Chinese: 济川煎
Pinyin: Jì Chuān Jiān
Other names: Benefit the River Decoction
Chinese: 济川煎
Pinyin: Jì Chuān Jiān
Other names: Benefit the River Decoction
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that moisten Intestines and unblock bowels
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: ConstipationHabitual constipationPostpartum constipation and one other condition
Source date: 1624 AD
Source book: Collected Treatises of Zhang Jing-Yue
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Ji Chuan Jian is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Desert-Living Cistanches (Rou Cong Rong) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1624 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that moisten Intestines and unblock bowels. Its main actions are: 1) warms the Kidneys and 2) nourishes the Blood .
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Ji Chuan Jian is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Kidney Yang Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as constipation, constipation in the elderly or habitual constipation for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the six ingredients in Ji Chuan Jian, we review the patterns and conditions that Ji Chuan Jian helps treat.
Rou Cong Rong is a king ingredient in Ji Chuan Jian. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
Part used: Dried stem
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: KidneyLarge intestine
Category: Tonic herbs for Yang Deficiency
Rou Cong Rong warms and tonifies the Kidney Yang, warms the lower back, and moistens the Intestines to unblock the bowels.
Dang Gui is a deputy ingredient in Ji Chuan Jian. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Dang Gui's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation."
In the context of Ji Chuan Jian, it is used because it nourishes and harmonizes the Blood and moistens the Intestines.
Niu Xi is a deputy ingredient in Ji Chuan Jian. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Niu Xi strengthens the lower back and the Kidneys. It also has a descending nature that focuses the
actions of the formula on the Lower Burner.
Ze Xie is an assistant ingredient in Ji Chuan Jian. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
Part used: Dried tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Ze Xie has a descending nature that drains turbidity from the Kidneys. Together with Achyranthes root, it facilitates movement and guides the actions of the other herbs downward. It also prevents the moistening property of the key herb from causing Stagnation.
Zhi Ke is an envoy ingredient in Ji Chuan Jian. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Zhi Ke's main actions are as follows: "To regulate the flow of Qi, remove its stagnation, and alleviate distension."
In the context of Ji Chuan Jian, it is used because it relaxes the Intestines and directs the Qi downward, thus helping to unblock the bowels.
Sheng Ma is an envoy ingredient in Ji Chuan Jian. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
Sheng Ma raises the clear Yang as a subtle inducement to the descent of the turbid Yin. In combination with Bitter orange, one ascending and the other descending, they enhance the Kidney Qi circulation.
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Ji Chuan Jian is mostly used to treat the pattern "Kidney Yang Deficiency" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Kidney Yang Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Constipation Constipation in the elderly Habitual constipation Postpartum constipation
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ji Chuan Jian treats constipation" for instance. Rather, Ji Chuan Jian is used to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind constipation.
Now let's look at Kidney Yang Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Ji Chuan Jian.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Asthma Chills Fatigue Dysuria Tinnitus Coughing Dizziness Weak legs Lassitude Impotence Sore back Pale face Back pain Dark face Tiredness Knee pain Depression Cold limbs Leukorrhea Weak Limbs Weak knees Infertility Loose teeth Late period Hot flushes Poor memory Loose stools Constipation Incontinence Night sweats Spermatorrhea Poor appetite Oedema of legs Abdominal pain Dripping urine Scanty periods Lower back pain Feeling of cold Low sperm count Sore lower back Premature aging Decreased libido Aversion to cold Cold extremities Oedema of ankles Vaginal discharge Frequent urination Urinary difficulty Pale color periods Abdominal fullness Cold and weak knees Persistent diarrhea Nocturnal emissions Cold hands and feet Premature menopause Infertility in women Night time urination Pale menstrual blood Premature ejaculation Incontinence of urine Prostatic hypertrophy Bright-white complexion Absence of menstruation Thin and watery periods Lower abdominal pressure Pale and abudant urination Thin body lacking strength Loss of hearing or deafness Spasms of the lower abdomen Cold in the lower extremities Edema of the lower extremities Weakness and aching in the knees Exhaustion from long-term illness Weakness of the lower extremities Thin and watery vaginal discharge Nocturnal emissions without dreams Sensation of cold in the lower back Soreness and weakness in the lower back Cold sensation in the lower half of the body
Ji Chuan Jian is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as lower back pain, dizziness, tinnitus and cold and weak knees. Patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen) or slow (Chi) pulses as well as Pale tongue.
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness. It indicates that the Fire of the Gate of Life, which is located between the two Kidneys and supplies fundamental warmth for the body, is also impaired. Therefore, the Organs lack warmth and cannot fully perform their... read more about Kidney Yang Deficiency
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