Generate the Pulse
生脈散 · shēng mài sǎn
The classical pick-me-up after illness, summer heat, or running on empty for too long.
What it's for
Three herbs that work together to put back what a hard summer, a stretch of illness, or chronic overdoing takes out of you. Ginseng rebuilds qi, the energy that moves through your body. Dwarf lilyturf restores the body's fluids, and schisandra holds onto both so they don't leak right back out. Practitioners reach for it when someone feels hollowed out, with shortness of breath, dry mouth, and a pulse that feels thin or flickering.
Signs this formula is a fit
At least 2 of the 3 main signs below should sound like you. If only one does, a more focused formula might fit better.
Main signs
Worn out from heat or exertion
dry mouth, breathless, hollowed out
Dry cough that won't clear
not much phlegm, and what's there is hard to bring up
Sweating without doing anything
damp skin even in cool rooms
Extra signs
- Heart pounding
- Dry mouth and tongue
- Short of breath on mild activity
- Weak, fast pulse
Signs it isn't
- You're in the middle of a cold or flu with fever
- You feel cold and damp, not dry and depleted
- You have a wet cough with thick phlegm
What's in it
Safety
- For depletion after illness or heat exhaustion: breathlessness, dry mouth, low energy. Not for an active fever or cold.
- Ginseng can raise blood pressure in some people. If yours runs high, talk to a practitioner before starting.
- Ginseng may interact with blood thinners, antidepressants, and diabetes medication.
- Schisandra can affect how your liver metabolises other drugs.
How to take it
What to get
The Great Pulse Teapills
Plum Flower200 ct
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Dose
Take 8 pills, 3 times a day. Other brands and forms use different doses, so follow the label on what you buy.
How long
Follow any time limit on the product label. If it gives none, ask a qualified TCM practitioner when to reassess. Do not keep taking it unchanged if nothing improves.