PinyinFú Línɡ
Alias Fú Tū (《本经》), Fú Líng (《史记》), Fú Lěn (《广雅》), Fú Lín, Fú Tū (《唐本草》), Sōng Yú (《记事珠》), Jiàng Chén Fú Tái (《酉阳杂俎》), Yún Lín (《滇海虞衡志》), Fú Tù (《纲目》), Sōng Shǔ, Sōng Mù Shǔ, Sōng Lín (《广西中药志》).
Source《本经》
Origin The dried sclerotium of the fungus Poria cocos, belonging to the family Polyporaceae. Wild Poria is generally harvested from July to March of the following year in pine forests. The ground where Poria grows typically has the following characteristics: (1) Cracks around tree stumps in pine forests that produce a hollow sound when struck; (2) White mycelium (appearing as a powdery white membrane or powdery gray) on the ground near pine trees; (3) Black-red horizontal cracks on the stump after decay; (4) The ground around the stump dries quickly after light rain or has areas where grass does not grow. Cultivated Poria is usually harvested in the second or third year after inoculation, with the best quality harvested after the beginning of autumn; harvesting too early affects quality and yield. Processing: After harvesting, Poria is cleaned of soil, piled in a non-ventilated corner of a room, or stored in a clay jar with a layer of pine needles or straw at the bottom, and Poria is layered with straw, covered with thick burlap to allow it to “sweat” and release moisture. It is then taken out, water droplets wiped off, spread in a cool place, and allowed to dry until the surface is dry before sweating again. This process is repeated 3-4 times until the surface shrinks, the skin color turns brown, and it is then placed in a cool, dry place to air dry completely, resulting in “Poria pieces.” Cutting: After sweating, it is cut while moist, or dried Poria can be soaked in water before cutting. The white inner part of the Poria sclerotium is cut into thin slices or small cubes, known as Bai Fú Lín (White Poria); the black outer skin is known as Fú Lín Pí (Poria Skin); the red part beneath the Poria skin is known as Chì Fú Lín (Red Poria); the white part with pine roots is cut into square thin slices, known as Fú Shén (Spirit of Poria). All processed products must be air-dried in the shade, not exposed to heat or sunlight, and should be kept in a cool place to avoid losing stickiness or cracking.
The common form is its sclerotium, which is irregularly shaped, spherical, flat, elongated, or oval, varying in size from as small as a fist to a diameter of 20-30 cm or larger. The surface is light gray-brown or black-brown, with a lumpy, wrinkled appearance, and the interior is white with a slight pink hue, composed of countless mycelia. The fruiting body is umbrella-shaped, with a diameter of 0.5-2 mm, and the edge is slightly serrated; the sexual generation is rarely seen, honeycomb-like, usually growing on the outer skin of the sclerotium, initially white, gradually turning light brown, with holes that are polygonal, the basidia are rod-shaped, and the basidiospores are oval to cylindrical, slightly bent, with one end pointed, smooth, and colorless. It has a distinctive odor.
Habitat Distribution Parasitic on the roots of pine family plants such as red pine or Masson pine, growing 20-30 cm underground. Distributed in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shanxi, and other regions.
Characteristics Poria pieces are spherical, flat, or irregularly shaped, varying in size and weight from several taels to over ten jin. The surface is black-brown or brown, with a thin, rough outer skin, and prominent raised wrinkles, often covered with soil. The body is heavy, hard, and not easily broken; the cross-section is uneven, granular or powdery, with the outer layer being light brown or light red, and the inner layer entirely white, with a few being light brown, fine, and may show cracks or brown pine roots embedded in white fluffy fragments. It has no odor and is sticky when chewed. The best quality is firm in weight, with a brownish outer skin that is slightly shiny, deep wrinkles, a fine white cross-section, and strong stickiness. Bai Fú Lín is cut into thin slices or cubes, white, fine, and has a powdery texture. It is light and brittle, easily broken, and sometimes the edges appear yellow-brown.
