{"id":235014,"date":"2025-11-03T16:58:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T16:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=235014"},"modified":"2025-11-03T17:00:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T17:00:24","slug":"fu-ling","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/fu-ling\/","title":{"rendered":"Fu ling"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":235048,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"bc0f910d-5083-4d69-a2c1-f3a5a74af721","beyondwords_preview_token":"14a39bac-0117-4d83-aab4-9c7265ae3df2","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[],"conditions":[685,693,701,696,697],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[27],"western_action":[992,1823,994,1008,1014,1015,1019],"chinese_action":[1397,1036,1038],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[1516,1520,1518,1507,1522,1511],"region":[1898],"class_list":["post-235014","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","conditions-digestive-system","conditions-endocrine-system","conditions-immune-system","conditions-nervous-system","conditions-urinary-system","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-sweet","western_action-anti-inflammatory","western_action-antihyperlipidemic","western_action-antioxidant","western_action-diuretic","western_action-hepatoprotective","western_action-immunomodulant","western_action-sedative","chinese_action-calm-the-shen-spirit-anshen","chinese_action-drain-dampness","chinese_action-tonify-the-qi","energetics_action-bland","energetics_action-heart","energetics_action-kidney","energetics_action-neutral-temperature-chinese","energetics_action-spleen","energetics_action-sweet-taste-chinese","region-traditional-chinese-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20251024","herb_author":1242,"banner_text":"Fu ling is used to support the urinary and digestive systems","latin_name":"Wolfiporia extensa<\/span><\/em>","pseudonym_name":"Poria","family_name":"","herb_summary":"Fu ling is a versatile medicinal mushroom used extensively in Chinese medicine for draining excess fluids by promoting urination, strengthening the digestion, modulating immunity and calming the spirit.","key_benefits":"Promotes urination and drains excess fluids\r\nImproves digestion to enhance energy and reduce bloating\r\nReduces oxidative stress and inflammation\r\nCalms the mind","how_does_it_feel":"The bland, slightly sweet taste that is neither hot nor cold make poria an excellent herb for bringing things back to a neutral place. Sweet is the flavour that nourishes the centre in Chinese medicine, enhancing this ability to bring things into balance, while blandness drains dampness, meaning that poria can both relieve excess fluids obstructing the digestive system, while nourishing its deficiencies and facilitating the return to a tranquil state of mind.<\/span>","hdif_image_1":235051,"hdif_image_2":235049,"hdif_image_3":235053,"hdif_video":"","sense":[27],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"Most of the therapeutic properties of fu ling come from its ability to promote urination and modulate the gut microbiota (1). This makes it useful for a variety of disorders relating to fullness, swelling and sensations of heaviness, regardless of whether these are physical manifestations, such as in oedema, or subjective sensations of fullness and distension in the epigastrium or bloating sensation in the abdomen (2,3). This dual effect also makes it ideal for firming the stool in cases of <\/span>diarrhoea<\/span><\/a> by eliminating some of the excess water.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBy improving the gut microbiota and releasing excess fluids that are congesting the system, poria can also influence <\/span>fatigue<\/span><\/a>, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and regulate blood sugar and lipid profiles, protecting the gut, liver and vascular tissues (4,5,6). This can also affect psychological wellbeing through the well-established link between the microbiome and neurocognitive disorders (7).<\/span>","into_the_heart_of":"[caption id=\"attachment_235050\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"512\"]\"Fu Fu Ling (Wolfiporia extensa<\/em>)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAll of the functions of fu ling can be traced to its taste and properties in Chinese medicine. Its sweet taste fortifies the Spleen, while its blandness drains out dampness (2). The role of the Spleen is to transform and transport fluids, the failure of which results in the accumulation of dampness in the centre leading to feelings of fullness, bloating or swelling. This herb\u2019s dual tonifying and draining properties make it ideal for dealing with this pathology by fortifying the Spleen\u2019s deficiency, promoting its ability to manage fluids, while also leaching out the excess. The result is that fu ling can treat urinary dysfunction, swelling, bloating, and digestive disorders. It can also be applied to treat relating to the Heart and the spirit for example when the fluid builds up in the centre, and rises to oppress the Heart, for palpitations and anxiety, or when the Spleen fails to generate sufficient Blood to nourish the Heart.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThis traditional logic also extends to different parts of the poria mushroom. When treating the Spleen, it is common to use the white part in the main body of the fungus (<\/span>bai fu ling<\/span><\/i>), while the nucleus, that grows directly around the pine root and often includes sections of the root itself (<\/span>fu shen<\/span><\/i>), has a stronger effect on soothing the Heart and calming the spirit (3). The reddish colour of the outer part near the skin (<\/span>chi fu ling<\/span><\/i>) provides it with an affinity for Heat patterns and the Blood so is often used for burning urination as a result of damp-heat or Blood stasis obstructions of the urinary tract (2). Meanwhile the very outer peel (<\/span>fu ling pi<\/span><\/i>) has the darkest colouration( blackish-brown). <\/span>\r\n\r\nTraditionally, dark colours are associated with the Kidneys, and therefore this part has the strongest effect on draining excess water to treat oedema and urinary conditions. Both of these outer parts have the strongest draining action, while the inner parts are the most tonifying, which corresponds with their constituents where the outer parts have the most triterpenoids with the most direct pharmacological action, while the main body is primarily polysaccharides that can modulate the gut microbiome (6).<\/span>","tradtional_uses":"The main use of fu ling is to promote urination and drain\u00a0 dampness. All parts of the fungus are used for this, although the most powerful are the outer layers and the skin. It can be used for urinary difficulty, <\/span>diarrhoea<\/span><\/a>, oedema, or scanty urine (2,3).<\/span>\r\n\r\nPoria also strengthens the Spleen and harmonises the Middle Burner, for Spleen deficiency accompanied by dampness with symptoms such as loss of appetite, loose stools, <\/span>fatigue<\/span><\/a> and epigastric distension (2,3).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nPoria also quietens the Heart and calms the spirit to treat palpitations, <\/span>insomnia<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>forgetfulness<\/span><\/a>. It can treat both excess patterns caused by turbid phlegm or dampness rising to obstruct the Heart, as well as patterns of Heart and Spleen deficiency (2,3).<\/span>","what_practioners_say":"

