The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Chinese Herbal Formulas by Organ System

Chinese herbal medicine can be powerful. But if you’ve ever wanted to try a TCM formula, but gotten stuck wondering “which formula is right for me?,” you’re not alone.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers hundreds of time-tested herbal formulas, each designed to bring the body back into balance in its own unique way. But with so many options, choosing the right one can be overwhelming.

To make understanding your symptoms – and finding the right formula for you – simpler, we’ve created a guide to the key organ systems in Chinese medicine. By understanding these organs (and how they fall out of balance) you can choose formulas that match your specific needs.

Formulas for Patterns, Not Just Symptoms

Unlike Western medicine, Chinese medicine doesn’t prescribe formulas based on single diseases or symptoms. Instead, we look for patterns of disharmony and use formulas to restore balance.

These patterns often occur within one or more of the body’s core systems, each related to a specific organ in the body. In TCM, organ systems are energetic patterns, not just physical organs. So, for example, a Lung imbalance might show up as a skin condition, while a Heart imbalance could affect sleep or memory. That’s why learning to differentiate between patterns — not just symptoms — is key.

Top Formulas for Each Key TCM Organ System

Let’s dive into the five main organ systems (called zang organs in TCM): Spleen, Liver, Kidney, Heart, and Lung. For each system, we’ll take a closer look at what it does, how to know when it’s out of balance, and which formulas are best suited to support it.

Spleen: Your Body’s Energy Generator

In Western medicine, the spleen is an often forgotten organ that plays a role in the immune system. But in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spleen is one of the most essential systems for our health and vitality. Along with the Stomach, the Spleen is responsible for turning food into usable energy (Qi) and blood. It’s considered the basis of gut health and digestion, muscular strength, energy, focus, and immunity.

When your Spleen is strong, you feel energized, mentally sharp, and digest food with ease. But when it’s out of balance, you might experience:

• Fatigue and brain fog
• Bloating or loose stools
• Cravings for sweets or carbs
• Weak muscles or low appetite
• A tendency to worry or overthink

Herbal Formulas for Common Spleen Imbalances

Not all digestive issues stem from the same type of Spleen imbalance. Here’s how to tell what’s going on:

• Tired, bloated, and craving sugar?
  Try Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan to lift Qi and strengthen digestion.
  
• Feeling anxious, scattered, and run down?
  Gui Pi Wan supports both the Spleen and Heart to ease overthinking and rebuild energy.
  
• Sluggish digestion, loose stools, and water retention?
  Shen Ling Bai Zhu San helps dry dampness and stabilize the gut.

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Want to explore more Spleen-supporting formulas and how to choose between them? Read the full breakdown here.

Liver: Your Inner Stress Regulator

In TCM, the Liver is in charge of both detoxifying the body (as in Western medicine) and keeping Qi moving smoothly through the body. When it’s working well, you feel emotionally balanced, experience smooth digestion and regular menstrual cycles, and can handle stress with ease. But when the Liver gets stuck, you might notice:

• Mood swings or irritability
• PMS or irregular periods
• Digestive discomfort (bloating, gas, constipation)
• Tension in the neck, shoulders, or jaw
• Headaches or migraines

Herbal Formulas for Common Liver Imbalances

• Feeling stressed, tense, and moody?
  Xiao Yao Tang soothes Liver Qi stagnation and supports emotional balance.
  
• Prone to frustration, red eyes, or waking in the night?
  Long Dan Xie Gan Tang helps clear Liver heat and ease internal pressure.
  
• Experiencing cycles of stress and fatigue?
  Xiao Chai Hu Tang helps regulate the flow of Qi and strengthen your stress response.

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Want to explore more Liver-supporting formulas and how to choose between them? Read the full breakdown.

