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 the stumps in the pine forest 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 there are 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, clean the soil from Poria, pile it in a non-ventilated corner of the house, or store it in a clay jar, first laying a layer of pine needles or straw at the bottom, and then layering Poria with straw, covering it with thick burlap to allow it to “sweat” and release moisture. Then take it out, wipe off the water droplets, spread it in a cool place, and wait for the surface to dry before sweating again. This process is repeated 3-4 times until the surface shrinks, the skin color turns brown, and then it is placed in a cool, dry place to dry completely, which is known as “Poria Ge”. Cutting: Cut while still moist after sweating, or take dried Poria and moisten it with water before cutting. The white part inside the Poria sclerotium is cut into thin slices or small cubes, known as Bai Fuling (White Poria); the black outer skin that is shaved off is known as Fuling Pi (Poria Skin); the red part beneath the Poria skin is known as Chi Fuling (Red Poria); the white part with pine roots, cut into square thin slices, is known as Fushen (Poria Spirit). All processed products must be dried in the shade, not exposed to heat or sunlight, and should be placed in a cool place to avoid excessive dryness or ventilation, which may cause loss of stickiness or cracking.
The common form is its sclerotium, which is usually irregularly shaped, spherical, flat, elongated, or oval, varying in size from as small as a fist to as large as 20-30 cm in diameter or more. 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 has slight teeth; 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 curved, with one end pointed, smooth, and colorless. It has a peculiar odor.
Habitat Distribution It parasitizes the roots of pine family plants such as red pine or Masson pine, penetrating 20-30 cm underground. It is distributed in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shanxi, and other regions.
Characteristics Poria Ge is 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 and rough outer skin, and has prominent, raised wrinkles, often covered with soil. It 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 pieces. It has no odor and is sticky when chewed. The best quality is firm in weight, with a brownish outer skin that has a slight sheen, deep wrinkles, a fine white cross-section, and strong stickiness. Bai Fuling is already cut into thin slices or cubes, white, fine, and has a powdery smooth feel. It is loose 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
Wuling San shows significant diuretic effects in chronic ureteral fistula dogs (intravenous injection), healthy individuals, and rabbits (oral decoction), with increased excretion of sodium, potassium, and chloride in dogs. However, the main diuretic ingredients in Wuling San are Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Zexie (Alisma), Baizhu (Atractylodes), and Poria. It has also been reported that the oral decoction of Wuling San in rats, even at a dose of 1 gram/100 grams, has not been proven to have a diuretic effect.
② Antibacterial Effect
In vitro, no antibacterial effect of Poria has been found. 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 has a preventive effect on ulcers formed by pyloric ligation in rats, and can 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 has no antiemetic effect on vomiting induced by digitalis in pigeons.
Preparation Poria: Soak in water, wash, drain, steam, slice, and dry. Zhu Fuling: Take Poria blocks, spray with clean water, slightly moisten, and evenly sprinkle with fine vermilion powder, repeatedly turning to coat the surface with the vermilion powder, then dry. (For every 100 jin of Poria, use 30 taels of vermilion powder.)
Nature and Flavor Sweet and bland, neutral.
①《本经》: “Taste sweet, neutral.”
②《医学启源》: “According to the ‘Secret of Treatment’, it is warm in nature and bland in taste.”
It 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. It is used for difficult urination, edema, phlegm-damp cough, nausea, 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 tongue, and difficult urination.”
②《别录》: “Stops thirst, promotes sleep, abdominal distension, turbid urination, phlegm and water in the diaphragm, edema, and regulates the internal organs’ qi, expels kidney evil, nourishes yin, boosts energy, and protects the spirit.”
③《药性论》: “Opens the appetite, stops nausea, and calms the spirit. It is indicated for lung atrophy and phlegm obstruction. Treats 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, enhances intelligence, and stops forgetfulness.”
⑤《伤寒明理论》: “Drains dampness 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 deficiency heat, opens the pores, and generates body fluids.”
