Ji Chuan Jian, Benefit the River Flow Decoction, is Rou Cong Rong, Dang Gui, Huai Niu Xi, Ze Xie, Zhi Ke and Sheng Ma. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that moisten the Intestines and unblock the bowels, and records it as warming Kidney Yang while it does so.

Herb

Amount

6 g

9 g

6 g

4.5 g

3 g

1.5 g

Actions and indications

Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang and strengthens Jing

Pattern: deficiency of Kidney Yang and Essence with dryness of the Intestines
Aching, weak lower back and knees
Cold back, cold hands and feet, and dislike of cold
Dizziness and vertigo
Clear, copious urine; or scanty urine with pitting edema
Tongue pale with a thin white coat; pulse thready, or deep and slow, often weak at the rear (chi) position

Nourishes the Blood

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Constipation from Kidney Yang deficiency: stool hard to pass and often dry despite straining or an urge, or passed easily but infrequently
Seen especially in older people, after childbirth, and in recovery from illness that has drained Yang and Essence
No heat signs such as thirst, fever or a red tongue behind the dryness

Modern uses

Constipation
Habitual constipation
Constipation in the elderly
Postpartum constipation
Functional constipation
Slow-transit constipation
Oliguria
Polyuria
Dizziness
Vertigo
Intestinal tuberculosis
Anemia

Modifications

Marked Qi deficiency: + ren shen, + huang qi

Presence of Fire: + huang qin

Fatigue, lethargy and reluctance to talk: + dang shen, + huang qi

Severe Qi deficiency: − zhi ke

Kidney Yin deficiency: + shu di huang, + tian men dong

Severe Kidney deficiency: + shu di huang

To moisten the Intestines more strongly: + huo ma ren

Habitual constipation with Cold and Dryness in the Intestines: + suo yang, + huo ma ren, − ze xie

Severe lower back pain: + gou qi zi, + du zhong, − ze xie

Constipation: + rou gui

Constipation, as an alternative: + du zhong, + sang ji sheng, + xu duan

Qi deficiency: + huang qi

Show all 16 modifications

Cold that is more severe, with more Dryness: + rou gui, − ze xie, − zhi ke
More marked Cold: + rou gui, + zhi fu zi
Stronger laxative effect: + wu yao, + huo ma ren, − zhi ke
Stronger laxative effect, as an alternative: + huang jing, + zhi fu zi, + bu gu zhi, + zhi gan cao, − ze xie, − huai niu xi, − sheng ma

Cautions

contraindication Constipation from Heat, such as dry stool with thirst, a red tongue or a yellow coat; its Yang-warming herbs would make the Heat worse

contraindication Excess-type constipation from food or Qi stagnation when there is no underlying Kidney deficiency

pregnancy Contains Dang Gui, which moves the Blood; use during pregnancy only with professional guidance

caution It treats the root deficiency and is not a standing laxative: adjust or stop it once the bowels are regular, and reassess constipation that persists

Pinyin

ji chuan jian

English Name

Benefit the River [ Flow ] Decoction

ji chuan jian

About ji chuan jian

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang and strengthens Jing

Nourishes the Blood

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification