Wu Ling Tong Guan Tang
Star五苓通关汤 (Five-Ingredients with Poria Decoction to Open the Gate)
Source: Case Histories of Cheng Men-Xue (2002)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Wu Ling Tong Guan Tang (Five-Ingredients with Poria Decoction to Open the Gate), from Case Histories of Cheng Men-Xue (2002).
Associated formula of Zhu Ling Tang.
Actions: Clears heat; Promotes the resolution of dampness; Unblocks the qi dynamic; Facilitates the dissemination of qi
Indications: Reduced urination, difficulty starting urination, lower abdominal discomfort.
Pattern: Hot painful urinary dribbling
Usage: For hot painful urinary dribbling with hesitancy and lower abdominal discomfort.
Category: Formulas that Promote Urination and Leach Out Dampness.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 731.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rou Gui
as printed: Cinnamomi Cortex (rou gui) 0.9g
|
0.9g | 1.75% | — | |
|
Zhi Mu
as printed: Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (zhi mu) 6g
|
6g | 11.67% | — | |
|
Huang Bai
as printed: Phellodendri Cortex (huang bai) 3g
|
3g | 5.84% | — | |
|
Zhu Ling
as printed: Polyporus (zhu ling) 9g
|
9g | 17.51% | — | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Poria (fu ling) 9g
|
9g | 17.51% | — | |
|
Ze Xie
as printed: Alismatis Rhizoma (ze xie) 6g
|
6g | 11.67% | — | |
|
Hua Shi
as printed: Talcum (hua shi) 13g
|
13g | 25.29% | — | |
|
Bian Xu
as printed: Polygoni avicularis Herba (bian xu) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 8.75% | — |
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 cool (-1.14)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 55%, cool 9%, neutral 35%, hot 2%.
Small but decisive: Rou Gui 0.9g (hot, 2% of the grams), Huang Bai 3g (cold, 6% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 1%
- sweet 43%
- bitter 20%
- bland 36%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 66%
- Stomach 37%
- Lung 29%
- Spleen 19%
- Heart 19%
- Bladder 15%
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
Decoction.
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Formula family
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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