Fu Ling (Poria) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, classified as a superior herb in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing.
Alias: Fu Ling.
Source: It is the dried sclerotium of the fungus Poria cocos, which often grows on the roots of red pine or true fir. Most commercial products are cultivated artificially, with the fungus growing on buried branches of red pine or fir. The above-ground part is a sterile seedling.
Production Areas: Mainly produced in Lijiang, Lanping, Weixi, Jianchuan, and Chuxiong in Yunnan Province; Jinzhai, Huoshan, Yuexi, and Taihu in Anhui Province; Yingshan, Luotian, and Macheng in Hubei Province; Shangcheng, Gushi, and Xinxian in Henan Province; and Wuzhou in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Additionally, it is produced in Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces, with distribution in North China, Northwest China, and Northeast China.
Identification of Characteristics: Commercial products are categorized into various forms including individual Poria (Pi Ling), Bai Ling slices, Bai Ling blocks, Chi Ling blocks, Fu Shen blocks, Bai crushed blocks, Chi crushed blocks, Fu Shen wood, and Fu Ling skin, described as follows:
Individual Poria (Pi Ling): Irregularly spherical or block-shaped, varying in size and weight from several grams to several kilograms. The surface is brown to dark brown, with a thin, rough outer skin featuring distinct wrinkles or grooves. It is dense and heavy, not easily broken. The cross-section is uneven, granular, and may have cracks or passages for roots. The outer edge is light brown, while the interior is white, with some being light brown. The texture is fine, with a faint taste, and it sticks to the teeth when chewed.
The best quality is from wild Yunnan, also known as Yun Ling, characterized by a heavy texture, tough and wrinkled outer skin, shiny dark brown color, and a white cross-section that is dense and sticky when chewed.
Bai Ling Slices: Thin slices cut from the clean inner flesh of individual Poria, approximately one millimeter thick, with a length and width of over three centimeters (those with a reddish hue are called Chi Ling slices).
Bai Ling Blocks: Thicker flat square blocks cut from the clean inner flesh of individual Poria, approximately 3-4 millimeters thick, with dimensions of about 3-4 centimeters, including those with edges not perfectly square but longer than 1.5 centimeters.
Chi Ling Blocks: Similar in shape to Bai Ling blocks but with a reddish or yellowish color in the flesh.
Fu Shen Blocks: Similar in shape to Bai Ling blocks, but each piece must contain a segment of fine pine root, with a maximum diameter of 1.5 centimeters, the same thickness as the Ling blocks, and light, decayed wood.
Bai Crushed Blocks: Fragments left over from processing Bai Ling slices and blocks, appearing as small pieces with a clean white color.
Chi Crushed Ling: Similar in shape to Bai crushed Ling but with a reddish-yellow color.
Fu Shen Wood: Coarse pine roots that have previously grown Fu Ling, varying in length, generally around 30 centimeters or less, with a diameter of about 2.5 centimeters, often bent and resembling decayed wood, yellow-brown or brown in color, light and not showing bark layers, with natural attached parts of Fu Ling flesh.
Fu Ling Skin: The outer skin removed during the production of Ling slices and blocks, appearing as thin pieces of varying sizes, brown on the surface, with a red-white Ling flesh attached to the inner wall, soft in texture.
Main Components: Contains Poria polysaccharides, Poria acid, proteins, fats, lecithin, histidine, choline, ergosterol, and potassium salts.
Efficacy and Functions: 1. Diuretic. Animal experiments have confirmed its diuretic effect, though not as strong as Mu Tong (Mu Tong) or Zhu Ling (Zhu Ling).
2. Nourishing. TCM believes that Fu Ling has a tonifying nature, capable of strengthening the spleen and replenishing the middle, possibly related to its nutritional components.
3. Sedative. Although Fu Ling’s sedative effect is not as strong as that of Fu Shen, it can still be used to calm the mind.
Preparation: Used raw.
Nature and Flavor: Sweet, neutral.
Meridians Entered: Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Lung, Kidney.
Functions: Promotes urination and drains dampness, benefits the spleen, calms the heart.
Indications: Qi deficiency, labor injury, edema, phlegm-dampness, vomiting, diarrhea, nocturnal emissions, heat strangury, palpitations, forgetfulness, etc.
Clinical Applications: 1. Used to treat edema and difficulty urinating, leveraging its diuretic properties. It is suitable for general edema and fullness, particularly in cases of cold or concurrent spleen and stomach deficiency, often combined with Ze Xie (Ze Xie) and Zhu Ling to enhance diuretic effects. In cases with Yang deficiency, it can be combined with Gui Zhi (Gui Zhi) or Rou Gui (Rou Gui) to promote Yang (i.e., enhance blood circulation). Adding Gui Zhi or Rou Gui to diuretic formulas is to promote blood circulation and enhance diuresis, referred to as “moving Qi to transform water” or “Qi moving water moving.” An example is Wu Ling San, suitable for mild edema. Experiments have shown that Wu Ling San has a strong diuretic effect, increasing urine output by 112%.
