Ji Chuan Jian济川煎

Benefit the River Decoction

Purging Downward 泻下剂Moist Laxative 润下

Ingredients6 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

当Dang Gui当归Angelicae Sinensis Radix9~15g臣 DeputyNourishes blood and moistens the dry bowel

牛Niu Xi牛膝Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix6g臣 DeputySupplements the Kidney and directs the formula downward

肉Rou Cong Rong肉苁蓉酒洗去咸Cistanches Herba6~9g君 ChiefWarms the Kidney, augments essence and moistens the intestines 泽Ze Xie泽泻Alismatis Rhizoma4.5g佐 AssistantSeparates the clear from the turbid and helps the descent 升Sheng Ma升麻Cimicifugae Rhizoma1.5~3g佐 AssistantLifts the clear yang so that the turbid can descend — a small dose by design 枳Zhi Ke枳壳Aurantii Fructus3g佐 AssistantLoosens the qi dynamic of the bowel without breaking it

Indications

Warms the Kidney and augments essenceMoistens the intestines and unblocks the stoolOpens the bowel by supplementing, not by purging

Kidney yang weak with essence and fluids insufficient. The intestines are dry because nothing is being sent up to moisten them, so attacking the stool treats the wrong end of the problem.

Clinical Manifestations

Constipation in the elderly or after long illness
Constipation with clear copious urine and a sore, weak low back
Postpartum constipation with yang and essence depletion
Habitual constipation where purgatives leave the patient worse

TonguePale with a white coating

PulseDeep and slow, or weak at the deep level

Health Categories

Women's HealthDigestive HealthBone & Joint Health

Modern Applications

Constipation in the elderly Chronic constipation Postpartum constipation Hypothyroidism Low back pain

Common adjustments

Qi deficiency with a sinking sensation — add qi tonics such as Ren Shen 人参
Cold marked, abdomen cold to the touch — add warming herbs such as Rou Gui 肉桂
Dryness marked from fluid depletion — increase Rou Cong Rong and add Huo Ma Ren 火麻仁

Contraindications

Not for hot excess constipation with abdominal distension and hardness, and not where damp-heat is the cause — the warm, rich herbs would make both worse. Rou Cong Rong is unsuitable for patients with yin-deficient heat and loose stools.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Use with caution in pregnancy and generally avoided. Huai Niu Xi moves blood and draws strongly downward, which is why it is on the traditional caution list for pregnancy; the rest of the formula is mild by comparison. If constipation in pregnancy needs treating, a practitioner should choose a formula built for that situation.

References

Source Jing Yue Quan Shu 《景岳全书》 · Ming

「凡病涉虚损，而大便闭结不通，则硝、黄攻击等剂必不可用……此用通于补之剂也。」
— 《景岳全书》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— chapter placement, 功用 and pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.