Herbsmith Rx Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to warm and tonify the kidney yang, regulate water metabolism, and support the resolution of fluid accumulation and edema in dogs, cats, and horses. Also known as the Cyathula and Plantago Combination, this ten-herb formula is the augmented version of the classical Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet), enhanced with Chuan Niu Xi (cyathula root) and Che Qian Zi (plantago seed) by the Song dynasty physician Yan Yonghe in his Ji Sheng Fang (Formulas for Saving Lives, 1253 CE) to specifically address the water accumulation and edema that develops when kidney yang vacuity impairs the kidney's water-transforming and qi-transforming functions. The formula's core architecture follows the classical principle of warming the yang within the yin foundation: the six-herb Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base (Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Shan Yao, Fu Ling, Mu Dan Pi, Ze Xie) provides the kidney yin, essence, and spleen scaffold from which the yang is gently warmed by Fu Zi (prepared aconite) and Rou Gui (cinnamon bark), while the two Ji Sheng additions (Chuan Niu Xi and Che Qian Zi) extend the formula's water-regulating and edema-relieving action beyond the base formula's capacity. Well suited for dogs, cats, and horses presenting with kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation, characterized by dependent edema of the lower limbs and abdomen, reduced urination with dilute or pale urine, cold extremities and intolerance of cold, lower back and hindlimb weakness and stiffness, reduced thirst despite fluid accumulation, a pale, moist, and swollen tongue with a white slippery coating reflecting the cold-damp and yang vacuity pattern, and a deep, weak, slow pulse in the kidney position. Available as a concentrated powder mixed into food; cats and dogs use the Canine Blend, while horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dosing varies by species and body weight, and your authorizing veterinarian will provide specific guidance.
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What It Supports
- Kidney yang warming and qi-transformation restoration through Fu Zi and Rou Gui within the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan yin foundation: Warms and tonifies the kidney yang through Fu Zi (prepared aconite) and Rou Gui (cinnamon bark) positioned within the six-herb Liu Wei Di Huang Wan yin and essence foundation, restoring the kidney's yang qi-transformation function (qi hua) that drives water metabolism, urination, and fluid distribution throughout the body. The classical formulation principle of warming the yang within the yin foundation reflects the TCVM understanding that kidney yang must be rooted in and generated from the kidney yin and essence, and that warming the yang without the yin foundation risks generating deficiency heat and consuming the remaining yin as the yang is tonified. Fu Zi and Rou Gui together provide the two most potent kidney yang-warming herbs in the classical materia medica, with Fu Zi addressing the cold root of the yang vacuity through its strong interior cold-dispelling and yang-restoring action and Rou Gui warming the channels and restoring the kidney yang's warming and moving function throughout the lower jiao.
- Water metabolism regulation and edema resolution through Che Qian Zi and Ze Xie's combined water-draining action supported by Fu Ling and Chuan Niu Xi: Regulates water metabolism and supports the resolution of fluid accumulation and dependent edema through the combined water-draining and dampness-transforming action of Che Qian Zi (the primary Ji Sheng addition for water regulation, draining dampness through urination promotion and clarifying the lower jiao), Ze Xie (drains dampness and damp-heat from the kidney, the classical restraining herb of the Liu Wei base that simultaneously drains the fluid accumulation), and Fu Ling (strengthens the spleen's fluid-transforming function and transforms the dampness from the middle jiao). Chuan Niu Xi conducts the formula's water-regulating action downward to the lower jiao and lower limbs, where edema accumulates, ensuring the combined dampness-draining herbs effectively clear fluid stagnation from the lower body channels and tissues.
- Kidney yin, essence, and spleen scaffold support through the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan six-herb base providing the yin root for the yang tonification: Provides the kidney yin, essence, and spleen qi foundation from which the yang warming and water regulation of the formula operate, using the classical Liu Wei Di Huang Wan six-herb structure: Shu Di Huang (deep kidney yin, essence, and marrow nourishment as the primary yin root), Shan Zhu Yu (astringes and consolidates the kidney essence), Shan Yao (tonifies the spleen, lung, and kidney qi and yin), Fu Ling (strengthens the spleen and transforms dampness), Mu Dan Pi (clears deficiency heat, invigorates blood, the classical heat-clearing restraining herb), and Ze Xie (drains dampness, the classical draining restraining herb). This three-tonic, three-restraining architecture of the Liu Wei base ensures the kidney yin and essence tonification is both effective and clinically balanced, and provides the essential yin foundation from which Fu Zi and Rou Gui's yang warming can safely and effectively restore the kidney yang qi without consuming the remaining yin.
