Zhen Ling Dan震灵丹
Quaking Spirit Elixir
Ingredients8 herbs
Indications
Cold deficiency below with the vessels no longer holding, and blood stasis alongside: prolonged leakage has both emptied and congealed, so simple binding thickens the stagnation and simple moving worsens the loss. The formula does both at once.
Clinical Manifestations
- Chronic flooding and leaking in a cold, depleted patient
- Long-standing vaginal discharge
- Chronic diarrhoea or dysentery that will not stop
- Palpitations and unsettled sleep with the above
- Lower abdominal ache with dark clotted flow
Health Categories
Modern Applications
Common adjustments
- Qi deficiency prominent — combine with a qi tonic such as Gu Chong Tang 固冲汤, keeping Ren Shen 人参 separate from Wu Ling Zhi under the classical incompatibility
- Cold in the lower abdomen marked — add Ai Ye 艾叶 and Pao Jiang 炮姜
- Used for chronic diarrhoea rather than bleeding — pair with Rou Dou Kou 肉豆蔻 and He Zi 诃子
Contraindications
The classical formula contains cinnabar (Zhu Sha 朱砂, mercuric sulfide), a heavy-metal material that accumulates in the body, can cause kidney and neurological harm, and is restricted or prohibited in many countries — modern preparations omit it, and no version should be taken long term or without supervision. Not for bleeding from heat in the blood. Not for acute dysentery or damp-heat diarrhoea. Wu Ling Zhi is classically held to be incompatible with Ren Shen. Any abnormal uterine bleeding requires a medical diagnosis first.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy — it contains blood-moving resins and, in the classical version, cinnabar; neither is acceptable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
References
Source Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang 《太平惠民和剂局方》 · Northern Song
- Classical source as cited above (public domain).
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— listed with the flooding-and-discharge formulas; classification as principal or appended formula varies by edition.
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.