Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan: A Traditional Chinese Herbal Remedy for Kidney Yang Deficiency
Hongji Medical- Feb 2
- 8 min read
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, also known as Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Kidney Qi Pill, is a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, originating from the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) by Eastern Han Dynasty physician Zhang Zhongjing.
Crafted to address kidney yang deficiency—a condition common in ancient times due to harsh living conditions—this formula warms the kidneys, boosts vitality, and promotes fluid metabolism.
Today, it remains a trusted remedy for symptoms like cold limbs, lower back pain, and urinary issues. This article explains its ingredients, benefits, modern uses, dietary support, and precautions in a clear, approachable way, using common plant names.
History of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
In ancient China, cold climates, hard labor, and limited warmth often led to kidney yang deficiency, causing symptoms like chills, fatigue, and weak knees. Zhang Zhongjing, a revered physician, developed Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan to warm the kidneys and restore energy.
Recorded in the Jin Gui Yao Lue, a foundational medical text, this formula has influenced Chinese medicine for centuries, offering a balanced approach to nourishing kidney yin and yang.
Ingredients of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan combines eight herbs, organized by the traditional Chinese medicine principles of monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy:
Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia, 24g): Nourishes kidney yin and essence (monarch).
Shan Yao (Yam, 12g): Supports the spleen and kidneys (minister).
Shan Zhu Yu (Cornelian Cherry, 12g): Nourishes the liver and kidneys, securing essence (minister).
Ze Xie (Water Plantain, 9g): Promotes urination and clears dampness (assistant).
Fu Ling (Poria, 9g): Enhances urination and strengthens digestion (assistant).
Mu Dan Pi (Peony Bark, 9g): Clears heat and improves blood flow (assistant).
Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark, 3g): Warms kidney yang and boosts vitality (envoy).
Fu Zi (Processed Aconite, 3g): Strongly warms kidney yang and dispels cold (envoy).
Preparation: Traditionally, the herbs are decocted in water, boiled twice, strained, and taken warm in divided doses. Modern methods may use pre-made pills or powders, dosed as prescribed by a practitioner.
How the Herbs Work Together
The herbs in Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan work synergistically to balance yin and yang:
Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia): The primary herb, it nourishes kidney yin, providing a foundation for yang to thrive.
Shan Yao (Yam): Strengthens the spleen and kidneys, aiding digestion and essence production.
Shan Zhu Yu (Cornelian Cherry): Supports the liver and kidneys, preventing essence leakage and easing symptoms like tinnitus.
Ze Xie (Water Plantain): Promotes urination, clearing excess fluid to support kidney function.
Fu Ling (Poria): Enhances urination, calms the mind, and improves digestion.
Mu Dan Pi (Peony Bark): Clears excess heat and promotes blood flow, preventing overheating from yang tonics.
Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark): Warms the kidneys, guiding yang energy back to its source.
Fu Zi (Processed Aconite): Powerfully warms kidney yang, relieving cold and fatigue.
This balanced formula nourishes yin to support yang, warms the kidneys, and regulates fluid metabolism.
Effects and Indications
Main Effects:
Warms and nourishes kidney yang to restore warmth and vitality.
Promotes fluid metabolism to reduce swelling and improve urination.
Balances yin and yang for overall kidney health.
Indications:
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is used for kidney yang deficiency, with symptoms including:
Cold limbs and sensitivity to cold
Soreness or weakness in the lower back and knees
Edema, especially in the lower limbs
Difficulty urinating or reduced urine output
Impotence, premature ejaculation, or low libido
Fatigue and low energy
Pale tongue with white coating
Deep, weak pulse
These symptoms often arise from aging, chronic illness, or exposure to cold, indicating weak kidney yang.
Benefits of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Warms the Body: Relieves chills and cold limbs by boosting kidney yang.
Strengthens the Lower Body: Eases back and knee pain, improving mobility.
Supports Urinary Health: Reduces edema and promotes healthy urination.
Enhances Reproductive Function: Improves sexual health and fertility.
Boosts Energy: Combats fatigue and restores vitality.
Modern Applications
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is widely used in modern medicine for:
Kidney disorders: Treats chronic nephritis and nephrotic syndrome, reducing proteinuria and swelling.
Diabetes: Manages symptoms like frequent urination and fatigue by regulating blood sugar metabolism.
Cardiovascular health: Stabilizes blood pressure and improves circulation in hypertension or heart disease.
Respiratory issues: Relieves asthma and cough caused by weak kidney function.
Neurological conditions: Improves insomnia, forgetfulness, and depression linked to kidney yang deficiency.
Its warming and nourishing properties make it a versatile remedy for chronic conditions.
Dietary Support
Pairing Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan with dietary remedies can enhance its effects:
Chestnut and Lamb Stew: Simmer 250g lamb with 100g chestnuts and ginger. Lamb and chestnuts warm the kidneys and spleen, boosting yang.
Leek and Walnut Stir-Fry: Stir-fry 100g leeks with 50g walnuts. Leeks warm the kidneys, and walnuts nourish essence.
Goji and Yam Porridge: Cook 30g goji berries, 100g yam, and 100g rice into porridge. This supports kidney and spleen health.
These recipes complement the formula’s warming and nourishing effects, aiding recovery.
Daily Health Tips
To maximize the benefits of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan:
Stay warm: Protect the waist and feet from cold to preserve kidney yang.
Get sunlight: Moderate sun exposure boosts vitamin D, supporting kidney health.
Prioritize sleep: Go to bed early to allow kidney repair and yang storage.
Moderate sexual activity: Avoid excessive intercourse to protect kidney essence.
Precautions
Use Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan cautiously:
Contraindications: Avoid in cases of yin deficiency with excessive heat (e.g., dry mouth, hot flashes) or damp-heat (e.g., bitter taste, greasy tongue coating). Not suitable for pregnant women.
Side effects: Overuse may cause overheating or digestive discomfort.
Dietary restrictions: Avoid raw, cold, greasy, or spicy 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
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is a time-tested Chinese herbal formula that warms kidney yang, nourishes vitality, and supports fluid metabolism. Its balanced blend of herbs addresses symptoms like cold limbs, back pain, and edema, making it ideal for kidney yang deficiency.
Modern applications for kidney disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular health highlight its enduring value. With proper use, dietary support, and professional guidance, Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan can restore energy, protect kidney health, 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. |
