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Herbsmith Rx Jin Gui Shen Qi San is a classical Chinese herbal formula recommended by holistic veterinarians to warm and tonify the kidney yang in dogs, cats, and horses. Comparable to Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet, Golden Book, Rehmannia 14, and Dynamic Warrior, it warms and tonifies the kidney yang as a kidney yin, yang, and qi tonic especially effective for low back stiffness and weakness, weak knees, cold limbs, and frequent urination due to kidney yang vacuity. An eight-herb formula built on the foundational kidney yin tonic Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (six herbs) with the addition of small doses of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi to gently warm and kindle the kidney yang from within the yin-nourishing base, Jin Gui Shen Qi San embodies the classical strategy of warming yang within nourishing yin: the six tonic and draining herbs of the Liu Wei base nourish the kidney yin (the essential substrate from which yang arises), while the minimal Fu Zi and Gui Zhi gently warm the mingmen fire to gradually restore the kidney yang from the yin foundation upward, rather than warming the yang aggressively from the outside with strong yang-tonifying herbs that would further consume the yin. Well suited for dogs, cats, and horses presenting with kidney yang vacuity, characterized by low back weakness and stiffness, weakness or reluctance of the hind limbs and knees, cold extremities and sensitivity to cold, frequent or copious clear urination or urinary incontinence, low libido or reproductive weakness, a pale and swollen tongue with a white moist coating reflecting the kidney yang deficiency and cold, and a deep, slow, and weak pulse particularly weak at 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.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
What It Supports
- Kidney yang warming and mingmen fire restoration through the yin-foundation strategy: Warms and tonifies the kidney yang and restores the mingmen fire using the classical strategy of gently kindling the kidney yang from within the kidney yin-nourishing base, using small doses of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi to warm the mingmen fire while the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base simultaneously nourishes the kidney yin that is the essential substrate for yang, ensuring the yang tonification is grounded in a well-nourished yin foundation rather than being a superficial warming that further depletes the yin while stimulating the yang.
- Kidney yin, yang, and qi tonification as a comprehensive constitutional kidney tonic: Tonifies the kidney yin, yang, and qi simultaneously through the combined action of the three tonic herbs of the Liu Wei base (Sheng Di Huang nourishing kidney yin and essence, Shan Zhu Yu tonifying kidney and liver, Shan Yao tonifying kidney and spleen qi) and the two yang-warming herbs (Fu Zi and Gui Zhi), providing comprehensive kidney constitutional support for the low back weakness, hind limb weakness, cold extremities, and frequent urination of kidney yang vacuity in dogs, cats, and horses.
- Low back and hind limb strength and warmth support: Supports low back strength and warmth and hind limb function through the kidney yang tonification and mingmen fire restoration, addressing the low back weakness, stiffness, hind limb reluctance, and cold sensitivity of the hind quarters and extremities that arise when kidney yang vacuity fails to warm and support the lumbar spine, hips, and rear limbs, and tonifying the kidney's role as the foundation of all constitutional strength and warmth in the body.
- Urinary function support and frequent or copious urination management: Supports normal urinary function and addresses frequent or copious clear urination and urinary incontinence through the kidney yang tonification, restoring the kidney yang's normal ability to warm and consolidate the bladder and transform and retain the body fluids, addressing the urinary frequency and incontinence that arise when kidney yang vacuity fails to provide the warmth and consolidating function needed for the bladder to properly hold and release urine in normal quantities and at appropriate intervals.
