Wu Ji San: Versatile Formula for Cold, Phlegm, and Stagnation Relief
Hongji Medical- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
In complex health conditions, multiple pathogenic factors like cold, dampness, qi stagnation, blood stasis, and phlegm often intertwine. Wu Ji San is a classic Chinese medicine formula designed to address these issues comprehensively.
With its ability to clear surface cold, warm the body, dissolve phlegm, and remove stagnation, it is widely used to treat various complicated ailments, supporting overall health.
Wu Ji San comes from the Song Dynasty’s official medical text Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang (Prescriptions of the Bureau of People’s Welfare Pharmacies), the first state-issued pharmacopeia in China.
It compiles clinically proven formulas, and Wu Ji San was used to treat conditions caused by external wind-cold, internal cold from raw food, and women’s issues like irregular periods, abdominal pain, and qi-blood disharmony.
Formula Explanation of Wu Ji San
Wu Ji San has a complex composition, reflecting the Chinese medicine principle of “monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy”:
Monarch Herbs: Ma Huang, Gan Jiang, Rou Gui, Bai Zhi. Ma Huang and Bai Zhi promote sweating to clear surface cold; Gan Jiang and Rou Gui warm the interior and dispel cold. Together, they target the root of cold-related stagnation.
Supporting Herbs: Cang Zhu, Hou Po, Chen Pi, Ban Xia. Cang Zhu and Hou Po strengthen the spleen and dry dampness to clear food stagnation; Chen Pi and Ban Xia regulate qi and dissolve phlegm to address phlegm accumulation.
Assistant Herbs: Jie Geng, Zhi Shi, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Shao Yao. Jie Geng and Zhi Shi balance qi flow to relieve qi stagnation; Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, and Shao Yao nourish and activate blood to clear stasis.
Envoy Herbs: Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang. Gan Cao and Sheng Jiang harmonize the formula.
Together, these herbs clear internal and external cold, strengthen the spleen and stomach, dissolve phlegm and dampness, and promote smooth qi and blood flow, resolving various symptoms.
Pathogenesis Analysis of Wu Ji San
Wu Ji San addresses a complex pathogenesis involving the accumulation of cold, dampness, qi, blood, and phlegm, rooted in yin-yang imbalance, poor qi and blood flow, and organ dysfunction.
Cold and Dampness Trapping the Spleen
External wind-cold or eating raw, cold foods can introduce cold and dampness, obstructing the spleen and stomach. These organs are vital for producing qi and blood. When trapped by cold and dampness, the spleen fails to transform and transport, leading to water retention and qi obstruction, causing abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, and heavy limbs.
Qi and Blood Stagnation Blocking Channels
Cold and dampness obstructing qi flow also hinder blood circulation, causing stasis in the channels. This worsens limb pain and back stiffness. In women, qi and blood stagnation affects the Chong and Ren channels, leading to irregular periods and menstrual pain.
Phlegm Retention Obstructing Lung Qi
When the spleen fails to process fluids, dampness accumulates and turns into phlegm. Phlegm rising to the lungs blocks lung qi, causing cough and wheezing. It also aggravates qi and blood stagnation, worsening the condition.
Main Effects of Wu Ji San
Wu Ji San is primarily used to treat conditions caused by external wind-cold and internal cold from raw food. Specific symptoms include:
Fever without sweating, headache, and body aches
Stiffness in the neck, back, or limbs
Chest fullness, loss of appetite, vomiting, and abdominal pain
Women’s abdominal pain and irregular periods due to cold and qi stagnation
The “five accumulations” refer to cold, dampness, qi, blood, and phlegm stagnation.
The formula offers the following key effects:
Clearing Surface Cold and Warming the Interior: Dispels cold and warms the middle to remove internal chill.
Regulating Qi and Dissolving Phlegm: Smooths qi flow and clears phlegm to relieve chest tightness and cough.
Promoting Blood Flow and Clearing Stagnation: Enhances circulation to reduce pain and stagnation.
Modern Applications
Modern research confirms Wu Ji San’s diverse pharmacological effects, making it valuable for supporting treatment across multiple systems, particularly for conditions involving cold, dampness, qi stagnation, and blood stasis.
Its applications include:
Digestive Disorders: Treats gastritis, gastric prolapse, and ulcers by regulating spleen-stomach function and relieving bloating and diarrhea.
Neurological and Musculoskeletal Pain: Eases lower back pain, nerve pain, and joint pain, especially from cold-related conditions.
Gynecological Issues: Helps with menstrual pain, irregular periods, and vaginal discharge.
Respiratory Conditions: Supports treatment of wheezing and bronchitis by clearing phlegm and regulating qi.
Wu Ji San’s multifaceted effects—clearing cold, regulating qi, dissolving phlegm, and promoting blood flow—complement modern medical approaches.
Precautions
When using Wu Ji San, keep the following in mind:
Pattern Differentiation: Chinese medicine emphasizes pattern-based treatment. Consult a Chinese medicine practitioner to confirm suitability for cold-dampness and qi-blood stasis patterns.
Caution for Weak Constitutions: Its warming and drying nature requires caution in frail individuals to avoid depleting vitality.
Caution in Pregnancy: Pregnant women should consult a practitioner due to the formula’s potent effects.
Dietary Guidelines: Maintain a light diet, avoiding raw, cold, or greasy foods during treatment.
Conclusion
Wu Ji San, from Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, is a versatile formula addressing complex conditions involving wind-cold, internal cold, and accumulations of qi, blood, phlegm, dampness, or food. Its ability to clear cold, strengthen the spleen, dissolve phlegm, and promote qi and blood flow makes it a powerful tool for comprehensive healing.
