Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan: A Traditional Chinese Herbal Remedy for Kidney Yang Deficiency and Edema
Hongji Medical- Feb 2
- 7 min read
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan, a classic Chinese herbal formula, is renowned for warming kidney yang, boosting vitality, and reducing swelling by promoting urination. Derived from the Ji Sheng Fang (Formulas for Saving Lives) and built upon the foundation of Gui Fu Di Huang Wan (also known as Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan), this formula adds two key herbs—achyranthes root and plantain seed—to enhance its diuretic effects.
This article explores its ingredients, benefits, modern uses, dietary support, and precautions in a clear, accessible way, using common plant names for simplicity.
Ingredients of Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan combines ten carefully selected herbs:
Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia, 24g): Nourishes kidney yin and essence.
Shan Yao (Yam, 12g): Strengthens the spleen and kidneys.
Shan Zhu Yu (Cornelian Cherry, 12g): Supports the liver and kidneys, securing essence.
Ze Xie (Water Plantain, 9g): Promotes urination and clears dampness.
Fu Ling (Poria, 9g): Enhances urination and strengthens the spleen.
Mu Dan Pi (Peony Bark, 9g): Clears heat and promotes blood circulation.
Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark, 3g): Warms kidney yang and boosts vitality.
Fu Zi (Processed Aconite, 3g): Strongly warms kidney yang and dispels cold.
Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root, 9g): Strengthens bones and promotes urination.
Che Qian Zi (Plantain Seed, 9g): Encourages urination and reduces swelling.
Preparation: Traditionally, the herbs are decocted in water, boiled twice, strained, and taken warm in divided doses. Modern methods may involve pre-made pills or powders, dosed as prescribed by a practitioner.
How the Herbs Work Together
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan builds on Gui Fu Di Huang Wan, which warms kidney yang to address symptoms like lower back pain, frequent urination, and cold limbs. The addition of achyranthes root and plantain seed enhances its ability to reduce swelling and promote urination:
Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia): Nourishes kidney essence, supporting overall vitality.
Shan Yao (Yam): Strengthens the spleen and kidneys, easing fatigue and digestive issues.
Shan Zhu Yu (Cornelian Cherry): Stabilizes kidney essence, reducing symptoms like spermatorrhea.
Ze Xie (Water Plantain): Promotes urination, clearing excess fluid and dampness.
Fu Ling (Poria): Enhances urination and calms the mind while supporting digestion.
Mu Dan Pi (Peony Bark): Clears heat and improves blood flow, reducing stagnation.
Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark): Warms the kidneys, boosting energy and circulation.
Fu Zi (Processed Aconite): Powerfully warms kidney yang, countering cold and weakness.
Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root): Strengthens the lower body and aids urination to reduce swelling.
Che Qian Zi (Plantain Seed): Acts as a diuretic, relieving edema and urinary difficulties.
This combination warms the kidneys, boosts energy, and clears excess fluid, making it ideal for kidney yang deficiency with edema.
Effects and Indications
Main Effects:
Warms and nourishes kidney yang to restore warmth and vitality.
Promotes urination to reduce swelling and clear excess fluid.
Indications:
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is used for kidney yang deficiency with water retention, characterized by:
Edema, especially in the lower limbs
Difficulty urinating or reduced urine output
Cold limbs and sensitivity to cold
Weakness or pain in the lower back and knees
Pale tongue with white coating
Deep, weak pulse
These symptoms often occur in cold weather or with chronic conditions, indicating weak kidney yang and impaired water metabolism.
Benefits of Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Warms the Body: Relieves cold limbs and chills by boosting kidney yang.
Reduces Swelling: Promotes urination to alleviate edema and heaviness.
Strengthens the Lower Body: Eases lower back and knee pain, improving mobility.
Supports Kidney Function: Enhances overall vitality and urinary health.
Modern Applications
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is widely used in modern medicine for:
Kidney disorders: Treats chronic nephritis and reduces proteinuria.
Prostate issues: Manages prostatitis and related urinary difficulties.