- Lower jiao conduction and lower limb edema clearance through Chuan Niu Xi's blood-invigorating and downward-directing action: Conducts the formula's water-regulating and yang-warming actions to the lower jiao, lower limb channels, and dependent edema sites through Chuan Niu Xi's (cyathula root) downward-directing and blood-invigorating action, ensuring the formula's dampness-draining and water-regulating herbs effectively clear the fluid stagnation from the lower limbs and abdomen where kidney yang vacuity edema characteristically accumulates. Chuan Niu Xi's blood-invigorating action also addresses the secondary blood stasis that develops when fluid accumulation obstructs blood flow through the channels of the lower extremities, and its sinew- and bone-strengthening action supports lower back and hindlimb strength during recovery from the kidney yang vacuity pattern.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action - kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation treatment through the yang-within-yin warming strategy augmented with targeted water regulation and edema resolution: Addresses kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation through the classical TCVM principle that the kidney yang is responsible for the qi-transformation (qi hua) that drives water metabolism in the lower jiao: when kidney yang is deficient, the qi-transformation function fails, water accumulates in the lower jiao and lower limbs rather than being metabolized and excreted through normal urination, and the resulting fluid stagnation creates the dependent edema, reduced urination, cold extremities, and lower back and hindlimb weakness that characterize the kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation pattern. Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan addresses this pattern from two coordinated angles: the kidney yang warming through Fu Zi and Rou Gui restores the qi-transformation function at the root so the kidney can resume its normal water metabolism role, while Chuan Niu Xi and Che Qian Zi provide direct water-draining and edema-resolving action to clear the accumulated fluid that the failing qi-transformation has allowed to accumulate. Together, the yang restoration and the direct water-draining address both the root (ben, the kidney yang vacuity) and the branch (biao, the fluid accumulation and edema) simultaneously within a single formula.
- Secondary action - Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan's relationship to Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan and the clinical rationale for the two Ji Sheng additions: Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is the augmented version of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, the foundational kidney yang-warming formula from Zhang Zhongjing's Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials of the Golden Cabinet, Han dynasty). The classical Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan addresses kidney yang vacuity generally through the eight-herb yang-within-yin warming strategy. Yan Yonghe's Ji Sheng augmentation adds Chuan Niu Xi and Che Qian Zi specifically for the water accumulation and edema manifestation of kidney yang vacuity that the base formula addresses inadequately: Che Qian Zi promotes urination and drains dampness from the lower jiao with specific affinity for the bladder channel, directly supporting the kidney's excretion of the accumulated fluid; and Chuan Niu Xi conducts the formula's actions downward to the lower limbs and lower jiao where the edema accumulates and adds blood-invigorating action to address the secondary blood stasis in the fluid-obstructed lower limb channels. The two additions shift the formula's primary indication from general kidney yang vacuity (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan) to kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation and lower limb edema (Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan), making the augmented formula more targeted for the specific water metabolism and edema manifestation of the kidney yang vacuity pattern.
Available Forms
- Powder - Canine Blend (for dogs and cats): Available in 75 g, 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into food at the recommended dose for your pet's weight. Cats and dogs both use this blend.
- Powder - Equine/Horse Blend (for horses only): Available in 150 g, 500 g, 900 g, and 1200 g sizes; mix into grain at the recommended dose for your horse.
