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Herbsmith Rx Liu Jun Zi San is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to strengthen the spleen, transform phlegm, and stop vomiting in dogs, cats, and horses. Comparable to Six Gentlemen Powder, Prosperous Farmer, and Six Gentle Pets, it strengthens the spleen, transforms phlegm, and stops vomiting, addressing concurrent spleen qi deficiency and phlegm characterized by loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, and coughing of copious thin white sputum. A six-herb formula combining the foundational spleen qi tonic Si Jun Zi Tang (Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Zhi Gan Cao) with the foundational phlegm-transforming Er Chen San (Ban Xia and Chen Pi, with Fu Ling shared by both), Liu Jun Zi San simultaneously addresses the root of the pattern (spleen qi deficiency that fails to transform dampness and allows phlegm to accumulate) and the branch (the accumulated phlegm-dampness and the rebellious stomach qi that the phlegm obstruction causes). Well suited for dogs, cats, and horses presenting with spleen and stomach vacuity with damp encumbrance, characterized by loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, coughing or expectoration of copious thin white sputum, a pale or swollen tongue with a white greasy coating reflecting the phlegm-dampness accumulation on a spleen qi deficiency background, and a slippery or soft weak pulse. Available as a concentrated powder mixed into food; cats and dogs use the Canine Blend, while horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
What It Supports
- Spleen qi strengthening as the root treatment for phlegm-dampness accumulation: Strengthens the spleen qi using the Si Jun Zi Tang base (Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Zhi Gan Cao) to address the root of the phlegm-dampness pattern, restoring the spleen's ability to transform and transport dampness so that phlegm ceases to accumulate from the spleen qi deficiency source, addressing the fatigue, reduced appetite, and digestive weakness that arise from the spleen qi deficiency alongside the phlegm obstruction in dogs, cats, and horses.
- Phlegm transformation and dampness resolution: Transforms accumulated phlegm and resolves dampness using the Er Chen San components (Ban Xia and Chen Pi, with Fu Ling shared) to address the branch of the pattern, drying the accumulated phlegm-dampness that the spleen qi deficiency has generated, moving the stagnant qi that the phlegm obstruction has caused in the middle jiao and lungs, and progressively clearing the phlegm accumulation that produces the copious thin white sputum and the nausea and vomiting of the phlegm-obstructed stomach qi pattern.
- Vomiting and nausea relief through stomach qi harmonization and phlegm-obstruction clearing: Stops vomiting and relieves nausea using Ban Xia's powerful stomach-harmonizing, rebellious-qi-descending, and phlegm-transforming action, addressing the upward-rebelling stomach qi that arises when accumulated phlegm-dampness obstructs the stomach's normal downward-descending qi direction, providing both immediate vomiting-relief through Ban Xia's anti-nausea and qi-descending action and sustained vomiting-prevention through the formula's progressive phlegm-clearing and spleen-strengthening treatment of the phlegm-dampness pattern's root.
- Appetite restoration through spleen qi and stomach harmonization: Restores appetite through the combined spleen qi-strengthening action of the Si Jun Zi Tang base and the stomach qi-harmonizing and phlegm-clearing action of the Er Chen San components, addressing the loss of appetite that arises when spleen qi deficiency impairs the stomach's receiving function and phlegm-dampness obstructs the normal stomach qi dynamic, progressively restoring the appetite and digestive capacity as both the spleen qi root and the phlegm-dampness branch are addressed simultaneously throughout the treatment course.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action - simultaneous root-and-branch treatment of spleen qi deficiency with phlegm accumulation through the combined Si Jun Zi Tang and Er Chen San strategy: Addresses concurrent spleen qi deficiency and phlegm-dampness accumulation through the classical combination of two foundational formulas that treat the root and branch simultaneously: Si Jun Zi Tang (Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Zhi Gan Cao) is the foundational four-herb spleen qi tonic that strengthens the spleen and stomach qi, tonifies the middle jiao, and restores the spleen's ability to transform dampness so that phlegm ceases to accumulate from the constitutional deficiency; and Er Chen San (Ban Xia, Chen Pi, with Fu Ling shared from Si Jun Zi Tang) is the foundational two-herb phlegm-transforming formula that dries and transforms the phlegm-dampness already accumulated, moves the stagnant middle jiao qi, and harmonizes the stomach. The combination works simultaneously on both layers of the pattern so the spleen qi strengthening progressively eliminates the phlegm's generative source while the phlegm-transforming herbs clear the accumulated phlegm from the branch, creating a self-reinforcing treatment strategy in which the clearing of accumulated phlegm relieves the burden on the spleen qi, and the strengthened spleen qi more effectively resists further phlegm accumulation throughout the treatment course.
