Wu Pi San, Five Peel Powder, is the peel of five things: Sang Bai Pi, Sheng Jiang Pi, Fu Ling Pi, Chen Pi and Da Fu Pi. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that promote urination and leach out Dampness.

Herb

Amount

15 g

6 g

15 g

9 g

15 g

Actions and indications

Promotes urination and resolves Damp

Skin water: Damp building up in the skin from Spleen Qi deficiency, with Qi stagnation
Pitting edema over the whole body, most marked in the face and limbs, including summer edema and edema in pregnancy
Scanty, difficult urination
Heavy limbs and body

Regulates Qi and reduces swelling

Heaviness, bloating and fullness in the epigastrium and abdomen, and distention of the chest
Labored, heavy or fast breathing, gasping and shortness of breath when fluid reaches the chest

Strengthens the Spleen

Tongue pale and swollen with tooth marks and a white slippery or greasy coat (or normal); pulse deep, moderate and slippery, thin and moderate, or deep and slow

Modern uses

Edema
Edema during pregnancy
Menopausal edema
Protein-deficiency (malnutrition) edema
Cardiac edema
Nephritic edema
Dropsy
Nephritis
Chronic nephritis
Chronic glomerulonephritis
Nephrotic syndrome
Ascites from liver cirrhosis
Congestive heart failure
Hypertension
Asthma
Dyspnea and gasping
Urticaria
Nausea and vomiting
Traumatic injuries

Modifications

Wind-edema in upper body: + fang feng, + qiang huo

Lower body edema: + han fang ji, + ze xie

Wind-edema of the upper body, alternative: + fang feng, + zi su ye, + jing jie, + bai zhi

Edema of the lower body, alternative: + han fang ji, + che qian zi

Wind-edema of the upper body, second alternative: + fang feng, + zi su ye, + jing jie, + qin jiao

Edema of the lower body, second alternative: + chi xiao dou, + fu ling, + ze xie, + han fang ji, + che qian zi

Marked Spleen deficiency: + dang shen, + bai zhu

Edema: + dong gua pi, + che qian cao, + huang qi

Constipation from accumulation in Stomach and intestines: + da huang, + zhi shi

Severe abdominal distention: + lai fu zi, + hou po

Internal Cold-Damp: + gan jiang, + zhi fu zi

Damp-Heat lodged in Lower Jiao, edema below waist: + hua shi, + che qian zi, + yi yi ren

Show all 23 modifications

Edema during pregnancy: + yu mi xu
Edema during pregnancy, alternative: + bai zhu, − sang bai pi
Facial edema: + chen pi
Generalized weakness and deficiency (combined with Wu Ling San): + dang shen, + huang qi, + bai zhu
Coldness: + gan jiang, + rou gui
Traumatic injury, swelling and inflammation: + bai zhu, + san qi
Abdominal fullness and distention: + bai zhu, + cang zhu
Traumatic injury, swelling and inflammation in upper limbs: + bai zhu, + san qi, + gui zhi, + sang zhi
Traumatic injury, swelling and inflammation in lower limbs: + bai zhu, + san qi, + chuan niu xi
Beriberi from Spleen deficiency, Damp (combined with Dang Gui Shao Yao San): + bai zhu, − sang bai pi
Beriberi from Spleen deficiency with Damp, alternative (combined with Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan)

Cautions

caution It does little to tonify the Spleen by itself; with marked Spleen deficiency add Spleen tonics

caution Avoid foods that are hard to digest while taking it

contraindication Edema that is deep or severe, whether from Kidney Yang deficiency or advanced organ failure; these need stronger warming or tonifying formulas

contraindication Edema of a Heat or Damp-Heat type with clear Heat signs

caution Edema in pregnancy, cirrhosis or heart failure can signal serious disease and should be assessed and monitored by a qualified clinician

Pinyin

wu pi san·wu pi san (wu pi yin)

English Name

Five Peel Powder

wu pi san

About wu pi san

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Promotes urination and resolves Damp

Regulates Qi and reduces swelling

Strengthens the Spleen

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification