of the mysteries of life is that organisms within complex living systems are not only able to create more energy than they use, they are able to sustain the balance of input and output almost indefinitely − for a lifetime. In the language of Chinese traditional herbalism, this biological energy is called Qi and its source is as infinite and eternal as that of Heaven and Earth, Yang and Yin. Qi permeates the world and it permeates us. Yet, because we are each separate individuals as well as being part of a greater collectivity, we are limited in our capacity to generate and utilize Qi. It is our destiny to be born, live and die, to have a beginning, middle and end. Yet within the measure of a lifetime, we have the option of quickly using up what we have or making it last longer. There exist ancient methods of cultivating Qi that include the use of mental discipline, philosophical reflection, physical and dietary regulation and herbal formulas. With good fortune we will realize that maintaining vigor and vitality throughout life depends on our ability to husband our internal resources, and to spend our Qi wisely. Herbal ingredients that help to supplement Qi and slow down its decline are those that strengthen the Three Sources of Qi: the Spleen, Lung and Kidney. The Spleen generates Qi from food and fluids. The Lung alchemically combines Food Qi (Gu Qi) and Atmospheric Qi (Da or Zong Qi) to produce True Qi (Zhen Qi). The Kidney stores and disseminates Original or Prenatal Qi (Xan Tian Qi) and Acquired or Postnatal Qi (Hou Tian Qi). Basic Boost restores Qi by strengthening the ability of the Spleen to transform, the Lung to transmute and the Kidney to concentrate and retain. It not only expands the body’s capacity for Qi, it also supports the body to utilize it intelligently. The combination of increased capacity and greater body intelligence helps us to feel comfortable and strong. For occasional lack of energy due to physical and mental effort or strain and lack of sleep, Basic Boost supports bodily strength, mental alertness and joi de vivre by fortifying the Three Sources of Qi. RATIONALE Together, Astragalus root, White Asian ginseng root and rhizome and Eleuthero root and rhizome strengthen the Spleen and the Lung, tonifying the Qi of the exterior and the interior. Eleuthero root and rhizome augments the potent, invigorating ability of White Asian ginseng root and rhizome to support strength and endurance. White atractylodes rhizome and honey fried Chinese licorice root and rhizome assist in strengthening the Spleen, consolidating the Qi at the surface (the Wei or Defensive Qi) and reinforcing the Qi of the interior (the Ying or Nutritive Qi). Long pepper fruit, dry fried Bitter orange mature fruit and Platycodon root warm the Spleen, Lung and Kidney and encourage the circulation of Qi throughout the body, supporting respiration and digestion while alleviating stagnation and accumulation. Schisandra fruit strengthens the Lung and the Kidney by anchoring that which is received by the Lung and gathered by the Kidney. Forsythia fruit, in partnership with honey fried Chinese licorice root and rhizome, counters the Heat that might be generated by the other ingredients.
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