Wu Ling San
五苓散 (Wu Ling San)
Source: Shang Han Lun — Zhang Zhongjing (Han, 220)
Description
Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) is the primary formula for water accumulation and urinary dysfunction in TCM. It treats impaired transformation of water by the Bladder and Kidney, causing retention of water in the interior. The formula warms and promotes the Bladder's transforming function while draining accumulated dampness, making it applicable for a wide range of water metabolism disorders.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhu Ling | 9g | 18.75% | Chen (Deputy) | Drains dampness and promotes urination. |
| Fu Ling | 9g | 18.75% | Chen (Deputy) | Drains dampness, strengthens Spleen. |
| Bai Zhu | 9g | 18.75% | Zuo (Assistant) | Tonifies Spleen, transforms water and dampness. |
| Gui Zhi | 6g | 12.5% | Shi (Envoy) | Warms Yang, promotes Qi transformation in Bladder, releases exterior. |
| Ze Xie | 15g | 31.25% | Jun (Chief) | Promotes urination, drains dampness, clears heat from Bladder. |
Total weight: 45g
Preparation
Traditional: grind to powder and take with warm water, then drink more water. As decoction: simmer 20 minutes and take warm.
Dosage
Powder: 3g 3x/day with warm water. Decoction: 1 dose/day. Drink plenty of warm water after taking.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).