TCVM Principles
- Primary action - kidney yang warming through the foundational strategy of kindling yang within nourishing yin, built on the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base: Addresses kidney yang vacuity through the classical Jin Gui Shen Qi strategy of adding small doses of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi to the complete Liu Wei Di Huang Wan formula (Sheng Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Shan Yao, Ze Xie, Fu Ling, Mu Dan Pi) to warm and kindle the kidney yang from within the yin-nourishing foundation rather than addressing the yang deficiency with strong yang-tonifying herbs alone. The formula's architecture reflects the classical understanding that kidney yang and kidney yin are interdependent: kidney yang cannot be sustainably restored without first nourishing the kidney yin that is its substrate and root, because yang tonification without yin support progressively depletes the yin and ultimately worsens the yang deficiency as the yin-yang mutual root relationship is undermined. The minimal proportions of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi are intentional: they provide just enough warming and kindling action to restore the mingmen fire from the well-nourished yin foundation that the six-herb Liu Wei base provides, rather than aggressively warming the yang in a way that would further consume the yin and make the pattern more complex and harder to treat over time.
- Secondary action - the three-tonic and three-draining architecture of the Liu Wei Di Huang base ensuring tonic efficacy without stagnation: The Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base on which Jin Gui Shen Qi San is built uses three tonic herbs (Sheng Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Shan Yao) paired with three draining herbs (Ze Xie drains kidney dampness and prevents Sheng Di Huang from causing stagnation, Fu Ling drains spleen dampness and supports Shan Yao's spleen-tonifying action, Mu Dan Pi clears liver heat and prevents Shan Zhu Yu from causing heat accumulation) to ensure the kidney yin tonification proceeds without the stagnation, dampness accumulation, or heat generation that tonic herbs alone would create over a sustained treatment course. This three-tonic, three-draining architecture ensures the formula tonifies thoroughly and sustainably, and is the reason the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base has been the foundational kidney yin tonic in classical Chinese medicine for over a thousand years.
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: Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae), Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni Officinalis), Shan Yao (Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae), Fu Zi (Radix Lateralis Aconiti Carmichaeli Praeparata), Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae), Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis), Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos), Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis)
Inactive Ingredient: Flaxseed
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Active Ingredient TCVM Actions
Jin Gui Shen Qi San is an eight-herb formula built on the complete Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base (six herbs: three tonic and three draining) with the addition of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi to warm and kindle the kidney yang from within the yin-nourishing foundation:
- Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae) - Raw Rehmannia Root: Nourishes kidney yin and essence, cools the blood, and generates fluids; the principal yin-nourishing herb of the Liu Wei base and the formula as a whole, providing the foundational kidney yin and essence tonification that is the substrate from which the kidney yang is kindled by Fu Zi and Gui Zhi. Note: the supplied formulation specifies Sheng Di Huang (raw, cool-natured rehmannia) rather than Shu Di Huang (prepared, warm-natured rehmannia) used in some versions of this formula; Sheng Di Huang has stronger yin-nourishing and fluid-generating action and a mild cooling nature that balances the formula's warming herbs, while Shu Di Huang has stronger blood-nourishing and essence-tonifying action with a warm nature. Practitioners comparing this formula to other versions should verify which form is specified.
- Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni Officinalis) - Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit / Cornus Fruit: Tonifies and stabilizes the kidney and liver yin and yang, consolidates the essence, and stops sweating and excessive urination; the second tonic herb of the Liu Wei base that tonifies and astringes the kidney and liver simultaneously, stabilizing the kidney essence and addressing the urinary frequency and incontinence of kidney yang vacuity through its astringing action, and supporting Sheng Di Huang's kidney yin tonification with liver yin support given the liver-kidney yin-yang interdependence at the lower jiao level.
- Shan Yao (Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae) - Chinese Yam Root / Dioscorea Root: Tonifies the spleen, lung, and kidney qi and yin; the third tonic herb of the Liu Wei base that extends the formula's tonifying action to the spleen and lung as well as the kidney, addressing the spleen qi aspect of the kidney yang vacuity pattern (kidney yang warms the spleen yang, so kidney yang deficiency often involves concurrent spleen yang weakness) and supporting Sheng Di Huang's kidney tonification with additional qi-tonifying action that nourishes without causing stagnation.
