INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: FU LING - 茯苓 - PORIA - HOELEN

Pharmaceutical Latin: Poria
Sclerotum Poriae Cocos
Common English: Tuckahoe
Hoelen
China-Root
Indian Bread

CATEGORY

Herbs that Drain Dampness (Diuretics)

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Bland
Neutral
(Warm)
Heart
Spleen
Kidney
Lung
(Bladder)
(Stomach)
9-18g
Tincture: 2-4ml
Facial edema: up to 60g

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness

Urinary difficulty, diarrhea or edema due to Stagnation of Fluids or Dampness

Fluid Stagnation

Damp-Heat (Chi Fu Ling)

Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle Jiao

Spleen Deficiency Dampness with anorexia, diarrhea and epigastric distention

Strengthens the Spleen

Phlegm Dampness due to Spleen Deficiency with thin mucus in which Phlegm moves upward manifesting as palpitations, headache, dizziness and a thick, greasy tongue coat

Quiets the Heart, calms the Spirit and soothes the nerves

Palpitations, insomnia or forgetfulness due to either Spleen and Heart Insufficiency or Internal Obstruction of Turbid Phlegm

Shen disturbance (Fu Shen)

Restless Heart (Fu Shen)

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Use caution in those with Yin Deficiency.
  • Use caution in those with Qi Deficiency.
  • Use caution in those with frequent, copious urine due to Deficiency Cold.
  • Use caution in those with spermatorrhea.
  • Use caution in those with prolapse of urogenital organs.
  • Do not take in large doses or long-term.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
  • Counteracts Rx. Sanguisorbae Di Yu.
  • Counteracts Rx. Gentianae Qin Jiao.
  • Counteracts Carapax Trionycis Bie Jia.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • In combination, this herb was shown to reduce ethanol-induced impairment of memory registration in-vitro. It also ameliorated scopolamine-induced memory registration deficit.
  • Concurrent use with diuretics such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furmoside (Lasix), bumetinide (Bumex) and torsemide (Demadex) may lead to increased elimination of water and/or electrolytes.

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Rz. Alismatis
Ze Xie

Rz. Alismatis
Ze Xie
Scl. Polypori
Zhu Ling

Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
(Rz. Alismatis)
(Ze Xie)

Lin Syndrome due to chronic Dampness obstruction.

Facilitates the removal of water and leaches out Dampness to treat stagnant water and Dampness leading to edema, jaundice, diarrhea, Milky Lin, and scanty, difficult urination with abdominal distention.

Strengthens its ability to promote urination and leach out Dampness.

Dysuria.

Phlegm accumulation.

Dampness Obstruction causing Lin Syndrome, edema, heaviness of the body and irritability.

Sm. Plantaginis
Che Qian Zi

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

 

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Lin syndrome, especially Milky Lin.

Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness.

Weak and deficient Spleen with fatigue, anorexia and loose stools.

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Polyporus
Zhu Ling

Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi

Diarrhea and borborygmus due to Dampness.

Promotes urination.

Lin Syndrome, scanty urine, edema, loose stools, vaginal discharge, jaundice, leg Qi and diarrhea.

Warms and transforms fluids, unblocks Yang and promotes urination.

Rz. Pinelliae Preparata
Zhi Ban Xia

Rz. Pinelliae Preparata
Zhi Ban Xia
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

Rz. Pinelliae Preparata
Zhi Ban Xia
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi
Rz. Zingiberis Recens
Sheng Jiang

Expels Phlegm and stops nausea and vomiting, hiccups, coughs with clear, profuse Phlegm and loose and watery stools.

Treats Phlegm, thin mucus and turbid Dampness.

Prevents turbid Phlegm and Dampness from disturbing the Heart with dizziness, palpitations and insomnia.

Nausea, vomiting, chest fullness and distention and anorexia due to congested fluids.

Congested fluids in the Stomach causing nausea and vomiting.

Rx. Aconite Lateralis Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae
Suan Zao Ren
Rx. Polygalae
Yuan Zhi
Fr. Schisandrae
Wu Wei Zi

Edema due to Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency.

Spleen and Heart Deficiency causing facial edema, palpitations and shortness of breath.

Palpitations and insomnia.

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Fr. Zizyphi Spinosae
Suan Zao Ren
Arillus Longan
Long Yan Rou

Rz. Acori Tatarinowii
Shi Chang Pu
Rx. Polygalae
Yuan Zhi

Rx. Aconite Lateralis Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi
Rz. Zingiberis Recens
Sheng Jiang

Insomnia due to Spleen and Heart Insufficiency.

Insomnia and palpitations due to Spleen and Heart Insufficiency or Phlegm Obstructing the Heart.

Edema due to Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency.

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Rz. Gastrodiae
Tian Ma

Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao
 Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang
 Sm. Myristicae
Rou Dou Kou
 Fr. Evodiae
Wu Zhu Yu

 

Phlegm accumulation with vertigo.

Irritable bowel syndrome due to Spleen Qi Deficiency.

 

NOTES

  1. This herb is a subterranean fungus that grows in association with the roots of Pinus Longifolis. Fu Ling or Bai Fu Ling which is the white inner part of the fungus, relieves Dampness and tonifies the Spleen.
  2. Poria Rubra Chi Fu Ling which occurs between the white inner part and the skin and is red, clears Dampness and Heat.
  3. Cx. Poriae Cocos Fu Ling Pi is the skin. It is a stronger diuretic and is primarily used for edema.
  4. Poria Pararadicis Fu Shen, which is wrapped amid the root of the tree, nourishes the Heart and calms the Shen. It is sweet, neutral and its dosage is 3-9g.
  5. This herb also soothes irritations associated with diarrhea.
  6. This herb is said to benefit all of the organs.
  7. It increases the appetite, stops hiccup, tranquilizes the mind and treats pulmonary flaccidity syndrome.
  8. It is said to wake up the mind and benefit intelligence.
  9. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  10. It increases the phagocytic function of macrophages and promotes the formation of immunoglobulin.
  11. This is one of the most useful of the diuretics because it is neutral and bland and can be combined with almost any herb and given to almost every patient.
  12. The same species is found in the U.S. It was used by some native Americans and called “Indian bread”.
  13. This herb has a diuretic and tonic effect, while Polyporus Zhu Ling has only a diuretic effect.
  14. This herb has a stronger tonic effect that Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren.
  15. Both Fu Ling and Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren strengthen the Spleen and remove Dampness. Yi Yi Ren is cold and can clear Heat and is used for Lung or Intestinal abscesses and Lung atrophy. It also removes Dampness at the level of the bones, muscles and sinews. Fu Ling is neutral, strengthens the Heart and Spleen and calms the Spirit.
  16. Polyporus Zhu Ling is a stronger diuretic than Fu Ling, however Fu Ling also has a tonic effect. It also harmonizes the Middle and calms the Spirit.
  17. Both Fu Ling and Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia expel Phlegm-Dampness. Fu Ling strengthens the Spleen, expels Dampness and transforms Phlegm, while Zhi Ban Xia dries and transforms Phlegm.
  18. Dry-fried Poria Chao Fu Ling is better able to tonify the Spleen.
  19. Cinnabar Poria Zhu Fu Ling is better able to calm the Spirit.