\"UrinaryUrinary system<\/h3>\r\nOne of the main functions of fu ling is to drain excess fluids from the body by promoting urination (2,3). In Chinese medicine, fluid pathologies can give rise to a wide range of disorders, as diverse as oedema, bloating, swellings, nodules, phlegm, <\/span>arthritis<\/span><\/a> and even clouded consciousness which are all perceived as accumulations of dampness in various locations (8). Poria can therefore be applied to treat all the aforementioned conditions. <\/span>\r\n\r\nIt is often paired with <\/span>pinellia<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>Pinellia ternata<\/span><\/i>), whose drying and draining action on fluids complements and enhances the actions of poria for the treatment of chronic, stubborn disorders of fluid metabolism where the fluids have congealed into phlegm, seen in the classic formula <\/span>Er Chen Tang<\/span><\/i>, which serves as the basis for nearly all subsequent phlegm based formulas.<\/span>\r\n

Digestive, endocrine and immune systems<\/h3>\r\nThe polysaccharide content of fu ling gives it a sweet taste and nourishing properties in Chinese medicine (2). However, many of these sugars act as prebiotics, modulating the microbiome to produce subtle but long lasting effects on a variety of conditions through a range of different actions, including antiobesity, antitumour, <\/span>anti-inflammatory,<\/span><\/a> antioxidant<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>immunomodulatory<\/span><\/a> activities (6). <\/span>\r\n\r\nIt achieves many of these effects by promoting the growth of intestinal bacteria that produce short chain fatty acids, which are involved in the regulation of blood glucose, energy metabolism and the prevention of obesity, diabetes, inflammatory conditions and tumour formation.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Nervous system<\/h3>\r\nDampness can also cloud the mind causing forgetfulness, confusion, <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a> and inability to concentrate, which is often treated with Settle the Emotions Pill (<\/span>Ding Zhi Wan<\/span><\/i>). In this formula it is combined with <\/span>ginseng<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>Eleutherococcus senticosus<\/span><\/i>), <\/span>sweet flag<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>Acorus calamus<\/span><\/i>) and yuan zhi (<\/span>Polygala tenuifolia<\/span><\/i>) root and serves the important function of draining the dampness which is obscuring the Spirit. This same function can lead to its inclusion in formulas where anxiety, insomnia and forgetfulness are due to a Blood deficiency, as in the formula Sour Jujube Seed Decoction (<\/span>Suan Zao Ren Tang<\/span><\/i>). <\/span>\r\n\r\nHere, it serves as an assistant to sour jujube seed, which strongly nourishes the Heart Blood but may lead to dampness if overconsumed. Therefore, poria assists in draining any dampness, whilst also strengthening the digestive system that is responsible for converting food, including herbs, into valuable fluids such as blood (2).<\/span>\r\n