Diabetes: Regulates endocrine function and alleviates swelling or fatigue.
Cardiovascular health: Supports blood pressure regulation and improves circulation.
Neurological conditions: Relieves symptoms of neurasthenia and sciatica.
Research highlights its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting effects, as well as its potential to protect kidneys, reduce nocturia, and slow aging.
Customizing the Formula
The formula can be adjusted based on symptoms:
Severe edema: Add more poria and a mild laxative like rhubarb.
Dribbling urination: Include akebia or polygonum multiflorum to enhance urination.
Intense back pain: Add eucommia bark for extra support.
Fatigue and low energy: Incorporate ginseng or astragalus to boost qi.
Dietary Support
Pairing Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan with dietary remedies can enhance its effects:
Goji and Yam Porridge: Cook 30g goji berries, 100g yam, and 100g rice into porridge. This nourishes the kidneys and spleen.
Eucommia and Achyranthes Soup: Simmer 15g eucommia bark, 15g achyranthes root, and pork bones for 1 hour. This strengthens bones and reduces swelling.
Poria and Coix Seed Porridge: Boil 20g poria, 20g coix seed, and 100g rice. This promotes urination and supports digestion.
These recipes complement the formula’s warming and diuretic effects, aiding recovery.
Precautions
Use Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan cautiously:
Contraindications: Avoid in cases of yin deficiency with excessive heat or fluid loss. Not suitable for pregnant women or those with allergies to its ingredients.
Side effects: Overuse may cause overheating or digestive discomfort.
Dietary restrictions: Avoid raw, cold, or greasy foods during treatment.
Professional guidance: Consult a Chinese medicine practitioner to ensure safe use and avoid drug interactions.
Storage: Keep in a cool, dry, light-proof place.
If discomfort occurs, stop use and consult a doctor.
Conclusion
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is a powerful Chinese herbal formula that warms kidney yang, boosts vitality, and reduces swelling by promoting urination. Building on the foundation of Gui Fu Di Huang Wan, it adds achyranthes root and plantain seed to address edema and urinary issues effectively.
Its modern applications for kidney disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular health highlight its versatility. With proper use, dietary support, and professional guidance, Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan can significantly improve symptoms of kidney yang deficiency and enhance overall well-being.
Chinese Name | 腎氣丸 |
Phonetic | Shen Qi Wan |
English Name | Kidney Qi Pill |
Classification | Tonic formulas |
Source | 《Life-Saving Manual of Diagnosis and Treatment of External Diseases》Wai Ke Zheng Zhi Quan Sheng Ji《外科證治全生集》 |
Combination | Rehmanniae Radix (Gan Di Huang) 8 liang (240g), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shan Yao) 4 liang (120g), Corni Fructus (Shan Zhu Yu) 4 liang (120g), Alismatis Rhizoma (Ze Xie) 3 liang (90g), Poria (Fu Ling) 3 liang (90g), Moutan Cortex (Mu Dan Pi) 3 liang (90g), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Gui Zhi) 1 liang (30g), Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fu Zi) 1 liang (30g) |
Method | Grind the medicinals into a fine powder. Then use honey to form the powder into pills the size of a phoenix tree seed. Fifteen pills (about 6g) are taken for each dose, twice a day. |
Action | Supplements the kidney and assists yang. |
Indication | Shen Qi Wan is indicated for patterns of kidney yang deficiency manifesting lumbar pain, flaccidity of the lower limbs, cold sensation of the body below the waist, spasm of the lesser abdomen, dysuria or abnormally severe profuse urination at night, impotence, premature ejaculation, a pale, swollen tongue, and a deficient, weak pulse that is deep and thin at the chi position. It is also applicable for patterns of phlegm-retention, edema, xiao ke, beriberi, bladder colic, and dysuria during pregnancy, and so on. |
