Chinese: 人参蛤蚧散
Pinyin: Rén Shēn Gé Jiè Sǎn
Other names: Ginseng and Gecko Powder
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that tonify Qi
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: EmphysemaBronchiectasisBronchial asthma and three other conditions
- Tonifies the Qi
- Augments the Kidneys
- Stops coughing
- Arrests wheezing
Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases with any evidence of an externally contracted... Contraindicated in cases with any evidence of an externally contracted pathogenic influence see more
Source date: 1047 AD
Source book: Formulas of Broad Benefit
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.
Ren Shen Ge Jie San is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Tokay Geckos (Ge Jie) and Ginseng (Ren Shen) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1047 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi. Its main actions are: 1) tonifies the Qi and 2) augments the Kidneys.
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 Ren Shen Ge Jie San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Kidneys failing to receive Qi, Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs or Lung Qi Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as bronchial asthma, emphysema or bronchiectasis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Ren Shen Ge Jie San, we review the patterns and conditions that Ren Shen Ge Jie San helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Ren Shen Ge Jie San
Ge Jie is a king ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Tokay Geckos (Ge Jie)
Ge Jie is salty and warming, and thus able to tonify the Qi without inducing more Heat. It enters the Lung and Kidney Channels to tonify the Kidney and there by restore their ability to grasp the Qi and thus arrest wheezing.
Ren Shen is a king ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen strongly tonifies the original Qi , increases the Qi of the Lungs and Spleen, but also slightly moistens, and in this way complements the action of Tokay geckos.
Fu Ling is a deputy ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling benefits the Spleen by draining Dampness. With Liquorice, it focuses on the treatment of Spleen earth. They also treat problems of Lung metal and Kidney water via the generating and controlling relationships of the five phases.
Gan Cao is a deputy ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao harmonizes the actions of the other herbs and assists in tonifying the source Qi. With Poria-cocos mushroom, it focuses on the treatment of Spleen earth. They also treat problems of Lung metal and Kidney water via the generating and controlling relationships of the five phases.
Sang Bai Pi is an assistant ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Mulberry Bark (Sang Bai Pi)
Part used: Dried root bark
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Lung
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Sang Bai Pi regulates the Lung Qi and directs Rebellious Qi downward. Mulberry bark and Apricot seed work especially well together when there is Heat in the Lung due to Stagnation.
Chuan Bei Mu is an assistant ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Fritillary Bulbs (Chuan Bei Mu)
Part used: Dried bulb
Nature: Cool
In general Chuan Bei Mu's main actions are as follows: "Clears Hot Phlegm and stops cough. Clears Lung Heat caused by Yin Deficiency. Clears Heat and reduces hard lumps and swellings."
In the context of Ren Shen Ge Jie San, it is used because it clears Heat, moistens the Lungs, removes Stagnation and transforms Phlegm.
Xing Ren is an assistant ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
Xing Ren regulates the Lung Qi and directs Rebellious Qi downward. Mulberry bark and Apricot seed work especially well together when there is Heat in the Lung due to Stagnation.
Zhi Mu is an assistant ingredient in Ren Shen Ge Jie San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Anemarrhena Rhizomes (Zhi Mu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: KidneyLungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
In general Zhi Mu's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and Fire from the Qi level. Clears Heat and Fire from the Lung and Stomach. Clears Heat and tonifies the Yin."
In the context of Ren Shen Ge Jie San, it is used because it serves the dual purpose of draining Heat from the Lungs and Kidneys without damaging the Yin.
Conditions and patterns for which Ren Shen Ge Jie San 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 Ren Shen Ge Jie San is used by TCM practitioners to treat three 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:
Bronchial asthma Emphysema Bronchiectasis Pulmonary heart disease Pulmonary tuberculosis Chronic bronchitis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ren Shen Ge Jie San treats bronchial asthma" for instance. Rather, Ren Shen Ge Jie San is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind bronchial asthma.
Now let's look at the three patterns commonly treated with Ren Shen Ge Jie San.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidneys failing to receive Qi
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Tight (Jin), Weak (Ruo)
Symptoms: Asthma Tinnitus Thin body Dizziness Cold limbs Weak breath Rapid breath Listlessness Chronic cough Lower back pain Clear urination Spontaneous sweating Swelling of the face Difficulty in inhaling Shortness of breath on exertion
Ren Shen Ge Jie San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidneys failing to receive Qi. This pattern leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath on exertion, rapid breath, weak breath and difficulty in inhaling. Patients with Kidneys failing to receive Qi typically exhibit deep (Chen), tight (Jin) or weak (Ruo) pulses.
This pattern results from a dysfunction of the Kidneys' capacity to receive and hold Qi down. The Kidneys' role in the cycle of Qi is to receive Clean Air from the Lungs and holding it down so it combines with Grain Qi from the Spleen to form Gathering Qi.
When the Kidneys cannot receive and hold... read more about Kidneys failing to receive Qi
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Yellow coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Acne Fever Clump Thirst Asthma Phlegm Anxiety Coughing Wheezing Insomnia Dizziness Chest pain Constipation Chest fullness Feeling of heat Epigastric pain Phlegm in throat Shortness of breath Clumping in the chest Bitter taste in the mouth Epigastric focal distention Focal distention of the chest Stifling sensation in the chest Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum Feeling of heaviness of the head and body
Ren Shen Ge Jie San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs. This pattern leads to symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and stifling sensation in the chest. Patients with Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as Red swollen tongue with a sticky yellow coating.
This pattern is similar to Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs, but with additional Heat features, such as feeling of heat, thirst and profuse sticky yellow or green sputum. The typical manifestations of Phlegm are the coughing, short of breath, Phlegm in the throat and chest oppression. The Phlegm can also... read more about Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Qi Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Coughing Pale face Tiredness Weak voice Low energy Aversion to cold Aversion to speak Shortness of breath Propensity to catch colds Spontaneous daytime sweating
Ren Shen Ge Jie San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Qi Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as spontaneous daytime sweating, aversion to speak, shortness of breath and coughing. Patients with Lung Qi Deficiency typically exhibit empty (Xu) pulses as well as Pale or normal color tongue.
The Lungs govern Qi and respiration. Therefore there will be shortness of breath and coughing in case of Lung Qi Deficiency. However the condition is not severe as it is mostly on exertion and not full-blown symptoms of bronchitis or asthma.
Symptoms like coughing can also appear if Lungs' Qi... read more about Lung Qi Deficiency
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