Ji Chuan Jian
Star济川煎 (Benefit the River [Flow] Decoction)
Source: Jing Yue Quan Shu — Zhang Jie-Bin (Zhang Jing-Yue) (1624)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Ji Chuan Jian (Benefit the River [Flow] Decoction), from the Jing Yue Quan Shu (Collected Treatises of [Zhang] Jing Yue) by Zhang Jie-Bin (Zhang Jing-Yue).
Actions: Warms the Kidney and tonifies jing (essence); Lubricates the Intestines and promotes defecation.
Presentation: Constipation in the elderly from Kidney yang deficiency: constipation, polyuria with clear urine, dizziness, vertigo, sore weak knees and low back, cold lumbar sensation, intolerance to cold, cold extremities.
Cautions:
- Contraindicated for constipation from excess heat
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 179.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rou Cong Rong
xi (washed) with liquor; dose printed as 6-9g; as printed: Rou Cong Rong (Herba Cistanches) 6-9g
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | Warms and tonifies Kidney yang and jing and lubricates the Intestines |
|
Dang Gui
dose printed as 9-15g; as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 9-15g
|
g | — | Chen (Deputy) | Nourishes and harmonizes blood and lubricates the Intestines |
|
Niu Xi
as printed: Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) 6g
|
6g | 44.44% | Chen (Deputy) | Directs downward, nourishes the Kidney and strengthens low back and knees |
|
Ze Xie
as printed: Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 33.33% | Zuo (Assistant) | Promotes urination to excrete turbidity from the Kidney |
|
Zhi Ke
as printed: Zhi Qiao (Fructus Citri Aurantii) 3g
|
3g | 22.22% | Shi (Envoy) | Activates qi flow to relieve constipation |
|
Sheng Ma
dose printed as 1.5-3g; as printed: Sheng Ma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) 1.5-3g
|
g | — | Shi (Envoy) | Raises yang qi so that turbidity can descend |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Kidney yang and essence are warmed while blood is nourished and the intestines moistened, moving the stool without purging.
Constipation from kidney deficiency in the elderly.
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net nature not shown: the chief herb (Rou Cong Rong) has no dose in grams.
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 33%, cool 22%, neutral 44%.
Taste
- pungent 7%
- sweet 32%
- sour 22%
- bitter 22%
- bland 17%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 78%
- Liver 44%
- Lung 22%
- Large intestine 22%
- Stomach 22%
- Spleen 22%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
3 herbs without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Rou Cong Rong, Dang Gui, Sheng Ma.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Cook in 1.5 bowls of water down to 0.7-0.8 bowl; take before meals.
Relationships
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Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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