⑦ Wang Haogu: “Drains the Bladder, benefits the Spleen and Stomach. Treats kidney accumulation and running piglet syndrome.”
Dosage and Administration Internal use: 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》: “Ma Lin is used as a guide. Avoid white astringents. Avoid Mu Meng, Dihuang, Xionghuang, Qinjiao, and turtle shell.”
②《药性论》: “Avoid rice vinegar.”
③ Zhang Yuanshu: “If there is frequent urination or several times, taking it will harm the eyes. If taken with 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 excessive sweating, dryness in the stomach, restlessness, and difficult urination with slight heat and thirst: 18 grams of Zhu Ling (peeled), 1.6 grams of Zexie, 18 grams of Baizhu, 18 grams of Poria, and 15 grams of Guizhi (peeled). Mix the five ingredients, pound into a powder, and take with white drink, 3 times a day. (《伤寒论》 Wuling San)
② For frequent urination, slippery and unrestrained: Bai Fuling (remove black skin), dried yam (peeled, soaked in alum water, and baked slowly). Mix the two ingredients in equal parts into a fine powder. Take with thin rice drink. (《儒门事亲》)
③ For edema: 2 grams of pure water, 3 grams of Poria, and 1.5 grams of Yuli Ren (crushed). Add ginger juice and decoct. (《不知医必要》 Poria Decoction)
④ For skin edema, swelling of the limbs, and water qi in the skin, with limbs that are numb: 3 taels of Fangji, 3 taels of Huangqi, 3 taels of Guizhi, and 6 taels of Poria, and 2 taels of licorice. Mix the five ingredients, boil with 6 liters of water to obtain 2 liters, and divide into three warm doses. (《金匮要略》 Fangji Poria Decoction)
⑤ For phlegm and water in the heart, fullness in the chest and hypochondria, and dizziness: 4 taels of Poria, 3 taels each of Guizhi and Baizhu, and 2 taels of licorice. Mix the four ingredients, boil with 6 liters of water to obtain 3 liters, and divide into three warm doses; urination will be smooth. (《金匮要略》 Ling Gui Zhu Gan Decoction)
⑥ For sudden vomiting, fullness below the heart, and water in the diaphragm, with dizziness and palpitations: 1 sheng of Banxia, 0.5 jin of ginger, and 3 taels of Poria (4 taels for one method). Mix the three ingredients, boil with 7 liters of water to obtain 1.5 liters, and divide into warm doses. (《金匮要略》 Xiao Banxia Jia Poria Decoction)
⑦ For diarrhea that does not stop: Bai Fuling 2 taels, Namu Xiang 0.5 taels (wrapped in paper and roasted). Mix the two ingredients into a fine powder, decoct with Zisu and papaya soup, and take 2 taels. (《百一选方》)
⑧ For damp diarrhea: 1 tael of Baizhu, 7.5 taels of Poria (remove skin). Cut finely, decoct 1 tael, and take before meals. (《原病式》 Huo Ling Decoction)
⑨ For gastric reflux and thirst, desiring to drink water: 0.5 jin of Poria, 4 taels of Zexie, 2 taels of licorice, 2 taels of Guizhi, 3 taels of Baizhu, and 4 taels of ginger. Mix the six ingredients, boil with 10 liters of water to obtain 3 liters, then add Zexie and boil again to obtain 2.5 liters, take 8 ounces warm, three times a day. (《金匮要略》 Poria Zexie Decoction)
⑩ For men with deficiency of original yang, fatigue, unstable essence, frequent nocturnal emissions, turbid urination, frequent dreams, and for women with prolonged cold in the blood sea, white discharge, and frequent dampness in the lower body, with urination like rice wash, or infertility: 4 taels of yellow wax, 4 taels of Bai Fuling (remove skin, cut into pieces, and boil with Zhu Ling for over twenty boils, then dry, without Zhu Ling). Mix the Poria into powder, melt the yellow wax into balls the size of a wutong seed. Chew slowly on an empty stomach until the mouth is full of saliva, then swallow gradually, with clear urination as the standard. (《局方》 Weixi Wan)
⑪ For heart deficiency and dream leakage, or turbid discharge: 2 taels of Bai Fuling powder. Take with rice soup, twice a day. (《仁斋直指方》)
⑫ For heart sweat, with no sweat elsewhere, only sweating at the heart hole, with excessive thinking leading to more sweat, indicating a disease in the heart, it is advisable to nourish heart blood: take Poria powder with mugwort soup. (《证治要诀》)
⑬ For lower deficiency thirst, upper excess and lower deficiency, heart fire blazing, kidney water drying up, unable to interact leading to thirst: 1 jin of Bai Fuling and 1 jin of Huanglian. Grind into powder, boil with tianhuafen to make a paste, and form pills the size of wutong 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, and for the five labors and seven injuries: Poria powder mixed with rice wine. (《纲目》 Poria Wine)
⑮ For skin lesions: Mix white honey with Poria and apply, leave for seven days. (《补缺肘后方》)
Various Discussions ① Tao Hongjing: “Poria, the white one nourishes, the red one drains.”
