The main effects and actions of Wulingzhi (Trogopterus dung) are promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and relieving pain

Wulingzhi is a traditional animal-derived Chinese medicinal material, obtained from the dried feces of the complex-toothed flying squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes) of the family Pteromyidae, an animal commonly known among the people as the "cold-wailing bird." It is mostly produced in the mountainous areas of North China, Southwest China and other places where pine and cypress trees grow. After collection, the sediment and impurities are removed, and it can be used as medicine once dried in the sun. Although its origin sounds off-putting, after processing it is a long-established and commonly used item in clinical traditional Chinese medicine.

According to different characteristics, Wulingzhi can be divided into two types: Lingzhi rice and Lingzhi blocks. Lingzhi rice consists of oblong elliptical granules with a dark brown or reddish-brown surface and a relatively loose texture; Lingzhi blocks are formed by the concretion of feces, appearing as irregular lumps, commonly known as sugar Lingzhi. It is generally believed that those that are black-brown in color, glossy, and neat in cross-section are of better quality. Before being used as medicine, both are mostly processed by vinegar-frying or stir-frying, in order to mellow the odor and facilitate the extraction of active ingredients.

Traditional Chinese medicine holds that Wulingzhi is bitter and salty in taste, warm in nature, and enters the liver meridian, and is good at promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and unblocking the blood vessels. Traditionally it is mostly used for symptoms such as stabbing pain in the chest and hypochondrium, pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum blood stasis pain caused by blood stasis obstruction, and is often combined with blood-activating medicines such as Puhuang (cattail pollen). After being stir-fried into charcoal, it also has the effect of removing blood stasis and stopping bleeding, and can be used for conditions involving bleeding due to stasis obstruction. The specific usage needs to be determined by a physician based on pattern differentiation.

In terms of use, it should be noted that Wulingzhi acts on the blood aspect, so pregnant women should avoid it or use it with caution, and those with a weak constitution must also take it under a doctor's advice. Traditional compatibility experience holds that it should not be used together with ginseng, which falls within the category of incompatibilities in Chinese medicine compounding. In addition, one must never collect animal feces of unknown origin on one's own to use as Wulingzhi, so as to avoid mistaken collection and misuse, which could bring safety risks.