Kidney Qi Pills，*The Golden Cabinet* (Jin Gui), Volume Lower.，Deficiency of kidney yang, manifested as low back pain and weak legs; a constant sensation of cold in the lower body; tightness and cramping in the lower abdomen; difficulty urinating or, conversely, excessive urination; a pale, swollen tongue; a weak pulse that is deep and fine at the cun position; as well as phlegm-fluid retention with coughing and wheezing, edema and beriberi, diabetes insipidus, urinary retention, chronic diarrhea, and genital ulcers—all of which are attributed to the deficiency and decline of yang qi in the kidneys.Lumbago due to consumptive disease, or shortness of breath with slight fluid retention; or diabetes insipidus in men, characterized by drinking one dou of fluid and urinating one dou; and in women, a condition where appetite remains normal but there is restlessness and fever preventing sleep, yet the patient leans back to catch her breath—this is called “zhuàn bāo,” caused by the bladder ligaments becoming twisted and constricted. Beriberi ascends into the lower abdomen, causing numbness in the lower abdomen.Deficiency due to chronic wasting disease leads to excessive fluid consumption; the lower abdomen feels tight; kidney qi is deficient and exhausted; the lower jiao is cold and enfeebled; there is pain in the navel and abdomen; frequent urination at night; weakness in the feet and knees; general physical fatigue; a sallow, dark complexion; and a lack of appetite.When kidney qi is internally depleted, the voice becomes hoarse and the legs fail. Toothache occurs in cases of cold syndrome. Decline of the Fire of the Gate of Life prevents it from generating Earth, leading to deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach and loose stools. Inherent qi deficiency causes weak bones, resulting in an inability to walk or stand by the age of 7–8. When kidney water fails to nourish the body, and spleen deficiency fails to restrain kidney water, there is excessive spitting of phlegm without coughing. The pulses at both Cui positions are faint and weak, indicating deficiency of both yin and yang.Kidney deficiency fails to contain water; body fluids fail to descend, leading to phlegm and fluid retention, coughing and retching, tidal fever, and night sweats. Spleen and kidney deficiency-cold prevent Earth from generating Metal; Lung Metal is depleted; Lung Qi deficiency fails to contain blood, resulting in a sallow complexion and occasional coughing up of blood; the pulse is often hollow, large, and weak. When both the Spleen and Kidney are impaired, water overflows outward while Earth is constrained within, causing edema; or, due to Yang deficiency, urination is obstructed.Insufficiency of the Kidneys’ True Yang prevents Fire from returning to its source. A diffuse, flat, and sunken abscess at the Baihui acupoint—dark purple, firm, and hard—accompanied by a flushed face and restlessness, a dry mouth without thirst, and moist lips—indicates a case of Yang deficiency with superficial manifestations. Similarly, cheek ulcers with locked jaws that cannot be opened, or swelling on the sides that does not subside, with thin, clear pus and exudate that eventually forms a fistula; if the ulcer site is further invaded by cold, it leads to excessive bone formation, resulting in a chronic condition that persists for years and is difficult to cure.
Kidney Qi Pills
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Formulas Name : Kidney Qi Pills
Chinese Name : 肾气丸
Drug Formulation
Dried Rehmannia 8 liang, Dioscorea 4 liang, Cornus officinalis 4 liang, Alisma 3 liang, Poria 3 liang, Moutan Bark 3 liang, Cinnamon Twig 1 liang, Aconite Root (roasted) 1 liang.
Source
*The Golden Cabinet* (Jin Gui), Volume Lower.
Processing
Grind the ingredients into a fine powder, mix with refined honey, and form into pills the size of a Paulownia seed.
