Properties: Sweet, bland, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidney, and Bladder
Extraordinary Vessels: Yin Qiao
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness
Dampness (Fluid Stagnation) with oedema, scanty urination, vaginal discharge, turbid painful urinary dysfunction (Milky Lin), jaundice and diarrhoea
Can be used alone for Lin Syndrome during pregnancy
- Dispels Damp-Heat
Damp-Heat with turbid painful urinary dysfunction (Milky Lin) and jaundice
- Resolves Nue (Malaria) and Toxicity
The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing places it in the lower class of herbs and says it treats "Nue and resolves Toxicity."
- Expels Gu through the urine
The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing says it treats "Gu Toxins, Gu possession, and ill omens (不祥) by benefiting the waterways."
- Aids fasting
The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing mentions that, with protracted taking, it makes the body light and slows ageing. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-12g in decoction. Mushrooms should ideally be decocoted for at least 40 minutes and preferably 1-2 hours to fully extract the polysaccharides from within the chitin cell walls.
Notes:
There would seem to be spiritual significance to this herb's influence over the waterways (水道 Shui Dao), given the importance of water in the Dao De Jing and this herb's role in treating Gu syndrome and inauspicious events. This may be the reason it is one of the few inferior herbs that is recommended for protracted use.
Appears in 20 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Chu Shi Wei Ling Tang (Eliminate Dampness by Combining Calm the Stomach and Five Ingredient Powder with Poria)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)
Chun Ze Tang (Spring Marsh Decoction)
From: Prescriptions of Universal Benefit (early 15th Century)
Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang (Tangkuei Decoction to Pry Out Pain)
From: Expounding on the Origins of Medicine by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (Yuan dynasty)
Feng Xiao Tang (Separate and Reduce Decoction)
From: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases by Gong Ting-Xian (1587)
Ge Hua Jie Cheng San (Kudzu Flower Powder to Relieve Hangovers)
From: Discussion of the Spleen and Stomach by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1249)
Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin (Cinnamon and Poria Sweet Dew Drink)
From: Formulas from the Discussion Illuminating the Yellow Emperor's Basic Questions (1172) by Liu Wan-Su
Huang Qin Hua Shi Tang (Scutellaria and Talcum Decoction)
From: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases by Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong (1798)
Huo Po Xia Ling Tang (Patchouli/Agastache, Magnolia Bark, Pinellia and Poria Decoction)
From: Bases of Medicine (1861) by Shi Shou-Tang
Qian Lie Shu Wan (Prostate Comfort Pills)
From: Aura Herbs (2020)
Qing Fei Pai Du Tang (Lung Clearing and Detoxifying Decotion)
From: Traditional Chinese Medicine: an effective treatment for 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) by Du et al. (2020)
Qing Fei Yin Zi (Clear the Lungs Drink)
From: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1276)
Shen Shi Zhu Ling Tang (Polyporus Decoction from Master Shen)
From: Shen's Book for Revering Life (1773)
Si Ling San (Four Ingredient Powder with Poria)
From: Displays of Enlightened Physicians (Ming dynasty)
Wei Ling Tang (Calm the Stomach and Poria Decoction)
From: Essential Teachings of Dan-Xi by Zhu Dan-Xi (1732)
Wu Ling San (Five Ingredient Powder with Poria)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Wu Ling Tong Guan Tang (Five Ingredients with Poria Decoction to Open the Gate)
From: Case Histories of Cheng Men-Xue (2002) by Cheng Men-Xue
Yin Chen Wu Ling San (Virgate Wormwood Five Ingredient Powder with Poria)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan (Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle Pill)
From: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1276)
Zhu Ling Tang (Polyporus Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Zhu Ling Tang (Polyporus Decoction)
From: Comprehensive Recording of Sagely Beneficence from the Zhenghe Era (1117) by Song Imperial Court
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