Chemical Composition The sclerotium contains β-Poria polysaccharides, accounting for about 93% of the dry weight, and triterpenoid compounds such as acetyl poria acid, poria acid, and 3β-hydroxy lanosterol acid. Additionally, it contains gum, chitin, protein, fat, sterols, lecithin, glucose, adenine, histidine, choline, β-Poria polysaccharide-decomposing enzymes, lipase, protease, etc.
Pharmacological Effects ① Diuretic Effect
Poria decoction at 3 grams or commonly used clinical doses does not have a diuretic effect on healthy individuals. Intravenous injection of the decoction at 0.048 grams/kg in dogs does not increase urine output, nor does it have significant effects on rats or rabbits. However, using its alcohol extract injected into the abdominal cavity of rabbits, or using water extracts in chronic experiments on rabbits, suggests a diuretic effect. The decoction alone or combined with deoxycorticosterone in adrenalectomized rats promotes sodium excretion, indicating that the diuretic effect of Poria warrants further research. Poria contains 97.5 mg% potassium, and calculated from a 30% water decoction, it contains 0.186 mg/mL sodium and 11.2 mg/mL potassium, thus the promotion of sodium excretion is unrelated to its sodium content (which is too low), while the increase in potassium excretion is related to its high potassium salt content.
Wǔ Lín San (Five-Ingredient Powder) shows significant diuretic effects in dogs with chronic ureteral fistula (intravenous injection), healthy individuals, and rabbits (oral decoction), with increased sodium, potassium, and chloride excretion in dogs. However, the main diuretic ingredients in Wǔ Lín San are Guì Zhī (Cinnamon Twig), Zé Xiè (Alisma), and Bái Zhú (White Atractylodes). Reports also indicate that oral administration of Wǔ Lín San decoction to rats at doses increased to 1 gram/100 grams did not demonstrate a diuretic effect.
② Antibacterial Effect
No antibacterial effect of Poria was found in vitro. The ethanol extract can kill Leptospira, while the water decoction is ineffective.
③ Effects on the Digestive System
Poria has a direct relaxing effect on isolated intestinal segments of rabbits and can prevent ulcers formed by pyloric ligation in rats, as well as reduce gastric acid.
④ Other Effects
Poria can lower blood sugar, and tinctures and infusions can inhibit the isolated heart of toads, while ether or ethanol extracts can strengthen heart contractions. It does not have an antiemetic effect on vomiting induced by digitalis in pigeons.
Processing Poria: Soak in water, wash, drain, steam, slice, and sun-dry. Zhu Fú Lín (Red Poria): Take Poria pieces, spray with clean water, slightly moisten, and evenly sprinkle with fine vermilion powder, turning repeatedly until the surface is coated with vermilion powder, then air dry. (For every 100 jin of Poria, use 30 taels of vermilion powder.)
Nature and Flavor Sweet and bland, neutral.
①《本经》: “Taste is sweet, neutral.”
②《医学启源》: “According to the ‘Secret of Treatment’, it is warm in nature and bland in taste.”
Enters the Heart, Spleen, and Lung meridians.
①《汤液本草》: “Enters the Hand Taiyin, Foot Yangming, and Shaoyang meridians.”
②《本草蒙筌》: “Enters the Bladder, Kidney, and Lung.”
③《雷公炮制药性解》: “Enters the Lung, Spleen, and Small Intestine meridians.”
④《本草经疏》: “Enters the Hand and Foot Shaoyin, Hand Taiyang, Foot Taiyin, and Yangming meridians.”
Functions and Indications Promotes diuresis and drains dampness, benefits the Spleen and harmonizes the Stomach, calms the mind and settles the spirit. Used for difficult urination, edema, phlegm-damp cough, vomiting, diarrhea, nocturnal emissions, turbid urination, palpitations, and forgetfulness.