Benefits
Deficiency of kidney yang, manifested as low back pain and weak legs; a constant sensation of cold in the lower body; tightness and cramping in the lower abdomen; difficulty urinating or, conversely, excessive urination; a pale, swollen tongue; a weak pulse that is deep and fine at the cun position; as well as phlegm-fluid retention with coughing and wheezing, edema and beriberi, diabetes insipidus, urinary retention, chronic diarrhea, and genital ulcers—all of which are attributed to the deficiency and decline of yang qi in the kidneys.Lumbago due to consumptive disease, or shortness of breath with slight fluid retention; or diabetes insipidus in men, characterized by drinking one dou of fluid and urinating one dou; and in women, a condition where appetite remains normal but there is restlessness and fever preventing sleep, yet the patient leans back to catch her breath—this is called “zhuàn bāo,” caused by the bladder ligaments becoming twisted and constricted. Beriberi ascends into the lower abdomen, causing numbness in the lower abdomen.Deficiency due to chronic wasting disease leads to excessive fluid consumption; the lower abdomen feels tight; kidney qi is deficient and exhausted; the lower jiao is cold and enfeebled; there is pain in the navel and abdomen; frequent urination at night; weakness in the feet and knees; general physical fatigue; a sallow, dark complexion; and a lack of appetite.When kidney qi is internally depleted, the voice becomes hoarse and the legs fail. Toothache occurs in cases of cold syndrome. Decline of the Fire of the Gate of Life prevents it from generating Earth, leading to deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach and loose stools. Inherent qi deficiency causes weak bones, resulting in an inability to walk or stand by the age of 7–8. When kidney water fails to nourish the body, and spleen deficiency fails to restrain kidney water, there is excessive spitting of phlegm without coughing. The pulses at both Cui positions are faint and weak, indicating deficiency of both yin and yang.Kidney deficiency fails to contain water; body fluids fail to descend, leading to phlegm and fluid retention, coughing and retching, tidal fever, and night sweats. Spleen and kidney deficiency-cold prevent Earth from generating Metal; Lung Metal is depleted; Lung Qi deficiency fails to contain blood, resulting in a sallow complexion and occasional coughing up of blood; the pulse is often hollow, large, and weak. When both the Spleen and Kidney are impaired, water overflows outward while Earth is constrained within, causing edema; or, due to Yang deficiency, urination is obstructed.Insufficiency of the Kidneys’ True Yang prevents Fire from returning to its source. A diffuse, flat, and sunken abscess at the Baihui acupoint—dark purple, firm, and hard—accompanied by a flushed face and restlessness, a dry mouth without thirst, and moist lips—indicates a case of Yang deficiency with superficial manifestations. Similarly, cheek ulcers with locked jaws that cannot be opened, or swelling on the sides that does not subside, with thin, clear pus and exudate that eventually forms a fistula; if the ulcer site is further invaded by cold, it leads to excessive bone formation, resulting in a chronic condition that persists for years and is difficult to cure.
Instructions for Use
Take 15 pills per dose, increasing to 25 pills, washed down with wine, twice daily.
Note
Avoid pork, cold water, raw green onions, vinegar-based foods, and wild fennel; this formula should not be used in cases presenting with a dry throat and mouth, a red tongue with little coating, or other signs of kidney yin deficiency and ascending kidney fire.
Copyright: Excerpt from *The Golden Cabinet* (Jin Gui), Volume Lower., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 31, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 31, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 31, 2026
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Kidney Qi Pills,Deficiency of kidney yang, manifested as low back pain and weak legs; a constant sensation of cold in the lower body; tightness and cramping in the lower abdomen; difficulty urinating or, conversely, excessive urination; a pale, swollen tongue; a weak pulse that is deep and fine at the cun position; as well as phlegm-fluid retention with coughing and wheezing, edema and beriberi, diabetes insipidus, urinary retention, chronic diarrhea, and genital ulcers—all of which are attributed to the deficiency and decline of yang qi in the kidneys.Lumbago due to consumptive disease, or shortness of breath with slight fluid retention; or diabetes insipidus in men, characterized by drinking one dou of fluid and urinating one dou; and in women, a condition where appetite remains normal but there is restlessness and fever preventing sleep, yet the patient leans back to catch her breath—this is called “zhuàn bāo,” caused by the bladder ligaments becoming twisted and constricted. Beriberi ascends into the lower abdomen, causing numbness in the lower abdomen.Deficiency due to chronic wasting disease leads to excessive fluid consumption; the lower abdomen feels tight; kidney qi is deficient and exhausted; the lower jiao is cold and enfeebled; there is pain in the navel and abdomen; frequent urination at night; weakness in the feet and knees; general physical fatigue; a sallow, dark complexion; and a lack of appetite.When kidney qi is internally depleted, the voice becomes hoarse and the legs fail. Toothache occurs in cases of cold syndrome. Decline of the Fire of the Gate of Life prevents it from generating Earth, leading to deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach and loose stools. Inherent qi deficiency causes weak bones, resulting in an inability to walk or stand by the age of 7–8. When kidney water fails to nourish the body, and spleen deficiency fails to restrain kidney water, there is excessive spitting of phlegm without coughing. The pulses at both Cui positions are faint and weak, indicating deficiency of both yin and yang.Kidney deficiency fails to contain water; body fluids fail to descend, leading to phlegm and fluid retention, coughing and retching, tidal fever, and night sweats. Spleen and kidney deficiency-cold prevent Earth from generating Metal; Lung Metal is depleted; Lung Qi deficiency fails to contain blood, resulting in a sallow complexion and occasional coughing up of blood; the pulse is often hollow, large, and weak. When both the Spleen and Kidney are impaired, water overflows outward while Earth is constrained within, causing edema; or, due to Yang deficiency, urination is obstructed.Insufficiency of the Kidneys’ True Yang prevents Fire from returning to its source. A diffuse, flat, and sunken abscess at the Baihui acupoint—dark purple, firm, and hard—accompanied by a flushed face and restlessness, a dry mouth without thirst, and moist lips—indicates a case of Yang deficiency with superficial manifestations. Similarly, cheek ulcers with locked jaws that cannot be opened, or swelling on the sides that does not subside, with thin, clear pus and exudate that eventually forms a fistula; if the ulcer site is further invaded by cold, it leads to excessive bone formation, resulting in a chronic condition that persists for years and is difficult to cure.