Fu Ling Pi
StarPoria cocos (Schw.) Wolf
☯ TCM Properties
Promotes Urination and Reduces Edema; Drains Water from the Skin and Flesh; Opens the Water Pathways
Traditional Chinese Uses
Chang Shan (dichroea root) is a cold, bitter, potent herb historically used as the primary Chinese medicine treatment for malaria. Its strong Phlegm-dislodging quality also makes it useful for febrile illness with obstinate phlegm and seizures. It has a relatively high toxicity and emetic potential, which limits its use to serious conditions and requires careful dosing. Modern research has confirmed its antimalarial alkaloid content.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Poria cocos (now Wolfiporia extensa or W. cocos) is a wood-decay fungus in the Polyporaceae family that forms large, irregular, subterranean sclerotia attached to the roots of pines, especially Pinus massoniana and other species. The sclerotium is a hard, dense, tuber-like body 10-30 cm or more across, with a thin, wrinkled, dark brown to blackish outer rind and an interior of solid, fine-grained, white to pale pink flesh composed of densely packed hyphae embedded in polysaccharide matrix. Aerial fruiting bodies are rarely seen in cultivation, and the medicinal trade focuses entirely on the sclerotium. Fu Ling Pi specifically denotes the dried outer rind or peel pared off the sclerotium, a thin, brown, papery to leathery strip (Wikipedia; POWO).
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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