By Jordan Ramsay, TCMP
TCM Herbal Formula of the Month: Wu Ling San for Damp-Heat
Introducing a new blog series by Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Herbalist Jordan Ramsay. In this series, she will be diving into a seasonally relevant formula to help counter act some of the environmental factors that cause uncomfortable symptoms or exacerbate existing conditions. Look forward to health and philosophical insights as we explore the states offered by different environments and seasons and the herbs we can use to support them. All TCM herbal formulas should be taken under the supervision of a Registered TCM Practitioner and are never meant as a substitute for medical care.
Late Summer Damp-Heat
This summer in Toronto has been quite a unique one with a mix of humid hot days speckled with thunderstorms and plenty of rain. In other words it has been damp. We are more connected to our environment and weather patterns than we often acknowledge. This can show up for folks in many ways. Some may get headaches on high barometric pressure days, others get achy joints / bodies on the hot damp days, some get skin flares of recurring eczema or more random hives, others can get eye styes, congested lymph nodes or heavy limbs. The list goes on! Dampness can also feel like feeling stuck, lacking motivation for change, or life feeling like wading through a swamp. Dampness can also inhibit movement or change. This can be felt on many levels of life including emotional, physical, political, social justice, spiritual, and mental. Our weather and social climate are also tied, and both can learn so much from each other.
Enter our helpful formula: Wu ling san
One formula that we can learn from when feeling the heaviness of dampness is Wu ling san or 5 herb formula with poria. This formula helps to improve metabolism so that we can drain any damp accumulating that is stuck in our bodies causing pain, heaviness or irritation. Helping our digestive system and circulatory system to be a well functioning drainage system and not get waterlogged like Union station. Helping to let go of what is no longer working and what is ready to be transformed. And redirecting this water to areas that are in need like our river systems and dry lands, and unknown others.
What’s in the formula?
The herbs in Wu ling san / 5 herb formula with poria are:
Ze xie / water plantain – this beautiful herb helps resolve dampness by increasing urine, supporting digestion and water metabolism through digestion and kidneys as well as reducing inflammation.
Fu ling / poria – promotes urination and clearing of dampness and also supports our heart and emotions.
Zhu ling / polyporus – unblocks urinary pathways and clears inflammation especially in bladder.
Bai zhu / atractylodes rhizome – aids in the transformation of nutrients and their transportation throughout our bodies as well as reducing tension in our upper body.
Gui zhi / cinnamon twig – the twig form of the cortex / inner bark we all know well as cinnamon, this herb helps to increase circulation, moving any stuckness and promotes sweating as another pathway of fluids to be released from our bods.
Herbalist guidance
Together the 5 herbs create a new relationship together, and aid in a dynamic shift of our internal environment. It is also important to address other things in our environment affecting us while taking herbs including diet and lifestyle.
As well, certain herbs can be harmful in tandem with some medications and for certain individuals. If you feel like you would like to address dampness or want to explore herbal medicine in general, always contact your local herbalist to see which TCM formula is right for you.
To book a TCM Herbal appointment with Jordan Ramsay TCMP at Urban Wellness, click the link below.
https://urban-wellness.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/8
To learn more about Jordan and her practice, see her website link below:
Or check out her instagram at @space.ach