HERB FORMULAS

WU LING SAN

English: Five-Ingredient Formula with Poria
Also Known As: Hoelen Five Herb Formula
Powder of Five Drugs Containing Poria

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rz. Alismatis Ze Xie 4-15g Promotes urination, resolves Dampness, strengthens the Spleen, harmonizes the Middle Jiao and transforms Phlegm.
Poria Fu Ling 2.3-15g Leeches out Dampness due to deficiency, promotes urination, strengthens the Spleen, and assists the Yang.
With Zhu Ling, promotes urination.
With Bai Zhu, strengthens the Spleen and promotes urination.
With Gui Zhi warms and transforms fluids, unblocks Yang and promotes urination.
With Ze Xie, Gui Zhi and Bai Zhu for Dampness Obstruction causing Lin Syndrome, edema, heaviness of the body, and irritability.
Scl. Polypori Zhu Ling 2.3-15g Promotes urination, leaches out Dampness and dispels Heat.
With Ze Xie, drains Damp, unblocks and drains urinary pathways and drains Heat from the Bladder.
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu 2.3-10g Strengthens the Spleen, aids transformation and transportation of fluids and resolves Dampness
 With Fu Ling and Gui Zhi, for Spleen Deficiency with chest distention and edema.
Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi 1.5-10g Warms the Ming Men assisting the Bladder in transforming and discharging urine, aids the Spleen to raise up Damp and releases exterior pathogens.
With Bai Zhu, for Heart and Spleen Yang Deficiency with palpitations, edema and shortness of breath.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Promotes urination
  • Drains Dampness
  • Strengthens the Spleen
  • Disperses water accumulation
  • Warms the Yang
  • Promotes the transforming functions of Qi

SYNDROMES

  • Tai Yang Biao Fu
  • Spleen Deficiency Edema
  • Lower Jiao Retention of Water (Yi Yin or Zhi Yin)
  • Tan Yin

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Headache
  • Fever (maybe chills)
  • Strong thirst with a desire to drink.
  • Vomits immediately after drinking
  • Urinary difficulty
  • Edema
  • General sensation of heaviness
  • Diarrhea
  • Irritability
  • Simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea
  • Throbbing sensations below umbilicus
  • Vomits frothy saliva
  • Vertigo
  • Loose stools
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Urinary retention
  • Lower abdominal fullness
  • Extreme thirst
  • Palpitations
  • Lower abdominal distention
  • Lower abdominal palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Abdominal pain
  • T: Normal
  • C: Slippery, white
  • P: Floating and rapid

TREATS

  • Acute or chronic nephritis
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Pyelonephritis
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Chronic renal failure
  • Congestive Heart failure
  • Ascites from liver cirrhosis
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Infectious hepatitis
  • Gastroptosis
  • Gastrectasis
  • Acute gastroenteritis
  • Acute enteritis with diarrhea
  • Genitourinary infections
  • Neurogenic bladder syndrome
  • Scrotal hydrocele
  • Cardiac edema
  • Varicella
  • Cholera
  • Blisters
  • Urolithiasis
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Ascites
  • Benign prostatic hypertrophy
  • Infantile indigestion
  • Pericardial and pleural effusions
  • Central serous retinopathy
  • Catarrhal conjunctivitis
  • Aphthous ulcers
  • Flat warts
  • Eczema
  • Vomiting and diarrhea due to a common cold
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Dacrocystitis
  • Migraine
  • Uremia
  • Toxemia during pregnancy
  • Indigestion
  • Seasickness
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Vital conjunctivitis
  • Nyctalopia
  • Otitis media
  • Nephropyelitis
  • Acute gastroenteritis
  • Cyclic vomiting
  • Pseudocholera
  • Cold type urticaria
  • Scrotal edema
  • Gestational hypertension
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Early-stage renal insufficiency
  • Cystitis
  • Headache from increased cranial pressure
  • Motion sickness
  • Polyhydramnios
  • Glaucoma
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Diffuse polyps of the vocal cords
  • Urticaria
  • Alopecia areata
  • Herpes zoster
  • Gastric relaxation
  • Hypersalivation
  • Recurrent headache

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • With Spleen Qi and Kidney Deficiency limit dosage, may combine with tonics.
  • For urinary difficulty with Yin Deficiency, protect Yin.
  • Overdose symptoms include - dizziness, vertigo, a bland taste and anorexia.
  • Avoid long term administration.
  • Contraindicated for those with depleted body fluids from profuse perspiration.
  • Contraindicated for those with excessive vomiting.
  • Contraindicated for those with excessive diarrhea.
  • Contraindicated for those with Damp-Heat Accumulation.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • This formula can be beneficial in relieving adverse gastrointestinal events such as nausea and dyspepsia associated with the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For ascites: For severe edema:
+ Regulate the Middle Decoction
Li Zhong Tang
 + Cx. Mori Sang Bai Pi
For Cold-Damp painful obstruction with thirst and urinary difficulty:
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae
+ Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo + Per. Arecae Da Fu Pi
For both exterior and interior signs with edema:
 or
+ Maidservant from Yue Decoction
Yue Bi Tang
 + Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
For otitis media:
+ Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae
+ Hb. Asari Xi Xin
For Damp-Heat diarrhea:
+ Rz. Acori Tatarinowii
- Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu
For vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal distention:
- Ram. Cinnamomi
+ Rz. Atractylodis
+ Hb. Artemisiae Yin Chen Hao
+ Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po + Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae
For concurrent edema and Qi obstruction due to Excess water retention:
For severe exterior symptoms:
+ Five Peel Decoction
Wu Pi Yin
+ Rx. Ephedrae Ma Huang
For jaundice:
+ Fol. Perillae Zi Su Ye + Hb. Artemisia Yin Chen Hao
For jaundice and dysuria:
+ Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi
- Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi
For Cold and Dampness:
For urinary incontinence and Zhong Qi Deficiency:
 + Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu
+ Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
For Damp-Heat jaundice:
For edema due to Spleen Deficiency:
+ Hb. Artemisiae Yin Chen Hao
+ Five Peel Decoction
Wu Pi Yin
For edema due to Kidney Yang Deficiency:
+ Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
+ Five Peel Decoction
Wu Pi Yin
For edema due to Liver Qi Stagnation:
 + Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi
+ Five Peel Decoction
Wu Pi Yin
For diarrhea due to Heat:
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride Qing Pi - Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi
+ Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang + Sm. Plantaginis Che Qian Zi
For diarrhea due to Summer-Dampness:
+ Caulis Akebiae Mu Tong
+ Hb. Agastaches Huo Xiang
For diarrhea due to Summerheat Invasion:
+ Hb. Eupatorii Pei Lan
+ Mosla Three Decoction
San Wu Xiang Ru Yin
For abdominal bloating and distention:
For thirst, and whole body fever due to Summerheat:
+ Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po
+ White Tiger Decoction
Bai Hu Tang
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi
For general thirst:
For thirst with constipation:
+ Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao
+ Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao + Rz. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu
+ Talcum Hua Shi
Foe body aches due to Cold-Damp Accumulation:
+ Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi + Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ Medulla Junci Deng Xin Cao
For painful Wind obstruction contracted during the summer:
For concurrent fever:
+ Rx. Clematidis Wei Ling Xian
- Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi + Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin + Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae Han Fang Ji
For Summerheat diarrhea:
For Liver/Spleen disharmony and Shao Yang disorders:
+ Talcum Hua Shi
+ Minor Bupleurum Decoction
For urinary burning or bleeding:
For nausea and vomiting:
+ Talcum Hua Shi + Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia
+ Colla Corii Asini E Jiao + Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang
For arthralgia with general edema especially in the Lower Jiao:
For abdominal bloating:
+ Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng + Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po
+ Rx. et Rz. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ Per. Citri Reticulatae
+ Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen
+ Cinnamon Twig Decoction
Gui Zhi Tang
For Heart palpitations, insomnia or gastric ulcer:
For glaucoma:
+ Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang + Sm. Plantaginis Che Qian Zi
+ Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
For acute (closed angle) glaucoma increase the dosage of all the herbs as follows:
+ Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang Rz. Alismatis (30g) Ze Xie
    Sm. Plantaginis (30g) Che Qian Zi
    Scl. Polypori (25g) Zhu Ling
    Ram. Cinnamomi (10g) Gui Zhi
    Poria (25g) Fu Ling
    + 15g Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu
    + 15g Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang