Wuling San

傷寒論

Taiyang disease: after sweating, with profuse sweating, dryness in the stomach, restlessness and inability to sleep; if the patient wants to drink water, give small amounts to drink, and when the stomach qi is harmonious, he will recover. If the pulse is floating, urination is not free, there is mild fever, and wasting thirst, Wuling San governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- After sweating has been induced, if the pulse is floating and rapid, and there is vexing thirst, Wuling San governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- In cold damage, if there is sweating and thirst, Wuling San governs it; if there is no thirst, Fuling Gancao Tang governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Wind-strike with fever, which does not resolve after six or seven days and is accompanied by restlessness, with both exterior and interior patterns; if there is thirst and a desire to drink water, but the water is vomited upon ingestion, this is called water counterflow; Wuling San governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- When the disease is in Yang, it should be resolved by sweating; if instead cold water is sprayed on [the patient], or poured on, the heat is forcibly restrained and cannot leave, restlessness increases all the more, goose bumps rise on the flesh; if the patient intends to drink water but is in fact not thirsty, administer Wenge San; if he does not recover, give Wuling San. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- This [patient] was purged, hence there is epigastric stuffiness; if Xiexin Tang is given and the stuffiness does not resolve, and the patient is thirsty with a dry mouth and restlessness, and urination is not free, Wuling San governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- In sudden turmoil disorder, with headache, fever, and generalized pain: if heat predominates and the patient wants to drink water, Wuling San governs it; if cold predominates and the patient does not drink water, Lizhong Wan governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- If the pulse is floating, urination is not free, and there is mild fever and wasting thirst, Wuling San governs it. (Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet)) -- If a thin person has palpitations below the umbilicus, vomits saliva and froth, and has dizziness, this is water; Wuling San governs it. (Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet))

Zhu Ling 18 zhu; Ze Xie 1 liang 6 zhu; Bai Zhu 18 zhu; Fu Ling 18 zhu; Gui Zhi half a liang. The above five ingredients are pounded into powder and taken with white rice water, one square-inch spoonful, three times a day. Drink more warm water; when sweating occurs, the patient recovers. (Shang Han Za Bing Lun)

Powder: take 4-6 g each time; Decoction: decoct in water and take; drink more hot water to induce mild sweating; the dosage is determined according to the proportions in the original formula.

湯劑

Promote urination and percolate dampness, warm Yang and transform qi.

1. Exterior pathogen with internal retention of water-dampness. Headache, fever, vexing thirst with desire to drink, or vomiting immediately upon drinking water, inhibited urination, white tongue coating, floating pulse. 2. Patterns of internal retention of water-dampness: edema, diarrhea, inhibited urination, and vomiting and diarrhea in sudden turmoil disorder. 3. Phlegm-fluid with throbbing below the umbilicus, vomiting of saliva and froth with dizziness, or shortness of breath and cough.

Difficult urination, painful urination: combine with Zhuling Tang. -- Concussion with dizziness and headache: combine with Chuanxiong Chatiao San. -- When dampness is heavy and skin disease is predominantly on the lower half of the body: add Coix seed (Yiyiren): 30. -- Urinary retention, inability to urinate, in cases of Spleen Qi deficiency: add Ginseng: 10. -- Damp-heat jaundice with predominant dampness, or hyperlipidemia: add Artemisia capillaris (Yinchenhao): 30. -- Cold-dampness: add Atractylodes lancea (Cangzhu): 10. -- Scrotal edema: add Plantago seed (Cheqianzi): 6, Akebia stem (Mutong): 6. -- In Kidney Yang deficiency: add prepared Aconite (Paofuzi): 10. -- Headache, discomfort of the neck, shoulders, and upper back, or high blood pressure, in alcohol drinkers: add Pueraria root (Gegen): 20. -- Waist and leg pain, high blood pressure: add Achyranthes root (Huai Niu Xi): 10. -- Eye disease: add Plantago seed (Cheqianzi): 6. -- Shaoyang disease, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, dizziness, poor appetite, vomiting: combine with Xiao Chaihu Tang.

1. It is contraindicated in cases of difficult urination caused by profuse sweating and severe purgation. 2. In cases of Spleen Qi deficiency and insufficient Kidney qi, excessive use of this formula may produce reactions such as dizziness, blurred vision, bland taste in the mouth, decreased appetite, and poor food intake. 3. This formula is not suitable for long-term use; for weak individuals it is often used together with formulas that tonify and nourish the Spleen and Stomach. 4. Although this formula has the effect of correcting dehydration, for severe dehydration accompanied by serious electrolyte imbalance, one should not rely on this formula alone; it must be combined with fluid replacement and other measures to correct water and electrolyte disturbances. 5. The traditional dosage form of this formula is a Powder. After swallowing the powder, drink plenty of water until slight sweating occurs, which is best. In modern practice, it is generally taken as a Decoction, warm; note that it should not be decocted for a long time, so as to avoid weakening its draining and disinhibiting nature.