Suggested Use
For Dogs (Canine Blend Powder):
- Under 30 lbs: ½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 30-80 lbs: 1 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- 80-120 lbs: 1½ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
- Over 120 lbs: 2 tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Cats (Canine Blend Powder): ¼ tsp twice daily, or as prescribed
For Horses (Equine/Horse Blend, 1,000 lb horse): Two tablespoons twice daily for 20 days, then two tablespoons once daily in grain. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata), Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni), Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), Fu Ling (Poria), Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan), Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis), Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata), Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi), Chuan Niu Xi (Radix Cyathulae), Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis)
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed
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Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is a ten-herb formula built on the classical six-herb Liu Wei Di Huang Wan yin and essence foundation (Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Shan Yao, Fu Ling, Mu Dan Pi, Ze Xie), augmented with two kidney yang-warming herbs (Fu Zi, Rou Gui) from the Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan base and two Ji Sheng water-regulating additions (Chuan Niu Xi, Che Qian Zi):
- Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata) - Prepared Rehmannia Root: Nourishes the kidney yin and essence, tonifies the liver blood, and fills the marrow; the foundational kidney yin, essence, and liver blood-nourishing herb and the deepest and primary tonic of the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base, providing the constitutional yin and essence substrate from which Fu Zi and Rou Gui generate and warm the kidney yang. Shu Di Huang is the lead and highest-priority herb of the Liu Wei base and carries the greatest dose, reflecting the classical principle that kidney yang must be rooted in and generated from the kidney yin and essence: the yang warming herbs can only effectively restore the kidney yang if the yin and essence foundation from which yang arises is adequately nourished.
- Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni Officinalis) - Cornus Fruit / Cornelian Cherry: Astringes the kidney essence, nourishes the liver and kidney yin, and consolidates the kidney qi; the primary essence-consolidating and kidney-astringing herb of the Liu Wei base, preventing the leakage of the kidney essence being nourished by Shu Di Huang and ensuring the yin and essence tonification is retained and accumulated rather than dissipated. Shan Zhu Yu's strong astringent nature also consolidates the kidney yang restored by Fu Zi and Rou Gui, preventing it from dispersing before it is fully established.
- Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae Oppositae) - Chinese Yam / Dioscorea: Tonifies the spleen, lung, and kidney qi and yin, and astringes and stabilizes the kidney essence; the three-organ tonification herb of the Liu Wei base, providing spleen, lung, and kidney qi and yin tonification simultaneously and bridging the spleen scaffold (earth supports water) and the kidney tonification. Shan Yao's spleen qi tonification is particularly important in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan to ensure the middle jiao can process and distribute the formula's heavy tonics and support the spleen's fluid-transforming function alongside the kidney yang's water-metabolism restoration.
- Fu Ling (Poria Cocos) - Poria / Hoelen / Tuckahoe: Strengthens the spleen and stomach, transforms dampness, promotes water metabolism, and quiets the heart spirit; the primary spleen qi-strengthening and dampness-transforming herb of the Liu Wei base, providing direct fluid-transforming support from the spleen alongside Ze Xie and Che Qian Zi's urination-promoting and dampness-draining action. Fu Ling's dampness-transforming function from the middle jiao (spleen level) complements Ze Xie and Che Qian Zi's dampness-draining through the lower jiao (kidney and bladder level), ensuring the fluid accumulation from kidney yang vacuity is addressed from both the middle and lower jiao simultaneously.
- Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) - Tree Peony Root Bark / Moutan Bark: Clears heat from the blood, invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, and clears deficiency heat; the classical heat-clearing and blood-invigorating restraining herb of the Liu Wei base, clearing the deficiency heat that arises from kidney yin deficiency and clearing blood heat and stasis from the yang-deficient and fluid-obstructed channels. Mu Dan Pi's blood-invigorating action is particularly relevant in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan for addressing secondary blood stasis that develops when fluid accumulation obstructs blood flow through the edematous lower-limb channels, supporting Chuan Niu Xi's primary blood-invigorating and lower-jiao-conducting action.
- Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis) - Water Plantain Rhizome / Alisma: Drains dampness and damp-heat from the kidney and bladder, promotes urination, and prevents the heavy tonics from generating damp accumulation; the classical draining and restraining herb of the Liu Wei base and an important water-draining contributor in Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan, providing kidney-level dampness drainage that complements Che Qian Zi's bladder-level urination promotion and Fu Ling's spleen-level dampness transformation. Ze Xie's draining action prevents the heavy yin tonics (Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Shan Yao) from generating dampness that would worsen the kidney yang vacuity edema the formula eases.
- Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata) - Processed Aconite Root / Prepared Lateral Root of Aconite: Strongly warms the kidney yang and interior cold, rescues devastated yang, disperses cold and dampness, and warms the channels; the most potent kidney yang-warming herb in the formula and one of the most powerful yang-restoring herbs in the classical materia medica, providing the strong interior cold-dispelling and yang-rescuing action needed to restore the kidney yang from vacuity. Fu Zi (prepared/processed aconite) is used rather than raw aconite because the preparation process (paozhi) dramatically reduces toxic aconitine alkaloid content to clinically safer levels while preserving the warming, yang-restoring therapeutic action. Even as the prepared form, Fu Zi retains significant cardioactive alkaloid content and requires careful veterinary supervision, pattern confirmation, and medication review before use; it is absolutely contraindicated in animals with cardiac arrhythmias, and warrants close monitoring in animals on cardiac medications, antiarrhythmics, or digoxin due to potential additive cardioactive effects.
- Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae) - Cinnamon Bark: Warms the kidney yang and channels, expels interior cold, invigorates the blood, and warms the lower jiao; the second kidney yang-warming herb working alongside Fu Zi to restore the kidney yang qi-transformation function, providing sustained channel-warming and cold-expelling action that complements Fu Zi's stronger and more immediate yang-rescuing action. Rou Gui's specific affinity for warming the lower jiao makes it particularly appropriate for kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation, where the lower jiao's cold and yang-deficient state underlies the failure of the kidney qi-transformation to metabolize the accumulated fluid. Rou Gui also invigorates the blood in the channels, supporting the formula's management of secondary blood stasis from fluid accumulation in the lower limb channels.
- Chuan Niu Xi (Radix Cyathulae) - Cyathula Root: Invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, strengthens the sinews and bones, and conducts the formula's actions downward to the lower jiao and lower limbs; the primary Ji Sheng addition for downward conduction and lower limb blood stasis resolution, directing the water-draining and yang-warming actions of the formula to the lower jiao and lower extremities where kidney yang vacuity edema characteristically accumulates, and invigorating the blood in the lower limb channels where fluid accumulation creates secondary blood stasis. Chuan Niu Xi (cyathula root) is chosen over the more common Huai Niu Xi (achyranthes) because its blood-invigorating and downward-conducting action is stronger and better suited to active fluid accumulation and channel obstruction in the edematous lower limbs.
- Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis) - Plantago Seed / Psyllium Seed: Promotes urination, drains dampness, clarifies the lower jiao and bladder, clears damp-heat, and benefits the eyes; the primary Ji Sheng addition for direct urination promotion and dampness drainage from the lower jiao and bladder, providing the most targeted water-regulatory action of the formula by promoting the excretion of the accumulated fluid through increased urination and clarifying the lower jiao of the damp accumulation from kidney yang vacuity qi-transformation failure. Che Qian Zi's specific affinity for the bladder channel complements Ze Xie's kidney-level drainage and Fu Ling's spleen-level fluid transformation, ensuring the accumulated fluid is drained from all three relevant levels simultaneously: the spleen (middle jiao), the kidney, and the bladder (lower jiao). Its inclusion as the defining Ji Sheng addition for water regulation reflects why Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is the preferred formula over Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan when kidney yang vacuity presents with prominent fluid accumulation and edema.
Potential Drug Interactions
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan contains Fu Zi (prepared aconite root), which requires careful medication review before use due to its cardioactive alkaloid content (aconitine and related compounds) that persists even after the processing that reduces raw aconite's toxicity. Fu Zi has significant additive cardioactive effects with digoxin, cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic medications (including Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics), beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers, and is absolutely contraindicated in animals with cardiac arrhythmias, bradycardia, or heart block. Fu Zi and Rou Gui together have potent warming and yang-stimulating effects that warrant monitoring in animals with hyperthyroidism or on thyroid medications. Rou Gui has anticoagulant properties that warrant monitoring in animals on warfarin, heparin, aspirin, or other anticoagulant medications. Chuan Niu Xi has blood-invigorating and mild anticoagulant properties that compound Rou Gui's anticoagulant effects. Che Qian Zi and Ze Xie have diuretic properties that may potentiate pharmaceutical diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone) and warrant monitoring for electrolyte imbalances, particularly in animals already on diuretic therapy for cardiac or renal conditions. The formula is not appropriate for kidney yin vacuity without yang vacuity, heat patterns, or presentations without confirmed kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include cardiac medications and antiarrhythmics (Fu Zi's cardioactive alkaloids), digoxin and cardiac glycosides (Fu Zi's additive cardioactive effects, absolutely contraindicated with cardiac arrhythmias), thyroid medications (Fu Zi and Rou Gui's warming yang-stimulating effects), anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (Rou Gui and Chuan Niu Xi's anticoagulant properties), and pharmaceutical diuretics (Che Qian Zi and Ze Xie's additive diuretic effects with potential electrolyte imbalance). Your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness based on your animal's condition, cardiac and renal status, current medications, and confirmation of kidney yang vacuity with a water-accumulation pattern through tongue quality, pulse character, and clinical assessment of edema, urination, and thermal sensitivity.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions is Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan used for in TCVM?
