Botanical Overview
Poria cocos (family Polyporaceae) is a sclerotium-producing fungus widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and East Asian herbal traditions. Common names include Fu Ling, Indian Bread, and Tuckahoe. The medicinal part is the sclerotium, a hardened mycelium mass.
Energetics
Temperature: neutral; Moisture: drying; Tastes: bland, sweet; Directionality: descending, centered; Tonicity: tonifying; Qi/Blood/Fluid: qi and fluid modulation.
Primary Actions
- Diuretic
- Sedative
- Spleen tonic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Immunomodulatory
Indications
Western
- Edema
- Urinary difficulty
- Palpitations
- Insomnia
- Poor appetite
- Diarrhea
Syndromes
- Fluid retention
- Anxiety
- Spleen qi deficiency
TCM
- Dampness accumulation
- Fluids retention
- Palpitations
- Insomnia
- Poor appetite
- Diarrhea
Syndromes
- Spleen Qi deficiency with dampness
- Heart Shen disturbance
- Water metabolism disorders
Ayurveda
No definitive symptom or syndrome uses widely documented.
Unani
No definitive symptom or syndrome uses widely documented.
Constituents & Mechanisms
Main phytochemicals include polysaccharides, triterpenoids, steroids, ergosterol, and fatty acids, contributing to immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic activities.
Dosage & Preparations
- Decoction: 9-15 g daily
- Powder: 3-6 g daily
- Extracts: standardized doses vary by product
Safety & Contraindications
Generally safe when used as directed. Caution in urinary obstruction and kidney infection. Use with professional guidance during pregnancy and lactation due to limited safety data. Possible mild digestive upset. May potentiate diuretics and sedatives.
Astrological Correspondences
No reliable traditional sources establishing planetary or elemental rulership.
Selected References
- Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
- Phytotherapy Research Journal: Pharmacological Effects of Poria cocos
- World Health Organization Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
- Handbook of Traditional Drugs of India