Chinese: Niu Che Shen Qi Wan (Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan)
English: Life Preserving Kidney Qi Pill
Source: Yanshijishengfang (Formulas to Aid the Living)
Pulse: sunken
Tongue: pale body, swollen-scalloped edges, slippery coating
Abdomen: shofukufujin
Indications: This herbal formula has been used for patients with following health conditions and symptoms:
- Edema
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Joint pain
- Low back pain
- Numbness in legs
- Leg weakness
- Cold feet
- Aversion to cold
- Fatigue
- Erectile dysfunction
- Nocturnal emission
- Frequent urination
- Difficult urination
- Edema
- Tinnitus
- Dizziness
There are many other health conditions that may respond well to this herbal formula, in particular patients exhibiting indicative traditional diagnostic signs and symptoms.
Herbs in This Formula
- Jukujio (Rehmanniae Radix preparata), 6g
- Goshitsu (Achyranthis bidentatae Radix), 3g
- Sanshuyu (Corni Fructus), 3g
- Sanyaku (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), 3g
- Shazenshi (Plantaginis Semen), 3g
- Takusha (Alismatis Rhizoma), 3g
- Bukuryo (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos), 3g
- Botanpi (Paeoniae Moutan Cortex), 3g
- Keihi (Cinnamomi Cortex), 1g
- Bushi (Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata), 0.5g
Note: Suggested dosages of each herb in Kampo formulas are often smaller than those of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Individual dosages of herbs may be adjusted depending on each patient’s condition, constitutional patterns, quality of the herbs, and other factors involved.
TIPS: How to obtain Goshaginkigan
Basic and Clinical Research on Goshajinkigan (Niu Che Shen Qi Wan) – Updated on Mar. 30, 2011
Hu, X., et al. Goshajinkigan (Chinese herbal medicine niu-che-sen-qi-wan) improves insulin resistance in diabetic rats via the nitric oxide pathway. Nagoya journal of medical science 72, 35-42 (2010).
Kono, T., Mishima, H., Shimada, M., Morita, S. & Sakamoto, J. Preventive effect of goshajinkigan on peripheral neurotoxicity of FOLFOX therapy: a placebo-controlled double-blind randomized phase II study (the GONE Study). Japanese journal of clinical oncology 39, 847-849 (2009).
Kono, T., et al. Efficacy of Goshajinkigan for Peripheral Neurotoxicity of Oxaliplatin in Patients with Advanced or Recurrent Colorectal Cancer. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med (2009).
Ishizuka O, Yamanishi T, Gotoh M, et al. LUTS: new evidence – clinical efficacy of Kampo formulations focusing on goshajinkigan. Urology View 7: 81-4 (2009)
Higashi K, Rakugi H, Yu H, et al. Effect of kihito extract granules on cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. Geriatrics & Gerontology International 7: 245-51 (2007)
Nishizawa Y., Nishizawa Y, Yoshioka H., et al. Efficacy and safety of Chinese traditional medicine, Niu-Che-Shwn-Qi-Wan (Japanese name: Goshajinki-gan) versus propiverine hydrochloride on health-related quality of life in patients with overactive bladder in prospective randomized comparative study. Kampo to Saishin-chiryo (Kampo & the Newest Therapy) 16: 131-42 (2007)
Zhang, X., et al. Effects of goshajinkigan (niu-che-sen-qi-wan) for resiniferatoxin-sensitive afferents on detrusor overactivity induced by acetic acid in conscious rats. The American journal of Chinese medicine 34, 285-293 (2006).
Uno, T., Ohsawa, I., Tokudome, M. & Sato, Y. Effects of Goshajinkigan on insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes research and clinical practice 69, 129-135 (2005).
Nagaki Y. Effects of goshajinkigan on diabetic keratopathy. Kampo Igaku (Kampo Medicine) 28: 63-5 (2004)
Maeshima S, Katayama Y. Spine and spinal cord diseases 1. Traditional Chinese medicines for the spinal disorders. Kampo to Saishin-Chiryo (Kampo & the Newest Therapy) 13: 232-6 (2004)
Nagaki, Y., et al. Effects of goshajinkigan on corneal sensitivity, superficial punctate keratopathy and tear secretion in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The American journal of Chinese medicine 31, 103-109 (2003).
Sato Y. Diabetic complications and Kampo 1. Clinical effects of Gosha-jinkigan for diabetic neuropathy. Nihon Toyo Igaku Zasshi (Kampo medicine) 54: 500-3 (2003)
Sekine R, Watanabe H, Mimura M, et al. The effects of Gosha-jinki-gan on the low back pain and lower limb pain caused by the lumbar spine: A comparison of Gosha-jinki-gan with Benfotiamine. Itami to Kampo (Pain and Kampo Medicine) 13: 84-7 (2003)
Abe Y. The efficacy of goshajinkigan against lymphedema. Kampo Igaku (Kampo Medicine) 25: 284-7 (2002)
Ota H. Positioning of Kampo therapy and hormone replacement therapy in treatment of climacteric disorder. Sanfujinka Kampo Kenkyu no Ayumi (Recent Progress of Kampo Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology) 18: 21-9 (2001)
Nishizawa Y, Nishizawa Y, Amemori Y, et al. A randomized paralleled group comparison in multicenter cooperation: analgesic effect and safety with gosha-jinki-gan and shakuyaku-kanzo-to in the treatment of painful muscle cramps in patients with cirrhosis. Itami to Kampo (Pain and Kampo Medicine) 10: 13-8 (2000)
Tomii M, Kobayashi T, Sekiguchi Y, et al. The effects of Kampo formulations on anti-hsp antibody titer of the non insulin depended diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. Wakan Iyaku Gakkaishi (Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Society for WAKAN-YAKU) 15: 274-5 (1998)
Sato Y, Horita H, Adachi N, et al. Effect of oral administration of prostaglandin E1 on erectile dysfunction. British Journal of Urology 80: 772-5 (1997)
Tawata, M., et al. The effects of goshajinkigan, a herbal medicine, on subjective symptoms and vibratory threshold in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes research and clinical practice 26, 121-128 (1994).
Horiba T, Kato S, Tanaka T, et al. Clinical validity of gosha-jinki-gan in the treatment of chronic prostatitis – open comparative study with gosha-jinki-gan vs ciprofloxacin -. Gendai Toyo Igaku (The Journal of Traditional Sino-Japanese Medicine) 15: 37-44 (1994)
Ohkawara A, Furuya K, Kurisu Y, et al. Experience with orengedokuto (TJ-15) and goshajinkigan (TJ-107) for the treatment of senile pruritus. Nishinihon Hifuka (The Nishinihon Journal of Dermatology) 53: 1234-41 (1991)
Usuki, Y., Usuki, S. & Hommura, S. Successful treatment of a senile diabetic woman with cataract with goshajinkigan. The American journal of Chinese medicine 19, 259-263 (1991).
Sakamoto N, Sato Y, Goto Y, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with oriental medicines – comparison between goshajinkigan and mecobalamin*. Tonyobyo (Journal of the Japan Diabetes Society) 30: 729-36 (1987)
Toba K, Orimo H. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Shindan to Chiryo (Diagnosis and Treatment) 74: 2330-4 (1986)