Chinese: 乌梅丸
Pinyin: Wū Méi Wán
Other names: Mume Pill
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that expel parasites
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HookwormGlaucomaKeratitis and fifteen other conditions
- Warms the Organs
- Drains Heat
- Calms roundworms
- Drains the Liver
- Calms the Stomach
Contraindications: This formula is contraindicated for explosive diarrhea or Damp-Heat dysenteric... This formula is contraindicated for explosive diarrhea or Damp-Heat dysenteric disorders. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Discussion of Cold Damage
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Wu Mei Wan is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Chinese Plums (Wu Mei) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that expel parasites. Its main actions are: 1) warms the Organs and 2) drains Heat.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Wu Mei Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Terminal Yin stage. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as ascariasis, biliary ascariasis or hookworm for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the nine ingredients in Wu Mei Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Wu Mei Wan helps treat.
The nine ingredients in Wu Mei Wan
Wu Mei is a king ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Chinese Plums (Wu Mei)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sour
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
Wu Mei is a very sour substance that is quite effective in calming roundworms. It also guides the entire formula into the Terminal Yin.
Hua Jiao is a deputy ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Sichuan Pepper (Hua Jiao)
Part used: Dried pericarp of ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
In general Hua Jiao's main actions are as follows: "Warms the body core, relieves pain, kills parasites and relieves itching"
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it expels parasites and warms the Organs.
Xi Xin is a deputy ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Wild Ginger (Xi Xin)
In general Xi Xin's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and warms the Yang. Expels Cold and relieves pain. Warms the Lungs and reduces Phlegm. Moves the Qi and disperses Phlegm to open the nasal passages."
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it expels parasites and warms the Organs.
Huang Lian is a deputy ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Lian's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites"
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it makes the worms move downward.
Huang Bo is a deputy ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo)
Part used: Dried bark
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: BladderKidneyLarge intestine
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Bo's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner. Clears Kidney Yin Deficient Heat. Applied externally or toxic Fire, especially associated with Dampness."
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it makes the worms move downward.
Gan Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)
In general Gan Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold."
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it warms the Interior and is very useful in dispersing internal Cold.
Gui Zhi is an assistant ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)
In general Gui Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood."
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it warms the Interior and is very useful in dispersing internal Cold.
Ren Shen is an assistant ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Ren Shen's main actions are as follows: "Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit)."
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it tonifies the Qi and nourishes the Blood to prevent further injury to the Normal Qi.
Dang Gui is an assistant ingredient in Wu Mei Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Dang Gui's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation."
In the context of Wu Mei Wan, it is used because it tonifies the Qi and nourishes the Blood to prevent further injury to the Normal Qi.
Wu Mei Wan is used to treat Terminal Yin stage
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Wu Mei Wan is mostly used to treat the pattern "Terminal Yin stage" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Terminal Yin stage here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Ascariasis Biliary ascariasis Hookworm Chronic bacillary dysentery Ulcerative colitis Irritable bowel syndrome Cholelithiasis Cholecystitis Peptic ulcers Keratitis Corneal ulcers Glaucoma Apthous ulcers Purulent otitis Meniere's disease Abdominal pain due to parasites Intestinal parasites Parasites
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Wu Mei Wan treats ascariasis" for instance. Rather, Wu Mei Wan is used to treat Terminal Yin stage, which is sometimes the root cause behind ascariasis.
Now let's look at Terminal Yin stage, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Wu Mei Wan.
'Yin' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Yin in Chinese Medicine
Terminal Yin stage
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Diarrhea Vomiting Cold limbs Persistent thirst Vomiting of roundworms Hungry but no desire to eat Feeling of energy rising to the chest Pain and heat sensation in heart region
Wu Mei Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Terminal Yin stage. This pattern leads to symptoms such as persistent thirst, feeling of energy rising to the chest, pain and heat sensation in heart region and hungry but no desire to eat. Patients with Terminal Yin stage typically exhibit wiry (Xian) pulses.
This is the third Yin stage and consequently the last stage of the Six Stages theory.
At this stage the disharmony is associated with the Pericardium and Liver.
The symptoms are a mix of Heat above (thirst, feeling of energy rising, pain and heat sensation of heart region) and Cold below (no... read more about Terminal Yin stage
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