Yin Chen Wu Ling San
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
茵陈五苓散 · Yīn Chén Wǔ Líng Sǎn
Combination of Yin Chen Hao with Wu Ling San. Used for damp-type (Yin) jaundice with fluid retention, thirst and scanty urine, often against a background of Spleen weakness.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Dampness-Draining Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Dampness
- Primary Function
- Drain Damp, promote urination, resolve jaundice
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Clear Dampness, promote urination, resolve jaundice and warm Yang
- Classical Source
- Jin Gui Yao Lue (Zhang Zhongjing, Eastern Han)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
Combination of Yin Chen Hao with Wu Ling San. Used for damp-type (Yin) jaundice with fluid retention, thirst and scanty urine, often against a background of Spleen weakness.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for jaundice where dampness clearly outweighs Heat and fluid retention is evident, pairing Yin Chen Hao with the water-draining Wu Ling San base — milder and less cooling than Yin Chen Hao Tang, which suits frank yang-type damp-heat jaundice.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
澤瀉Ze Xie10g
Alisma Rhizome- leaches dampness and drains ministerial fire via the urine
茯苓Fu Ling10g
Poria / Hoelen- fortifies the spleen
- leaches dampness and quiets the heart
豬苓Zhu Ling10g
Polyporus- promotes urination and leaches dampness
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
Classical Composition
- Herba Artemisiae Scopariae (Yin Chen Hao) 15g
- Rhizoma Alismatis (Ze Xie) 10g
- Poria (Fu Ling) 10g
- Polyporus (Zhu Ling) 10g
- Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Bai Zhu) 10g
- Ramulus Cinnamomi (Gui Zhi) 6g
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Clears damp-heat
- promotes urination
- and abates jaundice.
Indications
- This formula is indicated for damp-heat jaundice with water accumulation.
- Signs and symptoms include yellowing of the skin and eyes, inhibited urination, abdominal fullness, and thirst.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue coating is yellow and greasy, and the pulse is slippery.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This pattern is due to dampness obstructing the middle jiao or channels.
- Dampness is heavy and lingering; it impedes qi movement and produces fullness, heaviness, loose stools or edema.
- Damp-heat steaming the liver and gallbladder together with water accumulation produces jaundice and inhibited urination.
Treatment strategy
- The correct method is to leach out dampness, awaken the spleen, and move qi.
- In this formula the emphasis is to clear Dampness, promote urination, resolve jaundice and warm Yang.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Yin Chen Wu Ling San addresses damp-predominant jaundice with fluid retention. Yin Chen Hao Tang is for yang-type damp-heat jaundice with more Heat. Wu Ling San is the pure water-draining base. Wei Ling Tang combines middle-jiao damp drying with water draining.
Clinical Differentiation
- Yin Chen Wu Ling San is used for damp-heat jaundice together with water accumulation and inhibited urination.
- Yin Chen Hao clears damp-heat jaundice; Wu Ling San moves water.
- It is distinguished from Yin Chen Hao Tang, which focuses on jaundice without the same emphasis on leaching water, and from Wu Ling San used for water metabolism alone.
Safety notes: This formula is not appropriate for yin-deficiency jaundice or for cold-damp yin yellow that needs warming rather than bland-cold draining.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Yin Chen Wu Ling San?
Yin Chen Wu Ling San has the actions of promoting urination, draining Dampness, clearing Damp-Heat, and reducing jaundice. It is Wu Ling San with Yin Chen Hao added for jaundice in which Dampness predominates over Heat and urination is inhibited.
Which modern diseases is Yin Chen Wu Ling San suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Damp-predominant jaundice or Damp with mild Heat, including hepatitis or cholestatic jaundice of Damp type with dark scanty urine, early cirrhotic fluid retention of this pattern, and residual yellowing with fullness and poor appetite after the fiercest Heat has receded — always alongside proper medical evaluation of the liver and biliary tract.
Is Yin Chen Wu Ling San suitable for improving mild jaundice with scanty urine and abdominal fullness?
For presentations of yellowing of the skin or eyes that is not fiercely bright-orange, dark scanty urine, thirst that is not extreme, epigastric or abdominal fullness, poor appetite, a greasy coating, and a soggy or slippery pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Damp-predominant jaundice — TCM commonly applies Yin Chen Wu Ling San as an adjunct. Jaundice itself requires medical diagnosis and must not be self-treated.
Related Products
Nong's Yin Chen Wu Ling San (Artemisia and Poria Five Powder) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
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Yin Chen Wu Ling San: TCM Formula for Dampness and Jaundice Support
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Yin Chen Hao Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Damp-Heat Jaundice & Liver-Gallbladder Issues
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.