- Fu Zi (Radix Lateralis Aconiti Carmichaeli Praeparata) - Prepared Aconite Root / Prepared Lateral Root of Aconite: Strongly warms the kidney yang and mingmen fire, rescues devastated yang, and disperses cold and dampness; the principal yang-warming herb that provides the direct mingmen fire restoration at the core of Jin Gui Shen Qi San's kidney yang tonification strategy, used at a small proportion relative to the six-herb Liu Wei base to gently kindle the kidney yang from within the yin-nourishing foundation rather than aggressively warming the yang in isolation. Fu Zi is a processed herb (praeparata indicates the detoxified preparation) that removes the alkaloids responsible for Aconitum's toxicity while retaining its strong yang-warming and cold-dispersing action; the processing is essential for safe veterinary use and is specified in the Latin name.
- Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae) - Cinnamon Twig: Warms and unblocks the yang qi of the channels and extremities, releases the exterior, and assists heart yang; the second yang-warming herb that specifically warms and moves the yang qi through the channels and extremities, addressing the cold limbs and cold sensitivity of the hind quarters that arise when kidney yang vacuity fails to distribute yang warmth through the channels to the extremities. Note: the supplied formulation specifies Gui Zhi (cinnamon twig, Ramulus) rather than Rou Gui (cinnamon bark, Cortex) used in some versions of this formula; Gui Zhi has stronger channel-warming and yang-qi-unblocking action through the extremities while Rou Gui has stronger interior-warming and mingmen-tonifying action; the Gui Zhi specification emphasizes the formula's action on cold extremities and channel warming alongside Fu Zi's direct mingmen fire restoration.
- Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis) - Water Plantain Rhizome / Alisma Rhizome: Drains dampness and promotes urination, clears kidney fire; the first draining herb of the Liu Wei base, draining dampness through the urine and preventing Sheng Di Huang's heavy yin-nourishing nature from causing dampness accumulation in the lower jiao, ensuring the kidney yin tonification proceeds without the dampness stagnation that large doses of yin-nourishing herbs would create without a counterbalancing dampness-draining herb.
- Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos) - Poria / Hoelen: Strengthens the spleen, drains dampness, and calms the spirit; the second draining herb of the Liu Wei base, draining spleen dampness and supporting Shan Yao's spleen-tonifying action to ensure the spleen qi is strong enough to absorb and transport the formula's tonic herbs throughout the treatment course, and preventing the spleen dampness accumulation that would otherwise undermine both the kidney tonification and the yang-warming strategy.
- Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) - Tree Peony Root Bark / Moutan Bark: Clears heat from the blood and the liver, invigorates the blood, and clears deficiency heat; the third draining herb of the Liu Wei base, clearing the liver heat and blood heat that can accumulate from Shan Zhu Yu's astringing action and preventing the formula's tonic herbs from generating internal heat during the sustained treatment course, and invigorating the blood to prevent blood stasis in the liver and lower jiao alongside the kidney yang tonification.
Potential Drug Interactions
Jin Gui Shen Qi San contains Fu Zi (prepared aconite), one of the most pharmacologically active herbs in the Chinese materia medica, and warrants particular attention for drug interactions. Fu Zi's strong yang-warming and cardiac-stimulating action may interact with cardiac medications including digoxin, antiarrhythmic medications, and beta-blockers, and warrants cardiac monitoring in animals on these pharmaceutical classes. Fu Zi's alkaloid content, even in the detoxified prepared form, may interact with medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Sheng Di Huang has documented interactions with anticoagulant medications through its blood-cooling action, and with antidiabetic medications through its blood glucose effects. Shan Zhu Yu's astringing action may interfere with medications requiring normal urinary excretion by reducing urinary output. The formula's warming and yang-tonifying nature is contraindicated in animals with yin deficiency heat signs (a red tongue, dry coat, heat-seeking behavior that is not cold-based), active inflammatory conditions with heat signs, or kidney yang vacuity patterns complicated by significant concurrent yin deficiency without the coldness signs that confirm pure kidney yang deficiency as the primary pattern.
