Wu Ling Zhi – Pteropus Feces – Excrementum Trogopteri seu Pteromi

Wu Ling Zhi

English Name: trogopterus dung, pteropus feces,

Literal Translation: “fat of the five spirits”

Pharmaceutical Name: Excrementum Trogopteri seu Pteromi

Medica Category: Blood-Invigorating and Stasis-Removing Herbs

Properties: Wu Ling Zhi enters the Liver channel; it is bitter and sweet in nature and warm in temperature.

What is Wu Ling Zhi?:

The Chinese Herb Wu Ling Zhi is the dried feces from two species of flying squirrel: the complex-toothed flying squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes), which is native to the southern Chinese provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan; and the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans), which ranges from the Baltics across Asia and into Siberia and Manchuria. Unprocessed, Wu Ling Zhi has a distinct odor that may decrease patient compliance, and frying it vinegar or grain-based liquor will take care of this problematic smell.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Wu Ling Zhi:

Wu Ling Zhi activates blood circulation and relieves pain to address a variety of internal disorders, to include: menstrual pain (associated with amenorrhea), postpartum pain, and chest and epigastric pain associated with blood stasis.

Charred Wu Ling Zhi stops bleeding by removing blood stasis and is used clinically for uterine bleeding (dark purple blood with clots accompanied by fixed, stabbing abdominal pain) caused by blood stasis blocking normal blood flow and forcing it out of the body.

–safety notes:

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

Contraindicated in persons with blood deficiency or who do not have blood stasis.

Wu Ling Zhi antagonizes Ren Shen and therefore they should not be used at the same time.