Musculoskeletal system<\/h3>\r\nDampness is also a common cause for the swelling of joints in Chinese medicine, making fu ling appear in many formulas for joint pain of the damp variety. In particular, it appears in the formula Fu Ling Wan (poria pill) where dampness accumulates in the centre, transforming into phlegm which then overflows into the channels causing pain and swelling in fixed locations that does not change with the weather and has a slow, chronic onset (9). <\/span>\r\n\r\nIn modern terms, this may correspond to forms of arthritis that have their origin in metabolic disorders, displaying a classic Chinese strategy of treating the root by assigning a herb with no pain relieving properties as the chief herb in a formula for a painful condition.<\/span>","research":"[caption id=\"attachment_235048\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"513\"]\"Fu Fu Ling (Wolfiporia extensa<\/em>)[\/caption]\r\n

The role of Wolfiporia cocos<\/i> (F. A. Wolf) Ryvarden and Gilb. polysaccharides in regulating the gut microbiota and its health benefits<\/h3>\r\nThis review looked at the polysaccharide content of <\/span>Poria cocos<\/span><\/i> and its role in regulating the gut microbiota, which are related to but different from the traditional pharmacological actions of its components. These polysaccharides offer an improvement in intestinal barrier function and a reduction in intestinal inflammation via short chain fatty acids. These provide an indirect but complementary approach to the more direct pharmacological actions of the triterpene components, for a more stable and integrated approach to treatment. <\/span>\r\n\r\nThey also note that <\/span>Poria cocos<\/span><\/i> polysaccharides are divided into water soluble and alkali soluble varieties, the latter of which need to be processed through degradation into oligosaccharides, or carboxymethylating and sulfating, in order to improve bioavailability (6).<\/span>\r\n

Benefits of herbal formulae containing Poria cocos<\/i> (fu ling<\/i>) for type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis<\/h3>\r\nThis systematic review included 73 randomised controlled trials, finding that the integration of herbal formulae containing poria with hypoglycaemic agents in type 2 diabetic patients resulted in lower fasting blood glucose, two-hour postprandial blood glucose and haemoglobin A1c, while also having lower adverse events reported. This indicated that the combined therapies were well tolerated and the combined use of poria with hypoglycaemic agents was supported but heterogeneity and poor reporting of the randomisation methods in many of the studies indicated caution when interpreting these results (5).<\/span>\r\n

Molecular basis for Poria cocos<\/i> mushroom polysaccharide used as an antitumour drug in China<\/h3>\r\nThis review examined 72 studies looking at polysaccharides extracted from <\/span>Poria cocos<\/span><\/i> in the treatment of tumours. They reported low toxicity and improved effects when combined with chemotherapy treatments, although their effects were largely related to biological markers and not survival rates or patient quality of life scores. They acknowledged that a major obstacle is a lack of clarity in the active ingredients involved in these effects and advocated for the development of better quality standards to create more consistent extracts. <\/span>\r\n\r\nThese sentiments were echoed in an update to this review in 2024, which concluded that poria polysaccharides contained many potential health benefits, including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, neuroregulatory, antitumour, <\/span>hepatoprotective <\/span><\/a>and gut regulatory properties but many of their structures, mechanisms and effects on humans were still unknown (11).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Wolfiporia cocos<\/i><\/h3>\r\nThis review explored the pharmacology of poria, assessing its antitumour, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective and antibacterial effects, concluding that the triterpenes and polysaccharide fractions are promising agents for the treatment of disease or as functional foods, but acknowledged difficulties with yield, separation and purification of its active ingredients (12).<\/span>","did_you_know":"Despite being the most commonly used mushroom in Chinese medicine where it has been used as a functional food in China for over 2000 years, fu ling has received relatively little attention in other traditions, with the exception of native North Americans, who used it as a source of food during time of scarcity, giving it the common names of Tuckahoe and Indian bread (13). <\/span>\r\n\r\nOriginally it was believed to be an outgrowth of the pine trees themselves, formed from the resin or a gas that was exuded from the roots (1). It was not until the 16th century that it was described as being a parasite and finally classified as a fungus in the 19th century.<\/span>","additional_information_right":{"illustration":235057},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Poria cocos refers to the large, edible sclerotum of a saprotrophic polypore fungus that grows around the dead roots of pine trees (28).<\/span>","common_names":"