It is uncertain whether this pandemic will surpass the previous outbreak in Wuhan, so today I would like to share a classic formula from Zhang Zhongjing that can help in the early prevention of COVID-19. This formula is the Qing Fei Pai Du Decoction, which includes the ingredients of Wu Ling San: Zhu Ling (Polyporus), Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Ze Xie (Alisma), and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig). Let us take a closer look at their functions.
Firstly, the main purpose of Wu Ling San is to eliminate dampness, and dampness is likely the culprit behind this pandemic. Dampness serves as a breeding ground for the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, we need to eliminate dampness without harming the body’s Yang energy, which is why we have chosen Wu Ling San.
Now, let us examine Wu Ling San in detail. The first step is to warm Yang, which is crucial. Which Yang do we warm? The heart Yang. Not only do we need to warm Yang, but we also need to strengthen our heart Yang. How do we do this? By using Gui Zhi, which is a warm herb with a pungent and sweet flavor. Gui Zhi can warm the meridians and promote circulation, making it easier for dampness to be expelled. Additionally, Gui Zhi has the function of transforming dampness into the fluids our body needs; only these fluids can nourish our body. So, besides warming Yang to eliminate dampness, what else do we need to do? We need to strengthen the spleen, as water is controlled by earth.
What is this earth? It refers to the spleen. Therefore, we need to ensure the spleen and stomach are functioning well, as they are the source of dampness. This is where Bai Zhu comes into play. Bai Zhu is warm and aromatic; it can transform the dampness in the middle jiao (spleen and stomach) while also expelling dampness from the muscles. Some of the dampness in the body is transformed into fluids, but what about the dampness that is not transformed? The untransformed dampness becomes waste water, and since it is waste, it must be expelled.
Thus, the second method is to promote urination, which involves the other three herbs in the formula: Fu Ling, Zhu Ling, and Ze Xie. Fu Ling can help expel waste water from the middle jiao (spleen and stomach), while Ze Xie is even more effective; it is slightly cold in nature and can expel waste water from the lower jiao (kidneys and bladder). Zhu Ling, being the strongest among the three, is also slightly cold and can effectively promote urination. Once Zhu Ling is used, the dampness in the lower jiao will be expelled quickly.
This is the function of Wu Ling San: warming Yang and promoting urination. Of course, while this formula is excellent, it still requires differentiation and adjustment based on individual conditions. If you like this, please give a thumbs up for three seconds, follow, share, and save.