Si Ling San四苓散

Four-Ingredient Powder with Poria

Expelling Dampness 祛湿剂Promote Urination and Leach Out Damp 利水渗湿

Ingredients4 herbs

HerbDosageWhat it does in this formula

白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma45gStrengthens the Spleen's transport so water is moved rather than merely drained away 茯Fu Ling茯苓Poria45gLeaches damp while strengthening the Spleen, so draining does not weaken it 猪Zhu Ling猪苓Polyporus45gBland and draining — the strongest of the four at moving water out through the urine 泽Ze Xie泽泻Alismatis Rhizoma75gGiven in the largest amount — drains water downward from the lower burner

Indications

Promotes urination and leaches out dampStrengthens the Spleen and firms the stoolSeparates the clear from the turbidRelieves fullness from retained fluid

Internal water-damp accumulation with no exterior sign: the Spleen fails to move fluids so water leaves through the intestines instead of the bladder, giving loose stool and scanty urine at the same time.

Clinical Manifestations

Scanty urine with loose watery stool
Diarrhoea after overeating or rich food
Damp retention with a puffy sensation
Mild oedema with no chills or fever
Turbid urine with no burning

TongueWhite slippery or greasy coating

PulseModerate or soggy

Health Categories

Digestive HealthHeart & CirculationUrinary & Bladder Health

Modern Applications

Diarrhoea Oliguria Oedema Gastroenteritis Fluid retention

Common adjustments

Diarrhoea is severe — add Che Qian Zi 车前子 — the classical strategy of draining urine to firm the stool
Food stagnation is present — add Shan Zha 山楂 and Shen Qu 神曲
Damp-heat with dark urine — add Hua Shi 滑石 and Yin Chen 茵陈
Spleen qi is weak — add Dang Shen 党参 and Chen Pi 陈皮

Contraindications

Draining without tonifying, so it is not for long-term use and not for scanty urine from fluid depletion — a dry red tongue and thirst mean the fluids are already short and further draining will harm them. Not appropriate where an exterior pattern is still present; that is what the parent formula is for.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Generally compatible in pregnancy at a practitioner's discretion, since it is bland and mild rather than harsh; still, prolonged draining is avoided and oedema in pregnancy must be assessed medically, as it can signal pre-eclampsia.

Related Formulas

References

Source 《丹溪心法》 · Ming

Classical source of record (public domain).
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— 附方 note and pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.