Wu Lin San
Star五淋散 (Five-Ingredient Powder for Painful Urinary Dysfunction)
Source: Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang — Imperial Medical Department (Song, 1078)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Wu Lin San (Five-Ingredient Powder for Painful Urinary Dysfunction), from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era) by Imperial Medical Department.
Actions: Clears heat and cools the blood; Regulates water circulation and relieves lin zheng (dysuria syndrome).
Presentation: Heat in the Urinary Bladder: xue lin (bloody dysuria) with blood in the urine and severe pain on urination; cloudy urine with a feeling of sandy particles in the urine.
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 1107.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae) 600g [15g]
|
15g | 28.3% | Jun (Chief) | clears heat and cools the blood |
|
Chi Fu Ling
as printed: Chi Fu Ling (Poria Rubra) 180g [9g]
|
9g | 16.98% | Chen (Deputy) | clears heat and promotes urination |
|
Chi Shao
as printed: Chi Shao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) 600g [15g]
|
15g | 28.3% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes blood and moistens dryness |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 150g [7g]
|
7g | 13.21% | Zuo (Assistant) | nourishes blood and moistens dryness |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 150g [7g]
|
7g | 13.21% | Shi (Envoy) | relieves pain and harmonizes the formula |
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 slightly cool (-0.72)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 28%, cool 28%, neutral 30%, warm 13%.
Taste
- pungent 7%
- sweet 28%
- sour 14%
- bitter 43%
- bland 9%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Heart 72%
- Spleen 43%
- Lung 42%
- Liver 42%
- Stomach 13%
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
Grind into fine powder; cook 6g of powder in 1 bowl of water down to 80% volume and take on an empty stomach before meals. May be decocted today using bracketed doses.
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Gui Shao Hong Hua San = this formula without Chi Fu Ling + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Bai Zhi, Fang Feng, Hong Hua, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao and Sheng Di Huang
- Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang = this formula without Chi Fu Ling + Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao, Niu Bang Zi and Tian Hua Fen
- Shu Feng Qing Gan Tang = this formula without Chi Fu Ling + Bo He, Chai Hu, Chuan Xiong, Deng Xin Cao, Fang Feng, Jin Yin Hua, Jing Jie, Ju Hua and Lian Qiao
- Jia Wei Xiu Gan San = this formula without Chi Fu Ling + Xi Gan San + Huang Qin, Ji Li, Jing Jie, Ju Hua, Lian Qiao, Ma Huang, Mu Zei and Sang Piao Xiao
- Xi Gan Ming Mu San = this formula without Chi Fu Ling + Qing Xin Liang Ge San + Fang Feng Xiong Gui Tang + Huang Lian, Ji Li, Jing Jie, Ju Hua, Jue Ming Zi, Man Jing Zi and Qiang Huo
- Niu Huang Shang Qing Wan = this formula without Chi Fu Ling + Qing Xin Liang Ge San + Niu Huang Jie Du Pian + Bai Zhi, Chuan Xiong, Fang Feng, Huang Bai, Huang Lian, Jing Jie, Ju Hua and Lian Zi Xin
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.
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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