Yin Chen Wu Ling San — Artemisia & Five-Ling Powder

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Comparisons with related formulas
7. Modifications
8. Cautions

Overview

Yin Chen Wu Ling San is a combination formula from Zhang Zhongjing’s Jin Gui Yao Lue (c. 220 CE) that joins two foundational formulas: Yin Chen Hao Tang (the classical jaundice formula) reduced to its chief herb Yin Chen, plus Wu Ling San (the Five-Ling Powder for fluid retention). Together they address damp-jaundice with concurrent fluid retention.

Zhang Zhongjing distinguished between Yang jaundice (Heat-pattern, treated with Yin Chen Hao Tang) and Yin jaundice (Cold-Damp-pattern, treated with Yin Chen Wu Ling San). The latter is the milder formula for cases where jaundice arises against a backdrop of Spleen Yang weakness, with thirst, scanty urine and fluid retention.

I prescribe Yin Chen Wu Ling San as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Yin Chen Wu Ling San is prescribed for damp-cold (or mild damp-heat) jaundice with fluid retention:

• Jaundice with pale to mild-yellow skin and sclerae
• Scanty, dark urine
• Thirst (often with desire for warm drinks)
• Abdominal heaviness and distension
• Loss of appetite, fatigue
• Mild edema
• Loose stools
• Mild nausea
• Tongue — greasy white or slightly yellow coat
• Pulse — slippery, slow or floating

Key herbs

1. Yin Chen Hao (Artemisia capillaris) — chief; specifically resolves jaundice
2. Ze Xie (Alisma plantago-aquatica) — drains Damp through urination
3. Fu Ling — drains Damp; tonifies Spleen
4. Zhu Ling (Polyporus umbellatus) — drains Damp
5. Bai Zhu — tonifies Spleen and dries Damp
6. Gui Zhi — warms Yang and assists fluid transformation

Formula actions

1. Resolves jaundice
2. Drains Damp through urination
3. Strengthens Spleen and warms Yang
4. Transforms fluids

Conditions treated

1. Cholestatic jaundice with damp pattern (alongside conventional care)
2. Mild post-hepatitis jaundice in recovery
3. Acute viral hepatitis (under hepatology supervision)
4. Fatty liver (NAFLD) with damp pattern — see fatty liver
5. Gallstones with mild jaundice (alongside surgical care)
6. Edema with damp-cold pattern
7. Chronic liver disease with fluid retention (alongside hepatology care)

Comparisons with related formulas

• Yin Chen Hao Tang — for Yang jaundice with damp-heat; cold pattern.
• Wu Ling San — for fluid retention without jaundice.
• Yin Chen Zhu Fu Tang — for severe Yin jaundice with cold extremities.

Modifications

• For pronounced cold and Yang deficiency, add Fu Zi and Gan Jiang
• For prominent Damp-Heat, combine with Yin Chen Hao Tang
• For Blood stasis (chronic liver disease), add Dan Shen and Tao Ren
• For prominent fatigue, add Huang Qi

Cautions

Jaundice requires immediate medical assessment to identify the cause — hepatitis, biliary obstruction, haemolysis and pancreatic disease all need urgent diagnosis. Chinese herbs are an adjunct, never a substitute for conventional care.

Always disclose herbal use to your hepatology team.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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