Poria (Fu Ling) is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb, classified as a superior product in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing.
Alias: Fu Ling.
Source: It is the dried sclerotium of the fungus Poria cocos, which often parasitizes the roots of red pine or true fir. A large quantity is 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; Ying Shan, Luotian, and Macheng in Hubei Province; Shangcheng, Gushi, and Xinxian in Henan Province; and Wuzhou in Guangxi Autonomous Region. Additionally, it is produced in Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Jiangxi. It is also distributed in North China, Northwest China, and Northeast China.
Identification of Characteristics: Commercial products are categorized into various forms including Ge Ling (Pili Ling), Bai Ling Pian, Bai Ling Kuai, Chi Ling Kuai, Fu Shen Kuai, Bai Sui Kuai, Chi Sui Kuai, Fu Shen Mu, and Fu Ling Pi, described as follows:
Ge Fu Ling: (Pili Ling) irregularly spherical or block-shaped, varying in size, weighing from several grams to several kilograms. The surface is brown to dark brown. The outer skin is thin and rough, with obvious wrinkles or grooves. It is dense and heavy, not easily broken. The cross-section is uneven, showing granules with sharp edges. Some may have cracks or a central passage for the pine root. The outer edge of the cross-section is light brown, while the interior is white, with some being light brown. The texture is delicate, with a faint taste, and it sticks to the teeth when chewed.
The wild variety from Yunnan is considered the best quality, also known as Yun Ling, characterized by its heavy texture, wrinkled dark brown shiny skin, and a white cross-section that is dense and sticky when chewed.
Bai Ling Pian: Thin slices made from Ge Ling after removing the outer skin, selected for their clean, delicate, and firm flesh, approximately one millimeter thick, with a length and width of over three centimeters (those with a reddish hue are called Chi Ling Pian).
Bai Ling Kuai: Cleaned Ge Ling with the outer skin removed, cut into thicker square blocks, approximately 3-4 millimeters thick, with a length and width of about 3-4 centimeters, including those with edges not perfectly square but longer than 1.5 centimeters.
Chi Ling Kuai: Same shape as Bai Ling Kuai, but the flesh has a reddish or yellowish color.
Fu Shen Kuai: Same shape as Bai Ling Kuai, but each piece must contain a segment of fine pine root, with a maximum diameter of 1.5 centimeters, the thickness being the same as the Ling block, and the wood is light and decayed.
Bai Sui Kuai: Fragments left over from processing Bai Ling Pian and Bai Ling Kuai, appearing as small pieces, with a clean white color.
Chi Sui Ling: Same shape as Bai Sui Ling, but the color is often reddish-yellow.
Fu Shen Mu: Coarse pine roots that have previously grown Fu Ling, varying in length, generally about 30 centimeters or less, with a diameter of about 2.5 centimeters, often bent and not straight, resembling decayed wood, yellow-brown or brown, light in weight and not showing bark layers, with the outer part containing naturally attached Fu Ling flesh.
Fu Ling Pi: The outer skin removed during the production of Ling Pian and Ling Kuai, appearing as thin pieces, varying in size, with a brown surface and a red-white inner wall containing Fu Ling flesh, 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 or Zhu Ling.
2. Nourishing. TCM believes that Poria has a tonifying nature, capable of strengthening the spleen and replenishing the middle, possibly related to its nutritional components.
3. Sedative. Although the sedative effect of Poria is not as strong as that of Fu Shen, it can still be used to calm the mind.
Preparation: Used raw.
Flavor and Properties: Sweet, neutral.
Meridians Entered: Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Lung, and Kidney meridians.
Functions: Promotes diuresis and drains dampness, benefits the spleen, and calms the heart.
Indications: Qi deficiency, labor injury, edema, phlegm-dampness, vomiting, diarrhea, nocturnal emissions, heat strangury, palpitations, forgetfulness, and other symptoms.