- Secondary action - rebellious stomach qi descent and vomiting cessation through Ban Xia's combined phlegm-transforming and stomach-harmonizing action: Addresses the rebellious stomach qi and vomiting that arise when phlegm-dampness obstructs the stomach's normal downward-descending direction using Ban Xia's unique combination of phlegm-transforming, stomach-harmonizing, and rebellious-qi-descending actions, providing immediate vomiting relief through its anti-nausea and qi-descending action while simultaneously addressing the phlegm obstruction that is the cause of the rebellious qi, and ensuring that the vomiting symptom is treated both immediately (through Ban Xia's qi-descending action) and progressively (through the formula's phlegm-clearing and spleen-strengthening treatment of the pattern's root). Chen Pi's qi-moving action supports stomach harmonization and prevents the formula's tonic herbs from creating middle jiao stagnation, while also supporting phlegm transformation.
Available Forms
- Powder - Canine Blend (for dogs and cats): Available in 75 g, 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into food at the recommended dose for your pet's weight. Cats and dogs both use this blend.
- Powder - Equine/Horse Blend (for horses only): Available in 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into grain at the recommended dose for your horse.
Suggested Use
For Dogs (Canine Blend Powder):
- Under 30 lbs: ½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 30-80 lbs: 1 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 80-120 lbs: 1½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- Over 120 lbs: 2 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Cats (Canine Blend Powder): ¼ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Horses (Equine/Horse Blend, 1,000 lb horse): Two tablespoons twice daily for 20 days, then two tablespoons once daily in grain. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis), Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae)
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Liu Jun Zi San is a six-herb formula combining the foundational spleen qi tonic Si Jun Zi Tang with the foundational phlegm-transforming Er Chen San, sharing Fu Ling between both base formulas to create a unified root-and-branch treatment for concurrent spleen qi deficiency and phlegm-dampness accumulation:
- Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) - Ginseng Root: Powerfully tonifies the spleen and stomach qi, generates fluids, and calms the spirit; the principal qi-tonifying herb of the Si Jun Zi Tang base and the formula as a whole, providing the foundational spleen and stomach qi tonification that addresses the root of the phlegm-dampness pattern by restoring the spleen's ability to transform and transport dampness, preventing phlegm from continuing to accumulate from the spleen qi deficiency source. Note: Dang Shen (Codonopsis) is a common commercial substitution for Ren Shen in many Six Gentlemen formulations; this Herbsmith Rx formulation specifies Ren Shen (Panax ginseng) as the qi-tonifying principal herb, providing stronger spleen qi tonification than the Dang Shen substitution.
- Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) - White Atractylodes Rhizome: Strongly tonifies the spleen qi, dries dampness, and stabilizes the exterior; the second major spleen qi-tonifying herb of the Si Jun Zi Tang base, adding bitter-warm dampness-drying action to Ren Shen's sweet qi-tonifying action and directly addressing the dampness accumulation that is the immediate precursor of phlegm in the middle jiao, making it both a spleen qi tonic (addressing the root) and a dampness-drying herb (addressing the phlegm-dampness branch) within the formula's combined root-and-branch treatment strategy.
- Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos) - Poria / Hoelen: Strengthens the spleen, drains dampness, and calms the spirit; the herb shared between both base formulas, serving simultaneously as the third spleen qi-supporting herb of the Si Jun Zi Tang base and the dampness-draining support herb of the Er Chen San component, draining accumulated dampness through urination to reduce the dampness burden on the spleen and support the formula's progressive phlegm-dampness clearing alongside the transforming action of Ban Xia and the qi-moving action of Chen Pi.
- Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) - Honey-fried Licorice Root: Tonifies the spleen qi, nourishes the heart, and harmonizes the formula; the honey-fried form (zhi gan cao) is used specifically because its honey processing enhances its spleen qi-tonifying and middle jiao-nourishing action relative to the raw form, making it more effective as the harmonizing and qi-tonifying fourth herb of the Si Jun Zi Tang base in the context of the spleen qi deficiency pattern, and moderating the interaction between the formula's tonic herbs and the phlegm-transforming herbs throughout the sustained treatment course.
- Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) - Aged Tangerine Peel / Citrus Peel: Moves the qi, dries dampness, transforms phlegm, and harmonizes the stomach; the primary qi-moving and dampness-drying herb of the Er Chen San component, preventing the formula's tonic herbs from creating middle jiao stagnation by moving the qi throughout the treatment course, and providing its own phlegm-transforming and dampness-drying action alongside Ban Xia's transforming action to comprehensively address the accumulated phlegm-dampness from both the qi-moving and moisture-transforming directions. The aged form (chen pi, where chen means aged) is used because aging concentrates its qi-moving and phlegm-transforming properties and moderates its potential for irritating the stomach.
- Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae) - Pinellia Rhizome: Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious qi, and harmonizes the stomach and stops vomiting; the primary phlegm-transforming and stomach-harmonizing herb of the Er Chen San component and the herb most directly responsible for the formula's vomiting-stopping action, providing the formula's most powerful phlegm-drying and transforming action alongside Chen Pi's qi-moving phlegm-clearing action, and descending the rebellious stomach qi that arises when phlegm-dampness obstructs the stomach's normal downward direction to provide both immediate vomiting relief and progressive vomiting prevention as the phlegm obstruction is cleared throughout the treatment course.
