Fu Ling - 茯苓 - Poria - Hoelen
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Poria Sclerotum Poriae Cocos |
| Common English: | China-Root Hoelen Indian Bread Tuckahoe |
Category
Herbs that Drain Dampness (Diuretics)Related Herbs (Secondary Source Material)
- Fu Shen (Nourish & Calm Shen in secondary source material)
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 9-15g (Secondary source) |
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 |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Rz. Alismatis | Rz. Alismatis | Ram. Cinnamomi |
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 | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae | Rx. Ginseng |
Lin syndrome, especially Milky Lin. | Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness. | Weak and deficient Spleen with fatigue, anorexia and loose stools. |
| Rx. Aucklandiae | Polyporus | Ram. Cinnamomi |
Diarrhea and borborygmus due to Dampness. | Promotes urination. Edema, Jaundice, Leg Qi and diarrhea, Lin Syndrome, Loose stools, Scanty urine, Vaginal discharge. | Warms and transforms fluids, unblocks Yang and promotes urination. |
Rz. Pinelliae Preparata | Rz. Pinelliae Preparata | Rz. Pinelliae Preparata |
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 | Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae |
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 | Rz. Acori Tatarinowii | Rx. Aconite Lateralis Preparata |
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 | Ram. Cinnamomi | |
Phlegm accumulation with vertigo. | Irritable bowel syndrome due to Spleen Qi Deficiency. |
Notes
- This herb is an underground fungus that grows in association with the roots of Pinus Longifolis. Fu Ling, or Bai Fu Ling, is the white inner part of the fungus; it relieves Dampness and tonifies the Spleen.
- Poria Rubra Chi Fu Ling, the red layer found between the white interior and the skin, clears Dampness and Heat.
- Cx. Poriae Cocos Fu Ling Pi is the skin, a stronger diuretic used mostly for edema.
- Poria Pararadicis Fu Shen, the part wrapped around the root of the tree, nourishes the Heart and calms the Shen. It is sweet and neutral, with a dosage of 3-9g.
- It also soothes the irritation that accompanies diarrhea.
- It is reputed to benefit every organ.
- It stimulates the appetite, stops hiccup, tranquilizes the mind and is used for pulmonary flaccidity syndrome.
- It is reputed to wake up the mind and benefit intelligence.
- Research shows that it suppresses the growth of cancer cells.
- It enhances the phagocytic activity of macrophages and promotes immunoglobulin formation.
- Because it is neutral and bland, it ranks among the most useful diuretics: it combines with nearly any herb and suits almost every patient.
- The same species grows in the U.S., where some native Americans used it and called it “Indian bread”.
- It acts as both a diuretic and a tonic, whereas Polyporus Zhu Ling is only diuretic.
- Its tonic effect is stronger than that of Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren.
- Fu Ling and Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren both strengthen the Spleen and drain Dampness. Yi Yi Ren is cold, able to clear Heat, and used for Lung or Intestinal abscesses and Lung atrophy; it also drains Dampness from the bones, muscles and sinews. Fu Ling is neutral, strengthens the Heart and Spleen, and calms the Spirit.
- Polyporus Zhu Ling is the stronger diuretic, but Fu Ling has a tonic effect as well, and it also harmonizes the Middle and calms the Spirit.
- Fu Ling and Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia both expel Phlegm-Dampness. Fu Ling does so by strengthening the Spleen, expelling Dampness and transforming Phlegm, whereas Zhi Ban Xia dries and transforms Phlegm.
- Dry-fried Poria Chao Fu Ling tonifies the Spleen more effectively.
- Cinnabar Poria Zhu Fu Ling calms the Spirit more effectively.
From Class
- Fu Ling (Poria): Tonifies Spleen and drains damp; can penetrate and uncover suppressed hidden aspects of the mind. (Lewis)
- Fu Ling / Fu Shen: To move fluid around the heart after acute stage. (Gioioso)
- Fu Ling / Zhu Ling / Che Qian Zi: Damp-draining herbs for high potassium where kidneys aren't grasping qi to promote urination. (Lewis)
- Spleen-strengthening herbs: Mu Xiang/Sha Ren, Lian Zi, Fu Ling: Materia medica differentiates herbs that strengthen the Spleen — e.g., Sha Ren, lotus seed (Lian Zi), Fu Ling — the root (ben) treatment of phlegm. (Yuen)
- Trichosanthes seed (Gua Lou Ren) & phlegm via the colon: Gua Lou seed moistens stool so phlegm leaves via the colon; Chen Pi regulates qi upward, Zhi Shi purges downward, Fu Ling strengthens Spleen. (Yuen)
- Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction): Er Chen Tang (Ban Xia, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Gan Cao) is modified by phlegm type: hot add bamboo shavings, Spleen-deficient add Ren Shen + Bai Zhu, dry replace Ban Xia. (Yuen)
- Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Gui Zhi (+Bai Zhu) — water metabolism (Wu Ling San core): Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Gui Zhi (+Bai Zhu) signal water metabolism: Gui Zhi stokes Kidney fire, Fu Ling reabsorbs, Ze Xie drains, Bai Zhu engages the Spleen. (Rabinowitz)