Poria (Fu Ling) is a large family, which includes Bai Fu Ling (White Poria), Chi Fu Ling (Red Poria), Fu Shen (Poria Spirit), and Fu Ling Pi (Poria Peel). Poria is a fungal sclerotium that generally grows by parasitizing the roots of pine trees. It has been recorded in the ancient text Huai Nan Zi over 2000 years ago, stating “In the thousand-year-old pine, there is Poria below.” During its growth, Bai Fu Ling, Chi Fu Ling, Fu Shen, and Fu Ling Pi successively appear. Although they are all from the same source, they each have unique characteristics, with differences in appearance and efficacy. Let’s explore them clearly together.
Effects of Various Porias
Poria has been used in medicine since it was first recorded in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, classified as a superior herb, believed to “calm the soul and nourish the spirit, prolonging life without hunger”. Poria is sweet and bland in flavor, neutral in nature, and can promote urination, strengthen the spleen, and calm the mind. It can be used for symptoms such as edema, reduced urination, phlegm, dizziness, spleen deficiency with poor appetite, diarrhea, anxiety, and insomnia. Poria is a fungal sclerotium that generally grows on the roots of pine trees. Fresh Poria resembles sweet potatoes, with some being spherical or block-like, while others are flat and oval-shaped, with a rough surface covered in small lumps or wrinkles.
Bai Fu Ling, Chi Fu Ling, Fu Shen, and Fu Ling Pi all come from the same plant, Poria. Its outer skin is mostly brown, with the inner layers being brown Poria peel, light red Chi Fu Ling, milky white Bai Fu Ling, and gray Fu Shen. Although they come from the same plant, their effects are slightly different. The Poria from Yunnan is of the best quality and is known as Yun Ling, a genuine medicinal material.
1Bai Fu Ling (White Poria)
Clinically referred to as Poria, Bai Fu Ling is the white part of Poria, often cut into small square pieces that are milky white. This herb is sweet and bland, neutral in nature, and enters the heart, spleen, and stomach meridians. Its sweetness can tonify, its blandness can drain dampness, and its sweetness can nourish the spleen and heart. Its strong draining ability can promote urination and eliminate dampness, thus Bai Fu Ling is characterized as a “superior herb for tonifying and draining dampness,” beneficial for promoting urination, strengthening the spleen, and calming the heart and mind.
2Chi Fu Ling (Red Poria)
Chi Fu Ling is the red part inside the Poria peel (after removing the outer rough skin), characterized by a light red color. Its properties are similar to Poria but are more focused on the blood aspect, lacking tonifying effects, and are better at draining damp heat and promoting urination. It is commonly used to treat urinary difficulties and painful urination caused by damp heat in the lower jiao, often combined with herbs like Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed), Hua Shi (Talc), and Gan Cao (Licorice), such as in the Wu Lin San (Five Lin Powder).
3Fu Ling Pi (Poria Peel)
Fu Ling Pi is the outer skin of Poria, with similar properties to Poria but is more focused on the surface, functioning to promote urination and reduce swelling. Ancient texts state that Fu Ling Pi specifically treats skin edema, hence the saying “using the peel to treat the skin.” The Chinese Medical Encyclopedia states: “Fu Ling promotes water without depleting qi, superior to Da Fu Pi (Trichosanthes Peel).” Fu Ling Pi treats edema due to spleen deficiency that cannot promote water, leading to generalized swelling, as well as edema during pregnancy, often combined with herbs like Da Fu Pi (Trichosanthes Peel), Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel), and Jiang Pi (Ginger Peel), such as in the Wu Pi Yin (Five Peel Decoction). Poria that is not peeled is called Da Pi Fu Ling (Whole Poria), primarily used for more severe edema.
As for Tu Fu Ling (Earth Poria), it is a different plant and is not related to Poria. Although it resembles Poria, its effects are entirely different. Tu Fu Ling is a vine plant with leaves similar to bamboo but thicker and smoother, with roots that grow in clusters, large as duck eggs, sweet and bland in flavor, neutral in nature, and has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, strengthening the spleen, and eliminating dampness.
4Fu Shen (Poria Spirit)
Fu Shen is the part of Poria that grows around the roots of pine trees, also known as Fu Shen Mu (Poria Wood) or Bao Mu Fu Shen (Wood-Encircled Poria), referring to the pine root in the center of Fu Shen. The Ben Cao Jing Shu states: “Fu Shen grows around the wood heart, distinguishing it from Poria.” The Bie Lu states that Fu Shen is neutral, its properties and flavor are similar to Poria, but Fu Shen is more often used for the heart, while Poria is more often used for the spleen and kidneys. Fu Shen has similar properties to Poria, focusing on the heart meridian, excelling in calming the heart and mind, and is used for symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and forgetfulness due to heart or spleen deficiency, often combined with calming herbs like Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed). When combined with Zhu Sha (Cinnabar), it is called Zhu Sha Fu Shen, enhancing its calming and stabilizing effects.
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