Ren Shen Ge Jie San
Star人参蛤蚧散 (Ginseng and Gecko Powder)
Source: Wei Sheng Bao Jian — Luo Tian-Yi (Yuan, 1047)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Ren Shen Ge Jie San (Ginseng and Gecko Powder), from the Wei Sheng Bao Jian (Precious Mirror of Health) by Luo Tian-Yi.
Actions: Tonifies qi and clears the Lung; Arrests cough and relieves wheezing.
Presentation: Chronic consumptive Lung disease due to deficiency heat: chronic cough, wheezing, dyspnea, thick, yellow sputum with or without blood and pus, irritability and heat sensation in the chest, weight loss with or without facial edema, chronic lung atrophy, and a superficial, deficient pulse at the cun position.
Cautions:
- Contraindicated for cough and dyspnea caused by exterior conditions
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 557.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ge Jie
dose printed as 1 pair; as printed: Gecko (ge jie) 1 pair
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | Tonifies Kidneys to grasp qi and arrest wheezing |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ginseng Radix (ren shen) 60g
|
60g | 13.33% | Jun (Chief) | Tonifies source qi and Lung-Spleen qi, slightly moistening |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Poria (fu ling) 60g
|
60g | 13.33% | Chen (Deputy) | Benefits the Spleen by draining dampness |
|
Gan Cao
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Glycyrrhizae Radix preparata (zhi gan cao) 150g
|
150g | 33.33% | Chen (Deputy) | Harmonizes and helps tonify source qi |
|
Sang Bai Pi
as printed: Mori Cortex (sang bai pi) 60g
|
60g | 13.33% | Zuo (Assistant) | With xing ren regulates Lung qi and directs rebellious qi down |
|
Xing Ren
dose printed as 180; as printed: Armeniacae Semen (xing ren) 180
|
g | — | Zuo (Assistant) | With sang bai pi directs Lung qi downward |
|
Chuan Bei Mu
as printed: Fritillariae cirrhosae Bulbus (chuan bei mu) 60g
|
60g | 13.33% | Zuo (Assistant) | Clears heat, moistens the Lungs, transforms phlegm |
|
Zhi Mu
as printed: Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (zhi mu) 60g
|
60g | 13.33% | Zuo (Assistant) | Drains heat from Lungs and Kidneys without harming yin |
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.
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 (Ge Jie) has no dose in grams.
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 27%, cool 13%, neutral 47%, warm 13%.
Taste
- sweet 73%
- bitter 20%
- bland 7%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Spleen 73%
- Heart 73%
- Stomach 47%
- Kidney 40%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
2 herbs without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Ge Jie, Xing Ren.
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
Source: grind to fine powder, store in porcelain, take with a little water daily. Today: powder, 6g with water on an empty stomach morning and evening. Ge Jie is first de-odorized (source: soaked in river water changed daily for five days, then fried yellow and crisp; today: washed with liquor, baked dry and crisp over mild heat, powdered).
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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