Can Xuefu Zhuyu be taken for qi deficiency?

Patients with qi deficiency should use Xuefu Zhuyu (Blood House Stasis-Dispelling) formula cautiously. Xuefu Zhuyu tablets or pills are primarily used to treat conditions caused by stagnation of qi and blood stasis, such as chest obstruction and headaches, and have the functions of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, regulating qi flow, and relieving pain. Patients with qi deficiency typically present symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and low voice; their treatment principle mainly focuses on replenishing qi and addressing deficiency. Some ingredients in Xuefu Zhuyu pills, such as Angelica sinensis (Danggui) and red peony root (Chishao), promote blood circulation and may somewhat facilitate the movement of qi and blood. However, Xuefu Zhuyu pills primarily target qi stagnation with blood stasis, not qi deficiency itself. Therefore, if patients with qi deficiency take Xuefu Zhuyu pills, the blood-activating effects might further dissipate qi and blood, potentially worsening symptoms of qi deficiency. These patients should thus exercise caution when using Xuefu Zhuyu tablets or pills and ideally do so only under the guidance of a physician. For symptoms of qi and blood deficiency, alternative treatments such as Buzhong Yiqi Pills or Bazhen Granules may be considered.