Pathogenesis | Shen Qi Wan is applicable for patterns of kidney-yang and ming mén fire deficiency. The waist is the residence of kidney. The kidney is the foundation of the congenital constitution. It stores the true fire of ming men, which is the root of the body’s yang qi. The deficiency of ming men fire leads to an occurrence of various diseases. Deficient kidney yang fails to warm the lower jiao. Therefore, problems such as lumbar pain, flaccidity of the lower limbs, cold sensation below the waist, and cramping pain in the lesser abdomen develop. Deficient kidney yang is incapable of transforming qi and promoting urination, and as a result, water stays inside, causing dysuria, cramping pain in the lesser abdomen, or even bladder colic and dysuria while pregnant. Kidney yang should steam water-liquid, which rises to moisten the upper jiao. However, when it fails to do so the water-liquid descends directly into the lower jiao and fails to moisten the upper part. Therefore, problems such as increased urination and xiao ke are noticed. The kidney governs water. Therefore, in the case of kidney yang deficiency, water retention symptoms occur including edema, phlegm-rheum, and beriberi. Although the symptoms vary from each other, the disease mechanism behind them is the same. This is, the so called, “different diseases, same treatment.” The treatment is to supplement the fire and assist yang. This treatment method is also known as “supplement the foundation of fire to remove the yin disease”, as stated by Wang Bing. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Shen Qi Wan is commonly used to supplement the kidney and assist yang. This clinical pattern is marked by lumbar pain and weak legs, dysuria or abnormally increased urine, pale, enlarged tongue, deficient, weak pulse that is deep-thready at the chi position. 2. Modern applications Shen Qi Wan is used as a basic formula to treat the following biomedical diseases, identified as kidney yang deficiency: chronic nephritis, diabetes, aldosteronism, hypothyroidism, neurasthenic, adrenocortical hypofunction, chronic bronchial asthma, climacteric syndrome. 3. Cautions and contraindications The formula is inappropriate for patterns of kidney yin deficiency with deficiency-fire flaming upward manifesting a dry throat and mouth, and a red tongue with scanty coating. Moreover, it is inappropriate for a simple pattern of kidney yang deficiency without excess in which the urination is normal. |
Additonal formulae | 1. Jia Wei Shen Qi Wan (Supplemented Kidney Qi Pill 加味腎氣丸) [Source]《Formulas to Aid the Living》Ji Sheng Fang《濟生方》 [Ingredients] Fu zi (blast-fried) 2 pieces (15g), fu ling 1 liang (30g), ze xie 1 liang (30g), shan zhu yu 1 liang (30g), shan yao (dry-fried) 1 liang (30g), che qian zi 1 liang (30g), mu dan pi 1 liang (30g), rou gui 0.5 liang (15g), chuan niu xi 0.5 liang (15g), shu di huang 0.5 liang (15g) [Preparation and Administration] Grind the ingredients into powder and form into pills the size of a phoenix tree seed using honey. 70 pills (9g) are taken with rice water before meal. It can also be prepared as a decoction. [Actions] Warms the kidney and transforms qi, and promotes urination to relieve edema. [Applicable Patterns] Edema due to kidney yang deficiency. Symptoms include: lumbar heaviness, edema of the feet and dysuria. 2. Shi Bu Wan (Ten Supplements Pill 十補丸) [Source]《Formulas to Aid the Living》Ji Sheng Fang《濟生方》 [Ingredients] Fu zi (blast-fried) 60g, wu wei zi 60g, shan zhu yu 60g, shan yao (dry-fried) 60g, mu dan pi 60g, lu rong 30g, shu di huang 60g, rou gui 3g, fu llng 30g, ze xie 30g [Preparation and Administration] Grind the ingredients into powder and form into pills the size of a phoenix tree seed using honey. 70 pills (9g) are taken with salted water before meal. [Actions] Supplements kidney yang, and boosts essence and blood. [Applicable Patterns] Patterns of kidney yang and essence-blood insufficiency. Symptoms include: a dark complextion, cold and puffy feet, tinnitus, deafness, weak and thin body, weak knees and feet, dysuria, and lumbar pain. |
