Zhu Ling Tang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
猪苓汤 · Zhū Líng Tāng
Shang Han Lun formula for water retention with Heat and Yin injury, presenting with urinary difficulty, thirst, and possible fever or restlessness. Differs from Wu Ling San by adding Yin-nourishing and Heat-clearing actions.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Dampness-Draining Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Damp-Heat
- Primary Function
- Promote urination, clear Heat, nourish Yin
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Promote urination, clear Heat and nourish Yin
- Classical Source
- Shang Han Lun (Zhang Zhongjing, Eastern Han)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
Shang Han Lun formula for water retention with Heat and Yin injury, presenting with urinary difficulty, thirst, and possible fever or restlessness. Differs from Wu Ling San by adding Yin-nourishing and Heat-clearing actions.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected when Damp-Heat obstructs urination and Yin has already been injured, draining while moistening — a cooler, Yin-protecting counterpart to Wu Ling San's warmer Yang-supporting approach, and quite unlike Zhen Wu Tang, which warms Yang for edema of deficiency origin.
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
茯苓Fu Ling10g
Poria / Hoelen- fortifies the spleen to improve transportation of dampness sweet and bland
- helps zhu ling to promote urination and percolate dampness
澤瀉Ze Xie10g
Alisma Rhizome- cold in nature and discharges heat
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
滑石Hua Shi10g
Talcum- sweet and cold
- promotes urination
- clears heat
阿膠E Jiao10g
Donkey-hide Gelatin- enriches yin and moistens dryness
- supplements deficiency prevents damage of yin and blood by draining medicinals
Classical Composition
- Polyporus (Zhu Ling) 1 liang (10g)
- Poria (Fu Ling) 1 liang (10g)
- Alismatis Rhizoma (Ze Xie) 1 liang (10g)
- Asini Corii Colla (E Jiao) 1 liang (10g)
- Talcum (Hua Shi) 1 liang (10g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Promotes urination
- nourishes yin
- and clears heat.
Indications
- Zhu Ling Tang is indicated for patterns of binding water and heat.
- The symptoms are dysuria, fever, thirst with a desire to drink, vexation, insomnia, coughing, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
- The tongue is red with a white or slightly yellow coating and the pulse is thready and rapid.
- It is also indicated for blood strangury marked by difficult, painful urination as well as pain and distension of the abdomen.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- When external cold invasion reaches the interior, it may transform into heat and damage water.
- The binding of water and heat leads to the disorder of qi transformation and consumption of yin fluids.
- In this situation they may not ascend and thereby cause dysuria, fever, and thirst with a desire to drink.
- Yin deficiency with internal heat disturbs the heart and mind to cause vexation and insomnia.
- If water rushes up to hamper the lung qi and its ability to disperse and descend, cough will manifest.
- When water accumulates in the stomach, vomiting and nausea will manifest.
- When water pours into the large intestine, diarrhea will manifest.
Clinical presentation
- The result is the pattern of binding water and heat, which is associated with consumption of yin fluids.
- The red tongue with a white or slightly yellow coating and a thready and rapid pulse are all signs of yin deficiency with internal heat.
Treatment strategy
- The therapeutic methods are to promote urination, clear heat, and nourish yin.
- For patients with dysuria due to blood strangury, the therapeutic principles are to promote urination and relieve strangury, clear heat, and stanch bleeding.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Zhu Ling Tang drains Damp-Heat while protecting Yin. Wu Ling San is more for cold-type water amassment with Yang support. Zhen Wu Tang warms Yang for edema from Yang deficiency. Da Cheng Qi Tang purges solid Heat accumulation.
Clinical Differentiation
- Zhu Ling Tang is used for the pattern of binding of water and heat with yin deficiency.
- This clinical pattern is marked by dysuria, thirst, fever, red tongue, thready and rapid pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is a water-draining and percolating formula. It is not applicable for patients with excessive internal heat, marked by severe sweating with thirst.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Zhu Ling Tang?
Zhu Ling Tang has the actions of promoting urination, clearing Heat, and nourishing Yin. It is primarily used for patterns of water and Heat binding together with concurrent Yin injury, featuring difficult urination, thirst, and restlessness.
Which modern diseases is Zhu Ling Tang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within water-Heat binding with Yin deficiency, including urinary tract infections, nephritis, cystitis, postpartum urinary retention, and certain cases of hematuria or edema with Heat and Yin injury.
Is Zhu Ling Tang suitable for improving difficult urination with thirst and irritability?
For presentations of scanty or difficult urination, fever, thirst with desire to drink, vexation or insomnia, and a red tongue with a thin rapid pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms water and Heat binding with Yin damage — TCM commonly applies Zhu Ling Tang as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment.
Related Products
Hoi Tin Zhu Ling Tang (Polyporus Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
Related Articles
Zhu Ling Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Water Retention, Dysuria & Yin Deficiency with Heat
Wu Ling San: Classic TCM Formula for Water Retention, Edema & Urinary Difficulty
Da Cheng Qi Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Severe Constipation & Yangming Excess
Zhen Wu Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Kidney Yang Deficiency, Edema & Water Retention
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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.