①《本经》: “Indicated for chest and hypochondriac qi stagnation, anxiety, palpitations, pain below the heart, cold-heat fullness, cough, dry mouth, and difficulty urinating.”
②《别录》: “Stops thirst, promotes sleep, abdominal distension, turbid urination, phlegm-water in the diaphragm, and edema. Opens the chest, regulates organ qi, expels kidney evil, nourishes yin, boosts energy, and protects the spirit.”
③《药性论》: “Opens the appetite, stops vomiting, calms the mind. Treats lung atrophy and phlegm obstruction. Used for childhood convulsions, abdominal distension, and women’s heat-induced turbid urination.”
④《日华子本草》: “Nourishes the five labors and seven injuries, calms the fetus, warms the lower back and knees, opens the mind, and stops forgetfulness.”
⑤《伤寒明理论》: “Drains water and relieves the Spleen.”
⑥《医学启源》: “Eliminates dampness, benefits blood between the waist and navel, harmonizes the middle and boosts energy as the main function. Treats yellow or red urination that is difficult. According to the ‘Secret of Treatment’, it stops diarrhea, eliminates heat, opens pores, and generates body fluids.”
⑦ Wáng Hǎo Gǔ: “Drains the bladder, benefits the Spleen and Stomach. Treats kidney accumulation and running piglet syndrome.”
Dosage and Administration Oral: Decoction, 9-15 grams; or in pills or powders.
Precautions Contraindicated for those with deficiency-cold, slippery essence, or qi deficiency with sinking.
①《本草经集注》: “Mǎ Lìn is used as a guide. Avoid white astringents. Avoid Mǔ Méng, Dì Yú, Xióng Huáng, Qín Jiāo, and Guī Jiǎ.”
②《药性论》: “Avoid rice vinegar.”
③ Zhāng Yuán Sù: “If there is frequent urination or several times, taking it will harm the eyes. If taken during excessive sweating, it will harm the original qi.”
④《本草经疏》: “Patients with kidney deficiency, frequent urination, or slippery essence should not take it.”
⑤《得配本草》: “Qi deficiency with sinking, water dryness, and dry mouth are all contraindicated.”
Formulas ① For Taiyang disease, after sweating, with profuse sweating, dry stomach, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping, pulse floating, and difficult urination, use: Zhū Lín (Poria) 18 grams (peeled), Zé Xiè 6 grams, Bái Zhú 18 grams, Fú Lín 18 grams, Guì Zhī 15 grams (peeled). Combine the five ingredients, pound into a powder, mix with white drink, and take a spoonful three times a day. (《伤寒论》Wǔ Lín San)
② For frequent urination, slippery and unrestrained: Bai Fú Lín (peeled), Dried Shan Yao (peeled, soaked in alum water, and dried slowly). Combine the two ingredients in equal parts, grind into fine powder, and take with thin rice drink. (《儒门事亲》)
③ For edema: Bai Shuǐ (clean) 6 grams, Fú Lín 9 grams, Yù Lǐ Rén (crushed) 4.5 grams. Add ginger juice and decoct. (《不知医必要》Fú Lín Decoction)
④ For skin edema, swelling of the limbs, and water retention in the skin: Fáng Jǐ 18 grams, Huáng Qí 18 grams, Guì Zhī 18 grams, Fú Lín 36 grams, Gān Cǎo 12 grams. Combine the five ingredients, boil with 6 liters of water, and take 2 liters in three warm doses. (《金匮要略》Fáng Jǐ Fú Lín Decoction)
⑤ For phlegm-dampness in the heart, fullness in the chest and hypochondria, and dizziness: Fú Lín 120 grams, Guì Zhī, Bái Zhú each 90 grams, Gān Cǎo 30 grams. Combine the four ingredients, boil with 6 liters of water, and take 3 liters in three warm doses; urination will be smooth. (《金匮要略》Fú Lín Guì Zhī Bái Zhú Gān Cǎo Decoction)
