What are the effects and uses of Fuling

Many people know that Poria cocos is often used as a medicine in traditional Chinese medicine because it has good effects on regulating the lungs, removing dampness and phlegm, strengthening the spleen and appetizing. It can also regulate urination, relieve edema, and is beneficial for regulating the body's qi and blood deficiency, diarrhea and abdominal distension, excessive cold, and can also treat cough and sputum. The usual use of Poria cocos is mainly decocted and taken, but it cannot be eaten directly. It can only be eaten under the doctor's arrangement.

What are the effects, functions and ways of eating Poria cocos ?

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Poria cocos is sweet, mild and flat in nature, and enters the heart, lung and spleen meridians. It has the effects of dissipating dampness and promoting diuresis, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and calming the mind.

Poria can treat symptoms such as difficulty in urination, edema, cough due to phlegm and fluid, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, spermatorrhea, stranguria, palpitations, and forgetfulness. The diuretic effect of Poria cocos is achieved by strengthening the spleen and lung functions, which is different from other Chinese medicines that directly promote diuresis. Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang, Si Jun Zi Tang, and Si Ling Tang are all commonly used prescriptions that contain Poria cocos.

1. Used for symptoms such as difficulty urinating and edema. Poria cocos has the function of promoting diuresis and eliminating dampness, and its medicinal properties are mild. It can promote diuresis without hurting the body's vital energy, making it an important medicine for promoting diuresis and eliminating dampness. It can be used for any symptoms of difficult urination and stagnant water, regardless of whether they are caused by cold and dampness, dampness and heat, or spleen deficiency and dampness. If the condition is more cold and damp, it can be used with cinnamon twig, white atractylodes, etc.; if the condition is more damp and hot, it can be used with Poria cocos, Alisma orientalis, etc.; if the condition is spleen deficiency, it can be used with Codonopsis pilosula, Astragalus membranaceus, white atractylodes, etc.; if the condition is deficiency-cold, it can also be used with aconite, white atractylodes, etc.

2. Used for diarrhea and leukorrhea caused by spleen deficiency. Poria can both strengthen the spleen and drain dampness. It can treat both the symptoms and the root cause of diarrhea and leukorrhea caused by spleen deficiency and dysfunction of metabolism. It is often used in combination with Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Chinese yam, etc. It can be used as an auxiliary medicine for nourishing the lungs and spleen and treating qi deficiency.

3. Used for cough caused by phlegm and dampness entering the meridians, and shoulder and back pain. Poria can not only promote diuresis and eliminate dampness, but also strengthen the spleen. It has a therapeutic effect on the symptoms of spleen deficiency, inability to transport and transform water and dampness, and accumulation of phlegm and dampness. It can be used together with Pinellia and dried tangerine peel, or with cinnamon twig and Atractylodes macrocephala. It can be used together with Pinellia ternata and Citrus aurantium to treat phlegm and dampness entering the meridians, shoulder and back pain.

4. Used for palpitations, insomnia and other symptoms. Poria cocos can nourish the heart and calm the mind, so it can be used for symptoms such as restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, etc. It is often used in combination with ginseng, polygala, and spinach seeds.

5. Anti-cancer. It is commonly used clinically to treat esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, tongue cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, ulcerative melanoma and other cancers characterized by spleen deficiency and dampness, internal retention of phlegm and fluid, and damp-heat accumulation.