Prescriptions for regulating the flow of qi refer to those that mainly comprise drugs with the action of promoting the normal flow of qi and are applied in functional disorder of qi.
 
Since functional disorder of qi may manifest either qi stagnation or reversed flow of qi, this group of prescriptions is subdivided accordingly into prescriptions for promoting the flow of qi and those for descending the upward adverse flow of qi.
 
The former is chiefly composed of drugs, which bear the action of promoting the functional activities of qi and relieving flatulence, and fit for qi stagnation syndrome of the spleen, stomach and liver. The latter, however, consists mainly of drugs that can check the upward adverse flow of qi and is indicated for syndromes of upward flow of lung-qi and stomach-qi.

Most ingredients of this group of prescriptions are pungent, warm, aromatic and dry in nature and apt to consume qi and body fluid. Therefore, they should not be taken overdose or for long time. Besides, they should be used carefully for the aged, the weak, those with hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency, or pregnant women.