⑥ For sudden vomiting, fullness below the heart, and water in the diaphragm, dizziness and palpitations: Bàn Xià 120 grams, Shēng Jiāng 250 grams, Fú Lín 90 grams (or 60 grams). Combine the three ingredients, boil with 7 liters of water to yield 1.5 liters, and take warm in two doses. (《金匮要略》Xiǎo Bàn Xià Jiā Fú Lín Decoction)
⑦ For persistent diarrhea: Bai Fú Lín 30 grams, Nán Mù Xiāng 15 grams (wrapped in paper and roasted). Combine the two ingredients into fine powder, decoct with Zǐ Sū Mù Guā soup and take 6 grams. (《百一选方》)
⑧ For damp diarrhea: Bái Zhú 6 grams, Fú Lín (peeled) 4.5 grams. Cut finely, decoct with 3 grams of water, and take before meals. (《原病式》Huò Lín Decoction)
⑨ For gastric reflux and thirst, desiring to drink water: Fú Lín 250 grams, Zé Xiè 120 grams, Gān Cǎo 60 grams, Guì Zhī 60 grams, Bái Zhú 90 grams, Shēng Jiāng 120 grams. Combine the six ingredients, boil with 10 liters of water to yield 3 liters, then add Zé Xiè and boil again to yield 2.5 liters, take 240 mL warm three times a day. (《金匮要略》Fú Lín Zé Xiè Decoction)
⑩ For male yang deficiency, weak essence, frequent nocturnal emissions, cloudy urination, and women with prolonged cold in the blood sea, white discharge, and dampness in the lower body: Huáng Lā 120 grams, Bai Fú Lín 120 grams (peeled, in pieces, boiled with 1 tael of Zhū Lín for over 20 boils, then dried, without using Zhū Lín). Grind Poria into powder, melt Huáng Lā into pills the size of a walnut. Chew slowly on an empty stomach until the mouth is full of saliva, then swallow, aiming for clear urination. (《局方》Wēi Xǐ Wán)
⑪ For heart deficiency and dream leakage, or cloudy discharge: Bai Fú Lín powder 6 grams. Mix with rice soup and take twice a day. (《仁斋直指方》)
⑫ For heart sweat, with no sweat elsewhere, only sweating at the heart hole, excessive thinking leads to more sweat, indicating a heart condition, it is advisable to nourish heart blood: take Fú Lín powder with moxa soup. (《证治要诀》)
⑬ For lower deficiency and thirst, upper excess and lower deficiency, heart fire blazing, kidney water dried up, unable to interact leading to thirst: Bai Fú Lín 500 grams, Huáng Lián 500 grams. Grind into powder, mix with Tian Huā Fěn to make a paste, and form pills the size of Wū Tóng seeds. Take 50 pills with warm soup. (《德生堂经验方》)
⑭ For head wind and dizziness, warming the lower back and knees, treating the five labors and seven injuries: Fú Lín powder mixed with rice wine. (《纲目》Fú Lín Wine)
⑮ For skin conditions: White honey mixed with Fú Lín applied for seven days. (《补缺肘后方》)
Commentaries from Various Schools ① Tào Hóngjǐng: “Fú Lín, the white one nourishes, the red one drains.”
②《本草衍义》: “Fú Lín and Fú Shén have significant water-dispelling effects and are essential for benefiting the heart and spleen.”
③《用药心法》: “Fú Lín, bland can open the orifices, sweet can assist yang, is a sacred medicine for eliminating dampness.” Sweet and neutral nourish yang, benefit the spleen, and promote fluid generation and qi flow.”
④《汤液本草》: “Fú Lín can expel kidney evil, frequent urination can be stopped, and difficult urination can be relieved, similar to Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed), although it promotes urination, it does not cause qi to escape. When soaked in wine, it can seal the true essence with vermilion.”
⑤《本草衍义补遗》: “Fú Lín is often used for frequent urination, this is a key medicine for treating acute new diseases, but if there is yin deficiency, it may not be suitable.”