②《本草衍义》: “Poria and Fushen have a strong diuretic effect, and benefiting the heart and spleen cannot be neglected.”
③《用药心法》: “Poria, bland can open the orifices, sweet can assist yang, is the holy medicine for eliminating dampness.” Sweet and bland nourish yang, benefit the spleen, drain water, generate fluids, and guide qi.
④《汤液本草》: “Poria can eliminate kidney evil, frequent urination can be stopped, and difficult urination can be relieved. When used with wine and vermilion, it can seal the true essence.”
⑤《本草衍义补遗》: “Poria is often used by Zhongjing for frequent urination, this is a key medicine for treating acute new diseases, but if there is yin deficiency, it may not be appropriate.”
⑥《纲目》: “Poria, according to ‘Ben Cao’, also states that it benefits urination, eliminates kidney evil, and according to Dongyuan and Wang Haizang, it can stop frequent urination and relieve difficult urination. It is similar to vermilion in sealing the true essence. However, Zhu Danxi also states that it is not suitable for yin deficiency, which seems contradictory. Why? Poria is bland and drains, its nature ascends, generates fluids, opens the orifices, nourishes the water source and descends, benefits urination, hence Zhang Juegu said it belongs to yang, floating and ascending, indicating its nature; Dongyuan said it is yin among yang, descending and lowering, indicating its function. The ‘Suwen’ states that food enters the stomach, overflows qi, ascends to the lungs, regulates the water pathways, and descends to the bladder. From this, it is known that bland and draining medicines all ascend before descending, not just descending. Frequent urination has different sources. The ‘Suwen’ states that abundant lung qi leads to frequent urination and deficiency leads to cough and frequent urination, heart deficiency leads to less qi and urination, and deficiency in the lower jiao leads to urination. The heat in the bladder leads to frequent urination, and the ‘Jueyin disease’ leads to urinary retention. The so-called abundant lung qi is actually heat, and such a person must have strong qi and pulse, suitable for using Poria sweet and bland to drain heat, hence it is said that frequent urination can be stopped. However, for those with lung deficiency, heart deficiency, bladder heat, and ‘Jueyin disease’, they all have deficiency heat, and such people must have upper heat and lower cold, weak pulse, and should use warming medicines to strongly tonify the lower body, interacting between the kidney and bladder, both conditions cannot be treated with bland and draining medicines like Poria, hence it is said that those with yin deficiency should not use it.”
