Wǔ Líng Zhī (五灵脂), known in English as Flying squirrel faeces (Faeces Trogopteri), is a warm, bitter and sweet Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Liver channel. Its main action: invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and stops pain.
| Pinyin | Wǔ Líng Zhī (Wu Ling Zhi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 五灵脂 |
| English | Flying squirrel faeces |
| Botanical name | Faeces Trogopteri |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sweet |
| Channels | Liver |
| Dosage | 3–9g (wrapped in cloth) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Blood deficiency without stasis; traditionally incompatible with Rén Shēn |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and stops pain
- Stops bleeding from stasis (charred)
Indications
- Fixed, stabbing pain from Blood stasis in the chest, epigastrium or lower abdomen
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Postpartum abdominal pain
- Bleeding with clots
How to remember Wǔ Líng Zhī
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Bitter, Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Sweet: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
Formulas containing Wǔ Líng Zhī
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Huái Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Wǔ Líng Zhī?
Wǔ Líng Zhī is warm and bitter and sweet.
Which channels does Wǔ Líng Zhī enter?
Wǔ Líng Zhī enters the Liver channel.
What are the actions of Wǔ Líng Zhī?
Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis and stops pain; Stops bleeding from stasis (charred).
What is Wǔ Líng Zhī used for?
Fixed, stabbing pain from Blood stasis in the chest, epigastrium or lower abdomen; dysmenorrhoea; postpartum abdominal pain; bleeding with clots.
Which formulas contain Wǔ Líng Zhī?
Shào Fǔ Zhú Yū Tāng and Gé Xià Zhú Yū Tāng.
Practise Wǔ Líng Zhī and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.