2. Used to treat phlegm-dampness. Traditional experience states, “Phlegm-dampness must use Fu Ling.” It leverages its diuretic and spleen-benefiting properties. Generally, Ling Gui Zhu Gan Decoction is used as the main formula. If phlegm-dampness is in the stomach (upper abdominal fullness, water sound in the stomach, vomiting clear phlegm), add Ban Xia (Ban Xia) and Sheng Jiang (Sheng Jiang), or use Fu Ling Decoction; if in the lung (cough, excessive phlegm, difficulty breathing), add Chen Pi (Chen Pi), Ban Xia, and Chuan Bei (Chuan Bei).
3. Used to strengthen the spleen and transform dampness, treating digestive issues caused by spleen and stomach deficiency, upper abdominal fullness, reduced appetite, and spleen deficiency diarrhea. Its effects are twofold: nourishing and regulating the middle; and promoting urination and draining dampness, thus reducing intestinal moisture and thickening loose stools. For those with stomach Yang deficiency (equivalent to insufficient digestive function), Fu Ling can be used but should be paired with Dang Shen (Dang Shen), as traditional experience states, “Fu Ling can unblock stomach Yang,” and “for those with stomach Yang deficiency, Shen and Fu must be used together.” In summary, for those with poor appetite, digestive issues, or post-meal vomiting or diarrhea, Fu Ling can be used along with other spleen-strengthening and Qi-regulating herbs, such as Shen Ling Bai Zhu San. If diarrhea is caused by acute digestive issues, it can be paired with Cang Zhu (Cang Zhu) and Yin Hua (Yin Hua).
4. Used for calming the mind. For those with palpitations or insomnia, Fu Ling can be combined with Suan Zao Ren (Suan Zao Ren), Yuan Zhi (Yuan Zhi), Bai Zi Ren (Bai Zi Ren), and Wu Wei Zi (Wu Wei Zi), such as in the formula Bu Xin Dan (Bu Xin Dan).
Dosage: For strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach or general diuretic and damp-draining purposes, 9-18g; if there is significant edema, the dosage can be increased to 30-45g. The maximum dosage can reach 60-90g, but long-term high doses are not recommended.
Example Formulas: 1. Wu Ling San (Shang Han Lun): Fu Ling 18g, Zhu Ling 9g, Ze Xie 6g, Bai Zhu 9g, Gui Zhi 6g, decoct in water.
2. Fu Ling Decoction (Wai Tai Mi Yao): Fu Ling 9g, Bai Zhu 9g, Dang Shen 6g, Sheng Jiang 4.5g, Zhi Shi 6g, Chen Pi 4.5g, decoct in water.
3. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ju Fang): Dang Shen 12g, Fu Ling 9g, Bai Zhu 9g, Chen Pi 4.5g, Lian Rou 9g, Huai Shan Yao 12g, Yi Yi Ren 9g, Bian Dou 9g, Chun Sha Ren 3g, Gan Cao 3g, decoct in water.
Note: 1. Fu Ling Skin. Its function is not to reduce swelling, mainly used for treating skin edema.
Its nature and flavor are the same as Fu Ling, but it specializes in diuresis without tonifying properties. Commonly used for treating significant edema (such as facial and limb swelling seen after illness), represented by Wu Pi San (Zhong Cang Jing). Formula: Fu Ling Pi 15g, Da Fu Pi 9g, Sang Bai Pi 9g, Sheng Jiang Pi 6g, Chen Pi 6g, decoct in water. Note: If using Fu Ling with skin, the prescription should specify “with skin Ling.” With skin Ling primarily has diuretic effects, with lesser spleen-strengthening effects, used for general non-edematous but slightly heavy cases.
2. Fu Shen. Its function is to calm the heart and mind, often used for treating anxiety and forgetfulness.
Its nature and flavor are the same as Fu Ling, but it excels in sedating and calming the mind. Animal experiments have confirmed that Fu Shen has a moderate sedative effect, though not as strong as Suan Zao Ren; clinically, the two are often used together, such as in Yang Xin Tang. Formula: Fu Shen 9g, Fu Ling 9g, Huang Qi 15g, Dang Gui 9g, Chuan Xiong 4.5g, Fa Ban Xia 6g, Bai Zi Ren 6g, Yuan Zhi 3g, Dang Shen 9g, Rou Gui powder 3g (dissolved), Zhi Gan Cao 6g, decoct in water.
3. Fu Shen Wood. Used for muscle spasms, pain, and stroke-related facial drooping, palpitations, and forgetfulness.
4. Fu Ling. When combined with Zhu Sha, it is called Zhu Fu Ling or Zhu Fu Shen, used to enhance the calming and heart-soothing effects. However, Zhu Sha is not water-soluble, so it should be taken dissolved.
Chi Fu Ling: Its nature and flavor are the same as Bai Fu Ling, but its tonifying properties are weaker, hence it is generally not used in tonics, with Bai Fu Ling preferred. Chi Fu Ling’s main function is to clear damp-heat, thus used in Wu Lin Tang combined with Chi Shao (Chi Shao) and Zhi Zi (Zhi Zi) to treat heat strangury and blood strangury (for example, acute urethritis and cystitis with heat signs and hematuria).
Formula: Chi Fu Ling 12g, Zhi Zi 9g, Bi Xie 6g, Gan Cao 6g, Dang Gui 9g, Bai Shao 12g, decoct in water.
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