Wei Ling Tang: A TCM Formula for Clearing Water Retention and Harmonizing the Spleen and Stomach
Hongji Medical- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Wei Ling Tang comes from the classic Chinese medicine text Dan Xi Xin Fa (Dan Xi’s Essential Methods), written by Zhu Zhenheng, a renowned Yuan Dynasty physician and one of the “Four Great Masters of the Jin-Yuan Period.” His theories and clinical experience greatly influenced Chinese medicine.
The five-volume Dan Xi Xin Fa covers foundational theories, diagnostics, herbal formulas, and acupuncture, making it a key reference. Wei Ling Tang, a classic formula, is widely used for treating water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony due to its unique composition and effective results.
Wei Ling Tang Formula Explanation
Wei Ling Tang is composed of multiple herbs, including Cang Zhu (Atractylodes), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Fu Ling (Poria), Zhu Ling (Polyporus), Ze Xie (Alisma), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), and Gan Cao (Licorice). The herbs are grouped according to the "monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy" principle:
Monarch Herbs: Cang Zhu and Bai ZhuCang Zhu and Bai Zhu, the monarch herbs, strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, and reduce water retention. Cang Zhu, from the rhizome of Atractylodes lancea, powerfully clears excess water. Bai Zhu, from Atractylodes macrocephala, strengthens digestion. Together, they optimize spleen function and water metabolism.
Minister Herbs: Fu Ling, Zhu Ling, and Ze XieThese minister herbs promote urination and clear dampness. Fu Ling strengthens the spleen, drains dampness, and calms the mind, effectively addressing water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony. Zhu Ling and Ze Xie clear excess water and improve urination, ideal for water retention and reduced urine output. Together, they enhance water metabolism.
Assistant Herb: Gui ZhiGui Zhi, the assistant herb, warms yang qi, promotes qi and blood flow, and supports water metabolism. It addresses yang deficiency and poor circulation, aiding in water retention and urinary issues when combined with the other herbs.
Envoy Herb: Gan CaoGan Cao, the envoy herb, harmonizes the formula and relieves pain. It balances the effects of Cang Zhu, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Zhu Ling, Ze Xie, and Gui Zhi, ensuring optimal therapeutic results. It also eases abdominal pain and bloating.
Wei Ling Tang Indications
Wei Ling Tang is primarily used for water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony, with symptoms like poor appetite, abdominal bloating, pain, diarrhea, thirst, and reduced urine output.
It also treats conditions such as food stagnation, summer-heat disorders, cold abdomen, and acute gastroenteritis. Indications include:
Digestive System Disorders: Poor appetite, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The formula’s spleen-strengthening and dampness-drying effects improve digestion.
Urinary System Disorders: Thirst and reduced urine output. Its water-draining and urination-promoting effects enhance urinary function.
Infectious Diseases: Food stagnation, summer-heat disorders, cold abdomen, and acute gastroenteritis. The formula’s heat-clearing and dampness-drying effects address these conditions.
Pathophysiology of Wei Ling Tang
Wei Ling Tang targets water retention, spleen-stomach disharmony, and poor qi-blood flow:
Water Retention: Impaired water metabolism causes dampness to accumulate, disrupting spleen-stomach function and leading to poor appetite, bloating, pain, and diarrhea. It also causes thirst and reduced urination.
Spleen-Stomach Disharmony: Water retention weakens the spleen and stomach, impairing digestion and causing bloating, pain, and diarrhea. This creates a cycle where poor spleen function worsens water retention. Wei Ling Tang breaks this cycle by strengthening the spleen and draining dampness.
Poor Qi-Blood Flow: Water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony hinder qi and blood circulation, causing thirst, reduced urination, and even localized tissue damage or abscesses. Systemic symptoms like fever, chills, red tongue, yellow coating, and rapid pulse may occur. The formula restores circulation by draining dampness and promoting water metabolism.
Effects of Wei Ling Tang
Wei Ling Tang’s main effects are strengthening the spleen, drying dampness, reducing water retention, and promoting urination. It effectively clears excess water, addressing water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony.
The formula enhances digestion, relieving bloating, pain, and diarrhea, and improves urinary function, easing thirst and scanty urine.
Fu Ling, Zhu Ling, and Ze Xie promote urination and clear dampness, supporting urinary health. Gan Cao harmonizes the formula and relieves abdominal pain and bloating, enhancing overall digestive and urinary function to treat and prevent related conditions.
Modern Applications of Wei Ling Tang
In modern medicine, Wei Ling Tang is widely used for:
Digestive System Disorders: Improves digestion in cases of poor appetite, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Urinary System Disorders: Enhances urinary function for thirst and reduced urine output.
Infectious Diseases: Treats food stagnation, summer-heat disorders, cold abdomen, and acute gastroenteritis by clearing heat and drying dampness.
Other Conditions: Addresses symptoms like poor appetite, bloating, pain, diarrhea, thirst, and reduced urination caused by water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony.
Precautions
When using Wei Ling Tang, consider the following:
Syndrome Differentiation: Ensure proper diagnosis for water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony to confirm suitability.
Individual Differences: Adjust the formula based on the patient’s constitution, under professional guidance.
Contraindications: Avoid in patients with cold or deficiency syndromes, as it targets damp-heat conditions.
Comparison with Related Formulas
Wu Ling San: Treats water retention and reduced urination with thirst, scanty urine, and edema. It focuses on draining water, while Wei Ling Tang emphasizes spleen-strengthening and dampness-drying.
Ping Wei San: Treats dampness-obstructed spleen-stomach with bloating and poor appetite. It focuses on drying dampness and promoting qi, while Wei Ling Tang prioritizes water metabolism.
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San: Treats exterior wind-cold with internal dampness, headaches, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea. It focuses on relieving exterior symptoms and dampness, while Wei Ling Tang emphasizes spleen health and water metabolism.
Conclusion
Wei Ling Tang, a time-honored Chinese medicine formula, is highly effective for treating water retention and spleen-stomach disharmony due to its unique composition and significant therapeutic effects.
Through its detailed origins, formula explanation, indications, effects, and modern applications, we see its importance and wide use in clinical practice. This article aims to help readers understand and apply Wei Ling Tang for optimal treatment outcomes.