⑥《纲目》: “Fú Lín, according to ‘Bencao’, also states that it promotes urination, expels kidney evil, and in Dongyuan and Wang Haizang, it is said that frequent urination can be stopped, while difficult urination can be relieved. It is similar to vermilion, which can seal the true essence. However, Zhu Danxi also states that those with yin deficiency should avoid it, which seems contradictory; why is that? Fú Lín is bland and disperses, its nature is to rise, generating fluids, opening the orifices, nourishing the source of water and descending, promoting urination, hence Zhang Jiegu said it belongs to yang, floating and rising, referring to its nature; Dongyuan said it is yin among yang, descending and lowering, referring to its function. The ‘Suwen’ states that food enters the stomach, overflows qi, and is transmitted to the lungs, regulating the water pathways, and is then transmitted to the bladder. From this, it is known that bland and dispersing medicines all rise before descending, not merely descending. Frequent urination has different sources. The ‘Suwen’ states that abundant lung qi leads to frequent urination, while deficiency leads to infrequent urination, and heart deficiency leads to less qi and frequent urination. Deficiency in the lower jiao leads to leakage of heat into the bladder, resulting in frequent urination, while bladder obstruction leads to retention. The so-called abundant lung qi is actually heat, and such individuals must have strong qi and pulse, suitable for using Fú Lín to disperse heat, hence it is said that frequent urination can be stopped. However, for those with lung deficiency, heart deficiency, bladder heat, or yin deficiency, they all have deficiency heat, and such individuals must have upper heat and lower cold, with weak pulse, and should use warming medicines to boost the lower jiao, balancing the yin and yang. Both conditions cannot be treated with bland and dispersing medicines like Fú Lín, hence it is said that those with yin deficiency should avoid it.” Tào Hóngjǐng first stated that red Fú Lín drains, while white Fú Lín nourishes. Lǐ Gāo further divided red into bǐng and dīng, and white into rén and guǐ, which is the secret of the previous entry; Shí Zhēn stated that Fú Lín and Fú Shén should only be classified as red entering the blood and white entering the qi, each according to its category, like the relationship between peony and white peony, and should not be divided into bǐng and dīng, as dividing them this way would mean that white Fú Shén cannot treat heart diseases, and red Fú Lín cannot enter the bladder. Zhāng Yuán Sù does not differentiate between red and white, which is logically insufficient.
⑦《本草经疏》: “Fú Lín, its taste is sweet and neutral, its nature is non-toxic, entering the hand and foot Shaoyin, hand Taiyang, foot Taiyin, and Yangming meridians, it is yin among yang. Chest and hypochondriac qi stagnation, evil in the hand Shaoyin; anxiety and fright are due to insufficient heart qi; palpitations are due to insufficient kidney will; pain below the heart, cold-heat fullness, cough, dry mouth, and tongue are also due to evil in the hand Shaoyin. Sweet can nourish the middle, bland can open the orifices, nourishing the middle strengthens the heart and spleen, opening the orifices resolves evil heat, strengthening the heart and spleen stops anxiety and fright, resolving evil heat alleviates pain below the heart, cold-heat fullness, cough, dry mouth, and tongue. The middle jiao suffers from damp-heat, leading to thirst; if the spleen is weak, it leads to sleepiness and abdominal distension. Turbid urination occurs due to damp evil in the spleen, leading to water pathways not functioning. Phlegm-water in the diaphragm and edema are all due to spleen deficiency. The middle jiao is where the spleen governs, and if the middle jiao is not treated, these diseases will manifest. Promoting diuresis and strengthening the spleen will resolve these symptoms. Opening the chest, regulating organ qi, and expelling kidney evil are all functions of promoting water and eliminating dampness, resolving heat and dispersing masses. The white one enters the qi aspect, while the red one enters the blood aspect, nourishing the heart and benefiting the spleen, with white being superior to red, promoting the small intestine, specifically eliminating damp-heat, while red also surpasses white.”
