wu ji san

Five Accumulation Powder

About wu ji san

Wu Ji San, Five Accumulation Powder, is Ma Huang, Bai Zhi, Gan Jiang, Rou Gui, Cang Zhu, Hou Po, Chen Pi, Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Jie Geng, Zhi Ke, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Chuan Xiong and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that release an Exterior-Interior excess.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
ma huang	1.5 g
bai zhi	1.5 g
gan jiang	1.5 g
rou gui	1.5 g
cang zhu	3 g
hou po	1.5 g
chen pi	3 g
ban xia	3 g
fu ling	3 g
jie geng	3 g
zhi ke	1.5 g
dang gui	1.5 g
bai shao	1.5 g
chuan xiong	1.5 g
zhi gan cao	1.5 g

Actions and indications

Releases the Exterior and disperses Cold

Wind-Cold attacking the surface of someone whose interior was already cold and congested
Chills and fever with no sweating, headache, aching body, and stiffness of the neck and back

Warms the Interior

Cold in the middle: cold pain of the epigastrium and abdomen, rumbling intestines with diarrhea or loose stools
Possible Cold below with Heat above
Cold congealing in the vessels, giving irregular or painful periods

Regulates Qi and transforms Phlegm and Damp

The five accumulations of Cold, Damp, Qi, Blood and Phlegm, along with retained food
Fullness of the chest and abdomen, abdominal bloating, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite or dislike of food
Tongue with a white greasy coat; pulse deep and wiry, deep and slow, or floating and slow

Invigorates the Blood and reduces accumulations

Aching of the lower back, and sciatic pain

Modern uses

Common cold, including in the elderly and with digestive upset
Recurrent upper respiratory infection
Cough
Bronchitis
COPD
Asthma
Gastritis, including chronic gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Acute or chronic enteritis
Gastric spasm
Peptic ulcer
Acid reflux
Anorexia
Abdominal pain
Abdominal fullness and distention
Biliary infection
Congestive hepatomegaly
Hernia
Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia
Sciatica
Lumbago and low back pain
Neck pain and stiffness
Headache
Arthralgia and panarthralgia
Arthritis
Rheumatism
Gout
Painful obstruction
Injury from falls
Irregular menstruation
Dysmenorrhea
Endometritis
Hysteromyoma
Candidiasis
Valvular disease
Beriberi
Chronic malaria
Gu syndrome
Vegetative neurosis

Symptoms

Abdominal distention
Abdominal pain
Anhidrosis
Body aches
Borborygmus
Chest fullness
Chills
Cold sensation
Diarrhea
Dysmenorrhea
Epigastric pain
Feeling of heat
Fever
Headache
Irregular menstruation
Loose stools
Low back pain
Nausea
Poor appetite
Sciatica
Stiff back
Stiff neck
Vomiting

Modifications

More acute Exterior Cold: + gui zhi, − rou gui
Exterior deficiency with sweating: − ma huang, − cang zhu
Qi deficiency, weakness: + ren shen, + bai zhu, − zhi ke, − chen pi
Severe Cold, intense abdominal pain: + wu zhu yu
Cold causing irregular periods with epigastric and abdominal pain: + xiang fu, + yan hu suo, + ai ye, − ma huang, − bai zhi
Abdominal pain from food stagnation after meals: + shan zha, + mai ya
Numbness and pain: + qiang huo, + bai zhi, + fang feng
Wind-Cold headache: + sheng ma, + ge gen
Pain all over the body: + ru xiang, + mo yao, + xi xin
Cough: + sang bai pi, + xing ren
Low back pain: + huai niu xi, + du zhong, + xiao hui xiang
Edema of legs: + wu jia pi, + da fu pi

Show all 31 modifications

Spasms of hands and feet: + mu gua, + huai niu xi
Painful menstruation: + xiang fu, + yan hu suo, + dan shen
Retching from rebellious Stomach Qi: + wu zhu yu, + ren shen, + bai zhu, + xiang fu, + sha ren
Lin syndrome in women: + mu tong, + che qian zi
Soft abdominal masses from Wind-Cold with stagnant Qi and Blood: + bing lang
No exterior Wind-Cold present: − ma huang, − bai zhi
Blood stasis: + tao ren, + hong hua, + chi shao, + chuan shan jia, + zao jiao ci
Abdominal distention: + gui zhi, + huang qi, + xing ren, − bai zhi, − rou gui, − zhi ban xia, − dang gui, − chuan xiong, − gan cao
Combined with Da Huo Luo Dan (indication not stated)
Abdominal distention, Wind-Cold: + gui zhi, + huang qi, + xing ren, + xi xin, − bai zhi, − rou gui, − zhi ban xia, − dang gui, − chuan xiong, − gan cao
Abdominal distention, severe dizziness: + gui zhi, + huang qi, + xing ren, + bai jie zi, + zi su zi, + lai fu zi, − bai zhi, − rou gui, − zhi ban xia, − dang gui, − chuan xiong, − gan cao
Abdominal distention, copious Phlegm: + gui zhi, + huang qi, + xing ren, + zi su zi, − bai zhi, − rou gui, − dang gui, − chuan xiong, − gan cao
Abdominal distention, fullness in chest and nausea: + gui zhi, + huang qi, + xing ren, + zi su ye, − bai zhi, − rou gui, − dang gui, − chuan xiong, − gan cao
Abdominal distention, severe Lung Qi deficiency: + gui zhi, + huang qi, + xing ren, + dang shen, − bai zhi, − rou gui, − zhi ban xia, − dang gui, − chuan xiong, − gan cao
Abdominal distention, sluggish stools: + gui zhi, + huang qi, + xing ren, + bing lang, − bai zhi, − rou gui, − zhi ban xia, − dang gui, − chuan xiong, − gan cao
Low back pain (pared-down formula): − gan jiang, − rou gui, − chen pi, − zhi ban xia, − jie geng, − xiang fu, − gan cao, − da zao
Candidiasis: + xiao hui xiang, + shan zhu yu
Candidiasis, alternative: + wu zhu yu, + du zhong
Stronger exterior Wind-Cold: + cong bai, + dan dou chi

Cautions

contraindication Damp-Heat patterns
contraindication Yin deficiency, including Yin deficiency with Heat
contraindication Exterior Wind-Heat or warm-febrile disease; the formula is not for Heat patterns
caution People who are weak or depleted: its warming, drying and moving herbs, and those that release the surface and move Qi and Blood, can drain them further
pregnancy Avoid in pregnancy unless an experienced practitioner directs it: it holds Ma Huang with Blood-moving herbs such as Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong, and one historical name for it refers to hastening labor
caution Because of Ma Huang, use with care in heart or blood-vessel disease, high blood pressure, or sensitivity to stimulants, and only with a practitioner

Preparation

Traditionally a coarse powder, dry-fried slowly until light yellow (Rou Gui and Zhi Ke added unfried), then simmered with slices of fresh ginger and taken warm; now usually a standard decoction

Names

Pinyin	wu ji san
English Name	Five Accumulation Powder

Classification

Category: Formulas that Release Exterior - Interior Excess