Chinese: 济生肾气丸
Pinyin: Jì Shēng Shèn Qì Wán
Other names: Golden Chest Kidney-Qi Pill，Kidney Qi Pill, Eight-Ingredient Kidney Qi Pill, Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan, Ba Wei Shen Qi Wan
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm Yang and tonify
Mother formula: Shen Qi Wan
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: EdemaPhlegmCoughing and six other conditions
Main actions: Tonifies and warms Kidney Yang
Contraindications: Pregnant women, those with Damp-Heat accumulation, and those with edema due to... Pregnant women, those with Damp-Heat accumulation, and those with edema due to Wind-water overflow should use with caution. Due to its content of aconite, which is highly heated and poisonous, it should not be taken excessively or for a prolonged period. During medication, a light diet is advisable, with a preference for low-salt foods. Also, because it contains a high amount of potassium, caution should be exercised to prevent hyperkalemia when used in combination with potassium-sparing diuretics like Antaishutong and Amiloride. Avoid concurrent use with sulfonamide drugs. see more
Source date: 1695 AD
Source book: Zhang Shi Yi Tong
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 Sheng Shen Qi Wan is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi), Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) and Cyathula Roots (Chuan Niu Xi) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1695 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Yang and tonify. Its main action is that it tonifies and warms Kidney Yang.
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 Sheng Shen Qi Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing or Kidney Yang Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as edema, heavy back or heavy knees for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the ten ingredients in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan helps treat.
The ten ingredients in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Zhi Fu Zi is a king ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)
Zhi Fu Zi is acrid and strongly warming. It tonifies the Fire of Gate, dispels Cold, and eliminates Dampness. It also strongly promotes movement and reaches down to the source to warm chronic Cold. Together, Zhi Fu Zi and Rou Gui not only assist the Yang and enhance the metabolism of water, but also promote the unhindered dispersion of Yang throughout the body.
Rou Gui is a king ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)
Rou Gui is sweet, and warm. It tonifies Yang, expels Cold and strengthens the Fire of the Gate of Life. It benefits the joints, warms the channels, and unblocks the vessels.
Chuan Niu Xi is a king ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
3. Cyathula Roots (Chuan Niu Xi)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Chuan Niu Xi is sour, sweet and neutral in taste. It descends and encourage urination. It also tonics the Liver and Kidney as well as strengthens the back and knees.
Shu Di huang is a deputy ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Shu Di huang is sweet and cooling. It enriches the Yin and generates Body Fluids. It also tonifies the Kidneys and replenishing the Yin, It also strongly enriches the Kidney Essence.
Shan Zhu Yu is a deputy ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu)
Part used: Dried ripe sarcocarp
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sour
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
Shan Zhu Yu is sour and slightly sweet. It tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, thereby helping to preserve the essential Qi while nourishing the Yin and reinforcing the Blood. Strengthening the Kidney Qi is beneficial to its role as repository of the body's Yin and Yang. It also ensures that nourishment will be supplied to the Liver, which derives its Essence from the Kidneys. The supply of Yin and Essence to the Liver serves to facilitate the free and smooth operation of its spreading function. It also restrains the leakage of Essence. It performs this function by inhibiting the improper dispersion and drainage through the Liver, thereby enabling the Essence to build up in the Kidneys.
Shan Yao is a deputy ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Yam (Shan Yao)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Shan Yao is sweet and bland. It stabilizes the Essence by tonifying the Spleen. To reinforce the Essence and improve its function, the Spleen which is the source of postnatal Essence, must function properly. It is effective in treating Deficiency and various consumptive patterns.
Ze Xie is an assistant ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Water Plantain (Ze Xie)
Part used: Dried tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Ze Xie clears and drains the overabundance of Kidney fire. It is used here to prevent the rich, cloying properties of the chief herb Prepared rehmannia from congesting the mechanisms of the Kidneys, which will induce even more fire from Deficiency.
Mu Dan Pi is an assistant ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi)
Part used: Root barks
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Mu Dan Pi clears and drains Liver Fire and is used here to counterbalance the warm properties of Prepared aconite.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling leaches out Dampness from the Spleen. It is paired with Yam to strengthen the transportive functions of the Spleen. This prevents the formula from clogging up the digestive process and reinforces the Spleen's function of nourishing the body. Fu Ling and Water plantain work together to improve the metabolism of Body Fluids an promote urination, thereby preventing a buildup of Stagnant Fluids.
Che Qian Zi is an assistant ingredient in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Plantain Seeds (Che Qian Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLungSmall intestine
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Che Qian Zi's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and clears Heat. Stops diarrhea by expelling water through urination. Brightens the eyes, used in combination either for Deficiency or Heat. Reduces inflammation of infections. Arrests cough and expectorates Phlegm."
In the context of Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan, it is used because it is sweet and cool. It clears Heat, encourages urination and removes Phlegm.
Conditions and patterns for which Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan may be prescribed
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 Sheng Shen Qi Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Edema Heavy back Heavy knees Knee weakness Weak back Urinary difficulties Coughing Phlegm Wheezing
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan treats edema" for instance. Rather, Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind edema.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Symptoms: Asthma Coughing Cold hands Palpitations Breathlessness Feeling of cold Scanty clear urination White and watery sputum Soreness of the lower back Abdominal distention and fullness Cold feeling in the legs and the back Oedema especially of the legs and ankles
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing. This pattern leads to symptoms such as oedema especially of the legs and ankles, cold feeling in the legs and the back, abdominal distention and fullness and soreness of the lower back. Patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo) pulses.
This pattern is a severe case of Kidney Yang Deficiency and necessarily a very chronic condition. This is both a Deficiency and Excess pattern, the Excess part being the accumulation of Fluids.
It occurs when Kidney Yang fails to transform Body Fluids (since the Kidneys "rule Water") which... read more about Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
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 Sheng Shen Qi Wan 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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