Si Ling San
Star四苓散 (Four-Ingredient Powder with Poria)
Source: Ming Yi Zhi Zhang — Huang Fu-Zhong (Ming)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Si Ling San (Four-Ingredient Powder with Poria), from the Ming Yi Zhi Zhang (Displays of Enlightened Physicians) by Huang Fu-Zhong — a variation of Wu Ling San.
Actions: Regulates water circulation and drains dampness.
Presentation: Interior dampness from inappropriate diet (excess dairy, greasy or fried food) with scanty urine and loose stools.
Composition: Wu Ling San minus Gui Zhi.
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 1112.
Composition
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net neutral (-0.25)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 25%, neutral 50%, warm 25%.
Pairs warm and cool. 25% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 25% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- sweet 50%
- bitter 13%
- bland 38%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 75%
- Spleen 50%
- Lung 25%
- Stomach 25%
- Heart 25%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Prepare as a decoction.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- Fen Xiao Tang = this formula + Xiang Sha Zhi Zhu Wan + Cang Zhu, Chen Pi, Da Fu Pi, Hou Po and Xiang Fu
- Fu Ling Tang = this formula + Wu Ling San + Zhu Ling Tang + Chen Pi, He Zi, Sang Bai Pi, Wu Wei Zi, Xiang Fu and Yi Yi Ren
- Ge Hua Jie Cheng San = this formula + Chun Ze Tang + Ge Hua, Bai Dou Kou, Gan Jiang, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Sha Ren, Shen Qu and Chen Pi
- Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan = this formula + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Ju Ban Zhi Zhu Wan + Chun Ze Tang + Gan Cao, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Jiang Huang, Sha Ren and Zhi Mu
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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