Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
金匮肾气丸 · Jīn Guì Shèn Qì Wán
The foundational Kidney Yang tonic from the Jin Gui Yao Lue. Built on Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with Gui Zhi and Fu Zi, it addresses Kidney Yang deficiency with cold limbs, frequent urination, oedema and lumbar weakness.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Yang-Tonifying Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Kidney Yang Deficiency
- Primary Function
- Warm and tonify Kidney Yang
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Tonify Kidney Yang by assisting Yang within Yin
- Classical Source
- Jin Gui Yao Lue (Zhang Zhongjing, Eastern Han)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
The foundational Kidney Yang tonic from the Jin Gui Yao Lue. Built on Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with Gui Zhi and Fu Zi, it addresses Kidney Yang deficiency with cold limbs, frequent urination, oedema and lumbar weakness.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected as the classic mild-to-moderate Kidney Yang tonic — warming Yang while protecting Yin, rather than pure Yin tonification or the stronger essence-filling You Gui approach.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
茯苓Fu Ling9g
Poria / Hoelen- drains dampness
牡丹皮Mu Dan Pi9g
Moutan Bark / Tree Peony Bark- clears deficiency-heat
澤瀉Ze Xie9g
Alisma Rhizome- drains dampness and directs the turbid downward
桂枝Gui Zhi3g
Cinnamon Twig- warms and unblocks yang qi
附子Fu Zi3g
Prepared Aconite Root- supplements fire and assists yang
Classical Composition
- 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)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Supplements the kidney and assists yang.
Indications
- 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.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- 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.
Treatment strategy
- This treatment method is also known as “supplement the foundation of fire to remove the yin disease”, as stated by Wang Bing.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan warms Kidney Yang on a Yin-nourishing base. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is the pure Yin tonic without Yang-warming. You Gui Wan more strongly tonifies Yang and essence. Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan adds diuresis for Yang-deficient oedema with more pronounced urinary difficulty.
Clinical 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.
Safety notes: 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.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan?
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan has the actions of warming and tonifying Kidney Yang, promoting Qi transformation, and regulating water metabolism. It uses a small amount of warming herbs within a larger Yin-nourishing base — the classical strategy of “a small fire to generate Qi” rather than aggressive Yang tonification that might consume Yin.
Which modern diseases is Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Kidney Yang deficiency, including chronic nephritis or edema of Yang-deficiency type, certain presentations of diabetes or hypothyroidism with cold and urinary signs, chronic lower back weakness with cold limbs, reproductive or urinary deficiency patterns (frequent clear urination or difficult urination with edema), and selected chronic respiratory conditions where the Kidney fails to grasp Qi.
Is Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan suitable for improving lower back weakness, cold limbs, and abnormal urination?
For presentations of soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees with a cold sensation in the lower body, cold extremities, frequent clear urination (especially at night) or difficult urination with edema, fatigue, a pale tongue with white coating, and a deep weak pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Kidney Yang deficiency with impaired fluid metabolism — TCM commonly applies Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment.
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.