Medication categories warranting extra caution include cardiac medications and antiarrhythmics (Fu Zi's cardiac-stimulating properties), anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (Sheng Di Huang and Mu Dan Pi's blood-affecting actions), antidiabetic medications (Sheng Di Huang's blood glucose effects), and immunosuppressive medications. Your authorizing veterinarian will determine appropriateness based on your animal's condition, current medications, and confirmation of the kidney yang vacuity pattern diagnosis through pulse and tongue assessment, with particular attention to the presence of cold signs (cold extremities, pale tongue, slow deep pulse) confirming the kidney yang deficiency pattern for which the formula's warming strategy is appropriate.
VETERINARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions is Jin Gui Shen Qi San used for in TCVM?
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Jin Gui Shen Qi San is indicated for kidney yang vacuity presenting with low back weakness and stiffness, hind limb weakness or reluctance particularly in cold weather, cold extremities and cold sensitivity of the hind quarters, frequent or copious clear urination or urinary incontinence, reproductive weakness or low libido, a pale swollen tongue with a white moist coating, and a deep slow weak pulse particularly at the kidney position. Comparable to Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet, Golden Book, Rehmannia 14, and Dynamic Warrior, it is the foundational kidney yang tonic formula and is distinguished by its strategy of warming the yang from within a comprehensive yin-nourishing base, making it appropriate for kidney yang deficiency that includes a yin component rather than pure yang deficiency without yin involvement. It is not appropriate for kidney yang deficiency complicated by significant yin deficiency heat signs, active inflammatory conditions, or conditions without the cold signs that confirm the kidney yang vacuity pattern.
How is Jin Gui Shen Qi San 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 Jin Gui Shen Qi San contains Fu Zi (prepared aconite), your authorizing veterinarian will perform a thorough pattern assessment, including pulse and tongue examination; confirm the kidney yang vacuity diagnosis; review current medications for potential interactions with Fu Zi's cardiac-stimulating properties; and provide specific dosing and monitoring guidance.
How long does it take to see results with Jin Gui Shen Qi San?
Jin Gui Shen Qi San is a constitutional kidney tonic addressing a deep deficiency pattern, and results reflect the gradual nature of constitutional tonification. Early signs of improvement in cold sensitivity of the extremities and hind limbs are sometimes seen within 4 to 6 weeks of consistent use, as the kidney yang-warming and channel-warming herbs begin to restore warmth to the extremities. Meaningful improvement in hind limb strength, low back function, and urinary frequency typically requires 2 to 3 months of sustained use as the kidney yang is progressively restored from the well-nourished yin foundation. Constitutional strengthening of the kidney pattern and long-term maintenance of hind limb function and warmth in older animals with kidney yang vacuity often requires ongoing treatment with periodic veterinary assessment. Your veterinarian will monitor pulse depth and quality at the kidney position, tongue color and moisture, cold sensitivity, urinary frequency, and hind limb strength and range of motion throughout the treatment course.
Why does a kidney yang tonic formula contain so many kidney yin-nourishing herbs?
Jin Gui Shen Qi San contains six kidney yin-nourishing herbs (the complete Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base) and only two yang-warming herbs (Fu Zi and Gui Zhi) because of the classical understanding that kidney yin and kidney yang are mutually rooted: kidney yang cannot be sustainably restored without first nourishing the kidney yin that is its substrate and foundation. Warming the yang aggressively without nourishing the yin progressively depletes the yin, which ultimately worsens the yang deficiency as the yin-yang mutual root relationship is undermined - similar to kindling a fire without providing fuel, which produces a brief intense flame followed by collapse. The six-herb Liu Wei base provides the yin-nourishing fuel that allows small doses of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi to kindle a sustainable, grounded kidney yang restoration rather than a superficial or transient warming effect. This is why Jin Gui Shen Qi San, despite being the foundational kidney yang tonic, uses proportionally small amounts of its yang-warming herbs relative to its yin-nourishing base, and why practitioners considering a simpler formula with stronger yang tonification should discuss that option with the authorizing veterinarian to ensure the yin foundation is adequately addressed.
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