The phenomenon of snoring during sleep is actually quite common in daily life. However, snoring not only disturbs others' rest but also leaves the snorer feeling exhausted – experiencing daytime fatigue, heavy limbs, and low energy levels...
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), snoring is often caused by lung-spleen qi deficiency combined with phlegm-stasis obstruction.
Among this group of people, a significant proportion are obese, with some even reaching severe obesity levels.
Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert, a TCM expert at Singapore's Gong Fang Tang, explains that in daily life, these individuals may experience chest tightness, excessive phlegm, spontaneous sweating, abdominal bloating, and loose stools. At night, their snoring is particularly loud—sometimes even causing prolonged breathlessness or waking up gasping for air. During the day, they often feel fatigued, lethargic, drowsy, and mentally foggy.
These symptoms clearly indicate spleen deficiency with dampness excess and internal phlegm obstruction. The spleen is the source of phlegm production, while the lungs serve as the storage organ for phlegm. When phlegm turbidity rises to the lungs and blocks the airways, the heavier the phlegm-dampness, the louder the snoring becomes.
So, what effective TCM methods are available for regulation? Today, let me share a formula that strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness, and resolves phlegm.
This formula effectively removes systemic dampness, clears stubborn phlegm from the lungs, and alleviates snoring symptoms—it’s Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria)!
Composition:
Alisma (泽泻, Ze Xie) 30g
Stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala (炒白术, Chao Bai Zhu) 10g
Poria (茯苓, Fu Ling) 10g
Polyporus (猪苓, Zhu Ling) 10g
Cinnamon twig (桂枝, Gui Zhi) 10g
Just five simple herbs, derived from the ancient formula Wuling San.
Most TCM enthusiasts should be familiar with Wuling San—it’s a classical prescription from Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage).
The standard dosage is:
Polyporus (Zhu Ling) 9g
Alisma (Ze Xie) 15g
Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) 9g
Poria (Fu Ling) 9g
Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) 6g
Its functions: promote urination, leach out dampness, warm yang, and transform qi.
Alisma (Ze Xie) acts as the monarch herb, draining water and dampness.
Stir-fried Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) dries dampness and strengthens the spleen.
Poria (Fu Ling) fortifies the spleen and eliminates dampness.
Polyporus (Zhu Ling) enhances Alisma’s diuretic effect.
Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) warms yang and transforms qi, helping dissolve phlegm-dampness when met with yang energy.
Lifestyle Advice:
For those who snore frequently, it’s also important to:
Eat less meat, more vegetables.
Exercise regularly.
Avoid excessive sweets, greasy foods, cold drinks, and alcohol.
Adjusting daily habits helps prevent internal phlegm-dampness formation. As for herbal treatment, modifications should be tailored to individual constitutions.
Medical Case Report
Patient: Female, 5 years old.
Presenting Complaint: Loud snoring every night, severely disturbing the entire family.
Examination: Otolaryngology department diagnosed hypertrophic nasal turbinates and recommended surgical removal, but the parents were reluctant. They sought TCM treatment instead.
TCM Findings: Thin and slippery pulse, white tongue coating.
Prescription:
Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria)
Atractylodes macrocephala (Bai Zhu) 5g
Poria (Fu Ling) 5g
Alisma (Ze Xie) 10g
Polyporus (Zhu Ling) 5g
Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) 5g
Outcome:
After 30 doses, snoring significantly reduced.
Another 30 doses later, snoring completely stopped.
Follow-up at age 8: No recurrence of snoring post-treatment.
Important Note:
Any medical treatment should be conducted under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Self-medication is strongly discouraged to avoid delaying proper care or causing unnecessary risks.
