Desert-living cistanches (Rou Cong Rong) Dong quai (Dang Gui) Achyranthes roots (Niu Xi) Water plantain (Ze Xie)

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

  1. Warms the Kidneys
  2. Nourishes the Blood
  3. Strengthens the Essence
  4. Moistens the Intestines
  5. Unblocks bowels

Source date: 1624 AD

Source book: Collected Treatises of Zhang Jing-Yue

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.

The six ingredients in Ji Chuan Jian

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.

1. Desert-Living Cistanches (Rou Cong Rong)

Part used: Dried stem

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): SaltySweet

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.

Learn more about Desert-Living Cistanches (Rou Cong Rong)

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.

2. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)

Part used: Dried root

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): PungentSweet

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.

Learn more about Dong Quai (Dang Gui)

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.

3. Achyranthes Roots (Niu Xi)

Part used: Dried root

Nature: Neutral

Taste(s): BitterSour

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.

Learn more about Achyranthes Roots (Niu Xi)

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.

4. Water Plantain (Ze Xie)

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.

Learn more about Water Plantain (Ze Xie)

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.

5. Bitter Oranges (Zhi Ke)

Part used: Dried ripe fruit

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): BitterPungentSour

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.

Learn more about Bitter Oranges (Zhi Ke)

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.

6. Bugbane Rhizomes (Sheng Ma)

Part used: Dried rhizome

Nature: Cool

Taste(s): PungentSweet

Meridian affinity: Large intestineLungSpleenStomach

Category: Cool/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior

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.

Learn more about Bugbane Rhizomes (Sheng Ma)

Ji Chuan Jian is used to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency

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

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 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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