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Recommended by holistic veterinarians, Jing Tang Four Gentlemen is a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) herbal formula that tonifies Qi and strengthens the Spleen to address Spleen Qi deficiency patterns in dogs, cats, and horses. A modified Si Jun Zi Tang from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era, 1080), written by Chen Shi-Wen et al., this four-herb formula is one of the most foundational Qi-tonifying formulas in Chinese medicine, combining the primary Spleen Qi-tonifying pair (Dang Shen, Bai Zhu) with a Dampness-draining and Spleen-supporting herb (Fu Ling) and a potent Spleen and Lung Qi-tonifying herb (Huang Qi) to address the root Spleen Qi deficiency that underlies a broad range of deficiency patterns across species. Available in concentrated powder, concentrated capsules, and teapills. Avoid in patients with Excess Heat patterns. May be used for up to 6 months, or as directed by your veterinarian. Dosing varies by species and body weight; your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Avoid in patients with Excess Heat patterns. May be used for up to 6 months, or as directed by your veterinarian. Your authorizing veterinarian will confirm the appropriate dose and duration for your pet.
Active ingredients: Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala), White atractylodes rhizome; Dang Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Codonopsis root; Fu Ling (Poria cocos), Poria sclerotium; Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), Astragalus root.
Inactive ingredients vary by format: concentrated powder contains gluten-free maltodextrin; concentrated capsules contain bovine gelatin and gluten-free maltodextrin; teapills contain activated carbon, botanical wax, and talcum.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Four Gentlemen is a four-herb modified Si Jun Zi Tang organized around a primary Spleen Qi-tonifying pair (Dang Shen, Bai Zhu), a Dampness-draining and Spleen-supporting herb (Fu Ling), and a Spleen and Lung Qi-tonifying and exterior-consolidating herb (Huang Qi) that replaces the classical Gan Cao of Si Jun Zi Tang:
Four Gentlemen contains Qi-tonifying herbs including Dang Shen (codonopsis root), Bai Zhu (white atractylodes rhizome), Fu Ling (poria sclerotium), and Huang Qi (astragalus root). Huang Qi in particular has documented immunomodulatory effects that may be relevant for patients on immunosuppressive medications. The warming, tonifying nature of this formula is inappropriate for patients with Excess Heat patterns; avoid use in these cases. Pets on prescription medications should use this formula under veterinary supervision, as herb-drug interaction research in dogs, cats, and horses remains limited.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include immunosuppressive medications, medications affected by Qi-modulating herb activity, and pets managing multiple concurrent prescriptions. May be used for up to 6 months, or as directed by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can determine appropriateness based on your pet's condition, current medications, and laboratory results.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Four Gentlemen is indicated for dogs, cats, and horses with TCVM patterns of Spleen Qi deficiency, where insufficient Spleen Qi has impaired the Spleen's transforming and transporting functions, leading to the constitutional signs of Qi and Spleen deficiency including fatigue, poor appetite, and the GI and muscular signs associated with Spleen Qi failing to generate and distribute Qi and Blood. Holistic veterinarians frequently prescribe it as a foundational Qi-tonifying formula and as a base formula combined with other targeted herbs for more complex deficiency patterns. Avoid in patients with Excess Heat patterns. Your authorizing veterinarian will confirm the appropriate TCVM pattern diagnosis before recommending Four Gentlemen.
Dosing varies by species and body weight; your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance. For the 90g concentrated powder, the dose for dogs and cats is 0.1g to 0.25g per 10 to 20 lbs of body weight twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian; the small scoop holds approximately 0.3g and the large scoop holds approximately 1.2g. For horses, the standard dose is 3g (approximately 2.5 large scoops) twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. For 0.5g concentrated capsules, the guideline is one capsule per 20 to 40 lbs of body weight twice daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. For small dogs and cats under 10 lbs, one 0.2g concentrated capsule once daily, or as directed by your veterinarian. For teapills, your authorizing veterinarian will provide species-specific dosing guidance. May be used for up to 6 months, or as directed by your veterinarian.
Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is one of the most foundational Qi-tonifying formulas in Chinese medicine, first recorded in Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (1080). The classical formula pairs Ren Shen (ginseng) as chief, Bai Zhu as deputy, Fu Ling as assistant, and Gan Cao as envoy to tonify Spleen and Stomach Qi in a classic four-herb structure representing the four gentlemanly virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. Jing Tang's Four Gentlemen is a TCVM modification that substitutes Dang Shen (codonopsis root) for Ren Shen to provide a gentler, longer-term appropriate Qi-tonifying chief herb, and substitutes Huang Qi (astragalus root) for Gan Cao to extend the formula's Qi-tonifying scope to the Lung and Wei Qi and add immune-supporting and exterior-consolidating action beyond what Gan Cao's harmonizing action provides. These modifications adapt the classical formula for veterinary patients requiring broad, sustained Qi and immune support alongside Spleen Qi tonification.
Four Gentlemen is a warming, Qi-tonifying formula designed for cold, deficient Spleen Qi patterns. Its herbs, particularly Huang Qi and Dang Shen, have warm or neutral natures that tonify Qi and support Yang. In patients with active Excess Heat patterns, the formula's warming and tonifying herbs would add Heat and Qi to an already excess and hot presentation, potentially worsening the Heat pattern rather than resolving the underlying imbalance. Excess Heat patterns require Heat-clearing herbs, not Qi-tonifying and warming herbs. Your authorizing veterinarian will determine whether your pet has a deficiency pattern appropriate for Four Gentlemen or an excess pattern requiring a different formula; this TCVM diagnostic distinction is essential before prescribing any Qi-tonifying formula.
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