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jīn guì shèn qì wán • kidney qi pill from the golden cabinet • 金匮肾气丸

prescription
tonify • warm and tonify the yang

jīn guì shèn qì wán is used for patterns with

kidney yang deficiency, leg qi, wasting and thirsting (xiao ke), fluid (jin ye) stasis, atrophy disorder (wei syndrome) from liver and kidney deficiency.

symptoms indicating the use of jīn guì shèn qì wán

aversion to cold, watery stools with undigested food, lower back pain, weak lower extremities, cold sensation in the lower body, tense lower abdomen, lower abdominal pain and cramps, panting and irritability to the point of having difficulty lying down, breathing easier when leaning against something, night unrination, urinary difficulty with edema or lower abdominal cramps, profuse urination, if severe, possible incontinence of urine, possibly persistent diarrhea, dizziness, vertigo, dysuria, flushed face due to yang floating upwards, thirst with frequent, copious urination (xiao ke), severe fatigue, palpitation, possibly severe sweating due to yang floating upwards, constipation, lassitude, pale face, edema of the face and feet, severe edema of the legs, possibly cough, possibly asthma, premature ejaculation, infertility.

western interpretation of jīn guì shèn qì wán

chronic glomerular, interstitial or diffuse nephritis, chronic urethritis, diabetes mellitus, primary  hyperaldosteronism, hypothyroidism, neurasthenia, arthritis, beriberi, chronic bronchial asthma, infertility,  impotence, prostatitis, psychosomatic, slow  development in kids.

explanation of the mechanism

this is the classic presentation of kidney yang deficiency with insufficient fire at the gate of vitality (ming men).

the kidneys are the foundation of the prenatal essence and store the essence (jing). essence transforms into qi, and the qi which arises from the transformation of kidney essence is what is meant by the term ‘kidney qi.’ kidney qi is also known as ‘kidney yang’ or ‘source yang’ (yuan qi), as it is the basis for the yang of the entire body and the source of motivating power underlying the body’s functions of movement.

the kidneys govern the bones and reside in the lower back, and the kidney channel ascends from the foot and enters the spine to pass upward through the lower back. kidney deficiency is therefore accompanied by lower back pain and weakness of the lower limbs.

from the spine, a branch of the channel diverges and enters the abdomen. when the kidney yang is deficient, it is unable to warm the lower jiao, which causes a cold sensation in the lower half of the body and tenseness in the lower abdomen. stagnation of water and fluids produces a pale, swollen tongue with a thin, white, and moist coating.

kidney yang deficiency generally manifests as an empty or frail pulse which is submerged and faint at the proximal (kidney) position.

the yang qi of the kidneys drives the functional transformation and movement of water in the body, directing the pure upward and the turbid downward. when the kidney yang is insufficient, its ability to regulate the ascent and descent of water and fluids is impaired. various symptoms of urinary difficulty may result. if the kidneys are unable to transform qi and move water, there will be urinary difficulty and edema.

the water and qi may also rebel upward causing panting and irritability to the point that the patient will have difficulty lying down, and will lean against things for support. in those instances where the debilitated kidney qi is unable to provide stability in the governance of water, the bladder may lose its ability to restrain the water, manifested by frequent and copious urination, or in severe cases, incontinence.

(bensky & barolet)

⚠️ important note: if you experience symptoms that resemble the ones presented in the tcm pocketguide please consult a medical doctor or tcm therapist. these prescriptions are not meant for self-medication and should only be prescribed by a licensed tcm practitioner. of course you can also book a consultation with me. i would be pleased to welcome you.

tcm pocketguide

created with love in switzerland 🇨🇭

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