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan is indicated for kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation and edema, the specific pattern where kidney yang deficiency impairs the kidney's qi-transformation function and leads to fluid accumulation in the lower jiao and dependent edema of the lower limbs and abdomen. Presenting signs include dependent edema, reduced urination with pale, dilute urine, cold extremities and cold intolerance, lower back and hindlimb weakness and stiffness, reduced thirst despite fluid retention, a pale, moist, swollen tongue with a white, slippery coating, and a deep, weak, slow pulse in the kidney position. Your authorizing veterinarian will differentiate the kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation pattern from spleen qi vacuity edema (which lacks the cold and yang vacuity signs), liver qi stagnation with water accumulation (which presents with a wiry pulse and different tongue signs), cardiac edema, or other fluid accumulation patterns that require different therapeutic formulas or conventional medical management.
How is Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan administered to dogs, cats, and horses?
Mix the powder directly into food or grain at the dose recommended for your animal's species and body weight. Dogs and cats use the Canine Blend; horses use the Equine/Horse Blend. Dogs and cats receive the formula twice daily; horses receive two tablespoons twice daily for the first 20 days, then once daily for maintenance. If the horse initially refuses, start with a small amount mixed into grain and gradually increase until the horse is accustomed to the taste. Most horses will readily accept the herbs in their grain. Because Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan contains Fu Zi (prepared aconite) with cardioactive alkaloids and Che Qian Zi and Ze Xie with diuretic properties, your authorizing veterinarian will perform a full cardiac and renal assessment, review all current medications for interactions, and confirm the kidney yang vacuity with a water accumulation pattern before beginning use.
How long does it take to see results with Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan?
For the water accumulation and edema component, you may see improvement in urination volume and reduced dependent edema relatively early in the treatment course, often within 2 to 4 weeks, as Che Qian Zi, Ze Xie, and Fu Ling's combined water-regulating action begins to clear the accumulated fluid. For the kidney yang vacuity root, meaningful improvement in cold intolerance, lower back and hindlimb strength, and energy requires longer sustained use, typically 2 to 4 months or more as the yang is progressively restored through the formula's comprehensive warming and tonification strategy. Your authorizing veterinarian will monitor tongue and pulse quality, edema severity, urination patterns, and thermal sensitivity throughout the treatment course to confirm the pattern is resolving and adjust the formula as the kidney yang is progressively restored.
How does Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan differ from Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan?
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet, from Zhang Zhongjing's Han dynasty classic) is the eight-herb base formula addressing kidney yang vacuity in general, using the six-herb Liu Wei Di Huang Wan yin foundation plus Fu Zi and Rou Gui for yang warming. Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan adds Chuan Niu Xi and Che Qian Zi to the Jin Gui base, shifting the formula's primary indication from general kidney yang vacuity to kidney yang vacuity with water accumulation and lower limb edema specifically. Che Qian Zi promotes urination and drains dampness from the bladder and lower jiao, directly addressing the fluid accumulation that the base formula's Ze Xie and Fu Ling cannot adequately clear on their own when edema is prominent. Chuan Niu Xi directs the formula's action downward to the lower limbs and resolves blood stasis in the fluid-obstructed lower limb channels. When kidney yang vacuity presents without prominent edema, Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is typically preferred; when edema and fluid accumulation are prominent alongside kidney yang vacuity, Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan's two additions make it the more targeted and clinically appropriate choice.