Potential Drug Interactions
Liu Jun Zi San contains Ren Shen (ginseng), which has documented interactions with warfarin and anticoagulant medications, antidiabetic medications (ginseng has blood glucose-lowering effects that may potentiate insulin or oral hypoglycemics), stimulant medications, and MAO inhibitors, and warrants monitoring in animals on these pharmaceutical classes. Ban Xia, despite its typical processing, retains mild mucous-membrane-sensitizing properties in some preparations and warrants monitoring in animals with pre-existing gastrointestinal sensitivity. The formula is specifically indicated for the concurrent spleen qi deficiency and phlegm-dampness pattern and is not appropriate for vomiting or nausea from heat patterns, yin deficiency patterns, or excess patterns without the accompanying spleen qi deficiency and phlegm signs (pale swollen tongue, white greasy coating, slippery or soft weak pulse), where the formula's warm drying and tonifying nature may not address the root pattern and could worsen heat or yin deficiency presentations. Pets on anticoagulant, antidiabetic, or stimulant medications should discuss this formula with their veterinarian before use.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (Ren Shen's interaction with warfarin), antidiabetic medications and insulin (Ren Shen's blood glucose-lowering effects), stimulant and cardiovascular medications (Ren Shen's qi-activating effects), and immunosuppressive medications. Your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness based on your animal's condition, current medications, and whether the presenting pattern is the spleen qi deficiency with phlegm-dampness pattern for which Liu Jun Zi San is indicated, with assessment of tongue and pulse findings to confirm the correct pattern diagnosis.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions is Liu Jun Zi San used for in TCVM?
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Liu Jun Zi San is indicated for concurrent spleen qi deficiency and phlegm-dampness accumulation, presenting with loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, coughing or expectoration of copious thin white sputum, fatigue and weakness reflecting the underlying spleen qi deficiency, a pale or swollen tongue with a white greasy coating reflecting the phlegm-dampness on a spleen deficiency background, and a slippery or soft weak pulse. Comparable to Six Gentlemen Powder, Prosperous Farmer, and Six Gentle Pets, it is indicated specifically when both spleen qi deficiency and phlegm-dampness accumulation are present simultaneously, distinguishing it from Si Jun Zi Tang (which addresses spleen qi deficiency without significant phlegm) and Er Chen San (which addresses phlegm-dampness without significant spleen qi deficiency). The combination of digestive weakness, nausea or vomiting, and respiratory phlegm signs in a chronically weak patient is the characteristic presentation for which Liu Jun Zi San is most precisely indicated.
How is Liu Jun Zi San administered to dogs, cats, and horses?
Mix the powder directly into food or grain at the dose recommended for your animal's species and body weight. Dogs and cats use the Canine Blend; horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dogs and cats receive the formula twice daily; horses receive two tablespoons twice daily for the first 20 days, then once daily for maintenance. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain. Your authorizing veterinarian will confirm the appropriate dose and schedule and will also assess the tongue and pulse findings to confirm the spleen qi deficiency with phlegm-dampness pattern diagnosis before beginning the treatment course.
How long does it take to see results with Liu Jun Zi San?
Because Liu Jun Zi San addresses both an active phlegm-dampness accumulation at the branch and the underlying spleen qi deficiency at the root, the timeline for improvement has two phases. Improvement in the vomiting and nausea symptoms is typically seen relatively quickly - often within 1 to 2 weeks of consistent use, as Ban Xia's stomach-harmonizing and rebellious-qi-descending action progressively reduces the phlegm obstruction causing the rebellious stomach qi. Sustained improvement in appetite, energy, and the underlying spleen qi deficiency pattern - reflected in tongue quality normalization, reduced sputum, and constitutional strengthening - typically requires 4 to 8 weeks or more of continued use as the spleen qi is progressively rebuilt by the Si Jun Zi Tang base. Your veterinarian will monitor appetite, vomiting frequency, sputum production, tongue quality, energy level, and body condition throughout the treatment course.
Why does Liu Jun Zi San address both vomiting and coughing with white sputum in the same formula?
In TCVM, phlegm is understood as a pathological substance generated when the spleen fails to transform dampness - regardless of where it accumulates in the body. When phlegm accumulates in the stomach, it obstructs the stomach's normal downward qi direction and produces rebellious qi rising as nausea and vomiting. When phlegm accumulates in the lungs, it produces copious thin white sputum and coughing of the phlegm-cold or phlegm-dampness lung pattern. Because both the digestive and respiratory phlegm signs share the same root cause (spleen qi deficiency generating phlegm from unresolved dampness), treating the spleen qi deficiency root with Si Jun Zi Tang and transforming the accumulated phlegm with the Er Chen San components simultaneously addresses both the vomiting from stomach phlegm obstruction and the sputum from lung phlegm accumulation. This is why Liu Jun Zi San is indicated for animals with both digestive and respiratory phlegm-dampness signs occurring together, a clinical presentation that reflects the shared spleen deficiency root of both symptom groups.
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