⑦《本草经疏》: “Poria, its taste is sweet and neutral, its nature is non-toxic, enters the hand and foot Shaoyin, hand Yangming, foot Taiyin, and Yangming meridians, it is yin among yang. Chest and hypochondriac qi stagnation, evil in the hand Shaoyin; anxiety and fright are all 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 tonify the middle, bland and draining can open the orifices, tonifying the middle can strengthen the heart and spleen, opening the orifices can resolve evil heat, strengthening the heart and spleen can stop anxiety and fright, resolving evil heat can eliminate pain below the heart, cold-heat fullness, cough, dry mouth, and tongue. If the middle jiao suffers from damp-heat, it leads to thirst, dampness in the spleen leads to sleepiness, and abdominal distension occurs due to spleen deficiency, hence the abdomen becomes distended. Turbid urination occurs due to damp evil in the spleen, leading to water pathways not being smooth. Phlegm and water in the diaphragm 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 appear. Draining water and strengthening the spleen will naturally resolve these symptoms. Opening the chest and regulating the internal organs’ qi, eliminating kidney evil, is all about draining water, eliminating dampness, and resolving heat and masses. The white one enters the qi aspect, the red one enters the blood aspect, tonifying the heart and benefiting the spleen, the white one is superior to the red, unblocking the small intestine, specifically eliminating damp-heat, while the red also surpasses the white.”
⑧《本草正》: “Poria can open the orifices and eliminate dampness, opening the orifices can enhance intelligence and generate fluids; eliminating dampness can drain water and dry the spleen, tonifying the middle and strengthening 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 tonify yang. However, tonifying is less effective than draining, hence excessive consumption can harm the eyes, and prolonged weakness is extremely inappropriate. If mixed with human milk and dried, the milk powder is abundant, and tonifying yin is also excellent.”
⑨《药品化义》: “Bai Fuling, with a unique sweet and bland taste, can tonify, and bland can drain, sweet and bland belong to earth, used to tonify 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, fetal qi is less stable, soul and spirit are startled, phlegm and qi in the diaphragm. Sweet tonifies, hence the spleen benefits, when the middle qi is harmonious, fluids are generated, dry mouth and tongue are relieved. It also treats lower damp-heat, turbid urination, and edema. Yellow or red urination, waist and navel are not smooth, and stagnant evil water. Hence, bland drainage nourishes the bladder, and when kidney qi is strong, blood between the waist and navel flows smoothly, fluids circulate, benefiting the lung from the upper source, tonifying the spleen from the middle, allowing the qi of the spleen and lung to flow smoothly 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》: “Poria enters the Four Gentlemen, assisting Ren and Baizhu in draining the dampness of the spleen, entering the Six Flavors, allowing Zexie to act on the remaining kidney evil, making it the key medicine for draining water and eliminating dampness. The text states that strengthening the spleen means that when water is drained, the spleen naturally strengthens… When water is drained, frequent urination will naturally open, how can there be concerns about urinary retention? When water is drained, the chest and diaphragm will naturally widen, and pain and fullness will not occur. When water is drained, fluids will naturally be generated, and dry mouth and tongue will be completely relieved.”
⑪《本经疏证》: “Qi moistens and moves, water operates with qi, when water is stagnant, qi is obstructed, and when qi is obstructed, water is stagnant. Poria is purely used for qi, hence its treatment is related to water. Observing Zhongjing’s writings, it is evidently recognizable, such as following the obstruction of qi to drain water (Poria Licorice Decoction); following the stagnation of water to transform qi (Wuling San); when qi is reversed with water, it is named to guide water down with qi (Poria Guizhi Licorice Jujube Decoction, Poria Guizhi Baizhu Licorice Decoction); when water surges with qi, it is first guided down to drain water (Guizhi Wumei Licorice and various modifications); when water and qi are both obstructed above, it is drained from the side to prevent loss of yang (Fangji Poria Decoction); when qi is consumed externally, water is forced internally, hence it is the monarch in the tonic for yang (Poria Four Reverse Decoction); when qi is obstructed below, water is stagnant, hence it shows efficacy in pregnancy (Guizhi Poria Pill, Kuizi Poria San). All of these start 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 Poria is in tonifying, not in draining, and the use of Poria is in draining, not in tonifying.”
Excerpt from the Dictionary of Chinese Medicine