Clinical Applications: 1. Used to treat edema and difficulty in urination, taking advantage of its diuretic properties. It is suitable for general edema and fullness, particularly for those with cold tendencies or concurrent spleen and stomach deficiency, and can be combined with Zexie and Zhu Ling to enhance diuretic effects. For those with Yang deficiency, it can be combined with Gui Zhi or 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, known as “moving Qi to transform water”. An example is the 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. The experience of predecessors states, “Phlegm-dampness must use Poria.” It takes advantage of its diuretic and tonifying effects on the spleen and stomach. Generally, Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang 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 and Sheng Jiang, or use Fu Ling Yin; if phlegm-dampness is in the lungs (cough, excessive phlegm, difficulty breathing), add Chen Pi, Ban Xia, and Chuan Bei.
3. Used to strengthen the spleen and transform dampness, treating digestive disorders caused by spleen and stomach deficiency, upper abdominal fullness, reduced appetite, and spleen deficiency diarrhea. Its effects are twofold: one is to nourish and regulate the middle; the other is to promote diuresis and drain dampness, thereby reducing intestinal moisture and thickening loose stools. For those with stomach Yang deficiency (equivalent to insufficient digestive function), Poria can be used, but it should be combined with Dang Shen, as the experience of predecessors states, “Poria can activate stomach Yang,” and “for those with stomach Yang deficiency, Poria must be included.” In summary, for those with poor appetite, digestive disorders, or post-meal vomiting or diarrhea, Poria can be used along with other spleen-tonifying and Qi-regulating herbs, such as Shen Ling Bai Zhu San. If diarrhea is caused by acute digestive disorders, it can be combined with Cang Zhu and Yin Hua.
4. Used for calming the mind and spirit. For those with palpitations and insomnia, Poria can be combined with Suan Zao Ren, Yuan Zhi, Bai Zi Ren, and Wu Wei Zi, such as in the Bu Xin Dan (commercial formula).
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): Poria 18g, Zhu Ling 9g, Zexie 6g, Bai Zhu 9g, Gui Zhi 6g, decoct in water for oral administration.
2. Fu Ling Yin (Wai Tai Mi Yao): Poria 9g, Bai Zhu 9g, Dang Shen 6g, Sheng Jiang 4.5g, Zhi Shi 6g, Chen Pi 4.5g, decoct in water for oral administration.
3. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ju Fang): Dang Shen 12g, Poria 9g, Bai Zhu 9g, Chen Pi 4.5g, Lian Rou 9g, Huaishan 12g, Yi Yi Ren 9g, Bian Dou 9g, Chun Sha Ren 3g, Gan Cao 3g, decoct in water for oral administration.
Note: 1. Fu Ling Pi. Its function is not to reduce swelling, mainly used for treating skin edema.
Its flavor and properties are the same as Poria, but it specializes in diuresis without tonifying properties. It is often used to treat significant edema (such as facial and limb swelling seen after illness), represented by the formula Wu Pi San (Zhong Zang Jing). Formula: Fu Ling Pi 15g, Da Fu Pi 9g, Sang Bai Pi 9g, Sheng Jiang Pi 6g, Chen Pi 6g, decoct in water for oral administration. Note: If using Poria with skin, the prescription should specify “with skin Ling.” Poria with skin primarily has diuretic effects, with less spleen-tonifying effects, used for treating general non-edematous but slightly heavy conditions.
2. Fu Shen. Its function is to calm the heart and spirit, often used for treating heart tranquility, palpitations, and forgetfulness.
Its flavor and properties are the same as Poria, but it excels in calming the mind and spirit. Animal experiments have confirmed that Fu Shen has a moderate sedative effect, but not as strong as Suan Zao Ren; clinically, the two are often used together, such as in the Yang Xin Tang. Formula: Fu Shen 9g, Poria 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 for oral administration.
3. Fu Shen Mu. Used for treating muscle spasms, pain, stroke, and palpitations with forgetfulness.
4. Poria. When mixed with Zhu Sha, it is called Zhu Fu Ling or Zhu Fu Shen, used to enhance the calming function of the heart and spirit. However, Zhu Sha is not soluble in water and should be taken as a powder.
Chi Fu Ling: Its flavor and properties are the same as Bai Fu Ling, but its tonifying properties are weaker, hence it is generally not used in tonifying formulas. Chi Fu Ling mainly acts to clear damp-heat, thus used in Wu Lin Tang combined with Chi Shao, Zhi Zi, etc., 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 Shao 6g, Dang Gui 9g, Bai Shao 12g, decoct in water for oral administration.