⑧《本草正》: “Fú Lín can promote orifices and eliminate dampness, opening the orifices can enhance the mind and intelligence; eliminating dampness can dry the spleen and strengthen the stomach; dispelling fright and convulsions, thickening the intestines, treating the root of phlegm, and assisting the descending of medicines. Its taste is slightly sweet, hence it is said to nourish yang. However, it promotes more than it nourishes, hence excessive consumption can harm the eyes, and prolonged weakness is extremely unsuitable. If mixed with human milk and sun-dried, the milk powder is abundant, and nourishing yin is also excellent.”
⑨《药品化义》: “Bai Fú Lín, with a unique sweet and bland taste, can nourish and disperse; sweet can nourish, bland can disperse, sweet and bland belong to earth, used to nourish spleen yin, earth is strong and generates metal, also benefits lung qi. It is indicated for spleen and stomach disharmony, diarrhea, abdominal distension, chest and hypochondriac qi stagnation, anxiety, fullness, insufficient fetal qi, spirit agitation, and phlegm qi in the diaphragm. Sweet nourishment benefits the spleen, harmonizing the middle leads to self-generated fluids, alleviating dry mouth and tongue. It also treats lower damp-heat, turbid urination, and edema. Yellow or red urination, and difficulty in the waist and navel, are due to stagnant evil water. Hence, bland dispersing nourishes the bladder, and strong kidney qi leads to self-benefiting blood in the waist and navel, allowing fluids to flow, benefiting the lungs from the upper source, and nourishing the spleen from the middle, allowing the qi of the spleen and lungs to flow from above to below, regulating the water pathways to nourish the bladder, hence frequent urination can be stopped, and difficult urination can be relieved.”
⑩《本草求真》: “Fú Lín enters the Four Gentlemen, assisting Rén and Zhú to disperse the dampness of the spleen, enters the Six Flavors, allowing Zé Xiè to expel the remaining kidney evil, making it the key medicine for promoting water and eliminating dampness. The text states that strengthening the spleen means that water is removed and the spleen is naturally strengthened. … When water is removed, frequent urination will naturally open, how can there be concerns about obstruction? When water is removed, internal dampness is eliminated, how can there be frequent urination? Therefore, when water is removed, the chest and diaphragm will naturally widen, and fullness and pain will not occur; when water is removed, fluids will naturally generate, and dry mouth and tongue will be resolved.”
⑪《本经疏证》: “Qi moistens and moves, water operates through qi; when water stagnates, qi is obstructed, and when qi is obstructed, water is stagnant. Fú Lín is purely used for qi, hence its treatment is related to water. Observing the writings of Zhòng Jǐng, it is evident that it can promote water according to qi obstruction (Fú Lín Gān Cǎo Decoction); transform qi according to water stagnation (Wǔ Lín San); when qi is obstructed by water, it is necessary to guide water downwards (Fú Lín Guì Zhī Gān Cǎo Dà Zǎo Decoction, Fú Lín Guì Zhī Bái Zhú Gān Cǎo Decoction); when water and qi are both obstructed above, it is necessary to drain from the side to prevent loss of yang (Fáng Jǐ Fú Lín Decoction); when qi is consumed externally, water is forced internally, hence it is the monarch in the warming yang medicine (Fú Lín Sì Nì Decoction); when qi is obstructed below, water stagnates, hence it is effective in pregnancy (Guì Zhī Fú Lín Wán, Kuí Zǐ Fú Lín San). All of these begin with yin to follow yang, spreading yang to transform yin, allowing the requesting party to be unblocked, and the turbid to naturally retreat, whether from below or from the outside, hence the purpose of Fú Lín is to nourish rather than drain, and the use of Fú Lín is to drain rather than nourish.”
Excerpt from the “Dictionary of Chinese Medicinal Herbs”