Kidney: Your Reserve Tank

The Kidneys in TCM store your Jing, an essential energy that makes up the foundation of your vitality. It acts as your body’s reserve tank or energy savings account; this means it’s “on call” when you’re running particularly low in energy you get from daily life (food, water, breathwork, exercise). This energy also controls your body’s growth and development through the phases of life, fertility and reproduction, aging, bones, lower back and knees, and hearing. When your Kidney system is strong, you feel grounded, vital, and resilient. But if the reserves run low, you might feel:

• Chronic low back or knee pain
• Fatigue or burnout
• Low libido or fertility struggles
• Night sweats or hot flashes
• Hair loss or weak nails

Herbal Formulas for Common Kidney Imbalances

• Feeling cold, tired, and achy?
  You Gui Wan warms and replenishes Kidney Yang to relieve pain and feelings of cold.
  
• Experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, or dryness?
  Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan nourishes Kidney Yin and clears heat and inflammation.
  
• Notice being more tired, forgetful, or lacking libido?
  Jin Gui Shen Qi Tang supports overall Kidney function with a balanced approach.

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Want to explore more Kidney-supporting formulas and how to choose between them? Read the full breakdown here.

Heart: Your Inner Flame and Mental Clarity

In TCM, the Heart governs blood circulation, mental clarity, and emotional balance. It’s considered the seat of the mind (Shen), and it plays a role in all emotions we experience (while other organs may only relate to a certain range of emotions, such as anger and stress for the Liver). When the Heart is in harmony, you feel peaceful, focused, and connected. When it’s out of sync, you may experience:

• Anxiety or restlessness
• Insomnia or vivid dreams
• Heart palpitations
• Trouble focusing
• Low motivation or sadness

Herbal Formulas for Common Heart Imbalances

• Anxious, restless, and can’t sleep?
  Suan Zao Ren Tang calms the Heart and nourishes Yin for better rest.
  
• Feeling scattered, forgetful, and exhausted?
  Gui Pi Wan supports both the Heart and Spleen to rebuild energy and sharpen the mind.
  
• Emotional ups and downs, heart fluttering, or mild depression?
  Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan nourishes Heart Qi and settles the Shen for an overall sense of calm and ease.

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Want to explore more Heart-supporting formulas and how to choose between them? Read the full breakdown here.

Lung: Your Breath and Body’s Shield

The Lungs are the organ of breathing, but they also impact immunity (Wei Qi), skin health, and processing emotions like grief and sadness. As the internal organ in most direct contact with the outside world, the Lungs serve as your first line of defense against external pathogens. When your Lung system is strong, you breathe easily and stay resilient. But when out of balance, you might struggle with:

• Frequent colds or respiratory infections
• Dry skin or eczema
• Cough or shortness of breath
• Sadness or difficulty letting go
• Low energy

Herbal Formulas for Common Lung Imbalances

• Dry cough, dry skin, and thirst?
  Bai He Gu Jin Wan nourishes Lung Yin to moisturize skin and stops dryness-related coughs.
  
• Always catching a cold?
  Yu Ping Feng Tang helps build up Lung qi and wei qi (immune energy) for a stronger defense system.
  
• Struggling to let go of grief or low motivation?
  Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan can offer emotional support alongside Lung tonics.
  
• Fatigue, breathlessness, and low immunity?
  Bu Fei Wan strengthens Lung Qi and boosts overall resilience and Lung health.

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Want to explore more Lung-supporting formulas and how to choose between them? Read the full breakdown here.

Find the Right Formula for You

When it comes to Chinese herbal formulas, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all. That’s actually what makes this system so powerful. Because it’s personalized to your specific symptoms and patterns, you’re able to not only overcome your symptoms, but correct the imbalances that made you feel sick in the first place. 

By learning how each organ system functions in TCM (and how to recognize the signs of imbalance), you can choose a formula that truly fits your body’s needs.

Still unsure where to start? Explore the full blogs for each organ system to go deeper into the different patterns of imbalance and our recommended formulas for relief. 

If you need more guidance, we’re here to help. Schedule a personalized consultation with our Certified Clinical Herbalist, John Anthony Bright, who will help match you with the right natural, herbal support for your needs.