Poria – Poria cocos

Common Names: Poria, Pachyma, Hoelen, Tuckahoe, China root, Fu Ling, Matsuhodo, Indian bread, Bukuryo, Wolfiporia extensa, Poria cocos, Fuling, Sclerotium cocos, Chinese Poria, International: Poria cocos

Latin Name: Poria cocos (Wolfiporia cocos, Wolfiporia extensa, Pachyma hoelen, Sclerotium cocos, Daedalea extensa, Macrohyporia extensa, Macrohyporia cocos)

Origin: Asia, South America, North America

Short Introduction

Poria is commonly and deliberately cultivated in China (various regions across several provinces, though the most productive is Anhui province) on the roots of Chinese red pine trees (Pinus massoniana and Pinus tabuliformis). It is also grown in other provinces, namely Yunnan, Hubei, and Sichuan. The variety cultivated in Yunnan is known as Yun Ling and is considered of higher quality than other types. Poria also grows wild, found naturally on several other coniferous trees and hardwood species. The sclerotium develops underground, making it sometimes difficult to find.

In recent years, China has reported harvests of 10,000 to 13,000 tons of Poria annually. After collection, the mushroom is shade-dried. In traditional Chinese medicine, all parts are used: the outer bark (fu-ling-pi), the outer reddish layer (chih-fu-ling), the middle white layer (bai-fu-ling), and the core (fu-shen). Poria also thrives in Japan and grows well across the American continent.

Detailed Description

Poria is a legendary mushroom revered in traditional Chinese medicine for supporting the spleen, stomach, and addressing edema.

Botanical Information

Poria cocos is the dried sclerotium of a fungus from the family Polyporaceae. This saprophytic mushroom typically grows on coniferous trees, most often pines. It forms a large, potato-like subterranean structure (sclerotium), which can reach over 30 cm in diameter and weigh about one kilogram. The sclerotium is usually irregularly shaped and shriveled, with a gray-brown to dark brown exterior and a white interior filled with numerous hyphae. Its texture is smooth and elastic, with a mild, sweet taste and a distinctive aroma.

Origin and Distribution

Poria originates from Southeast to East Asia, most notably from present-day China. It is also held in high regard in traditional Korean medicine, where it is called “the mushroom blessed by the gods.”

Usage / Dosage

Poria may not be as widely known as Cordyceps or Reishi, but it is a popular component in traditional herbal medicine with a wealth of health indications. It is administered in folk medicine to promote relaxation and restful sleep, or to calm mild agitation, thanks to its gentle sedative effects that lead to better quality sleep and a more revitalized morning.

Traditional healers often include Poria in blends designed to strengthen stomach and spleen function, which in turn is linked to modulating immune system activity. Certain compounds in Poria affect blood magnesium and sodium levels, which helps to effectively reduce swelling, especially in the legs. Folk medicine also uses Poria in cases of elevated blood sugar and lipid levels and as a supportive tool in diabetes care. In the United States, traditional healers sometimes recommend Poria to support cancer therapy and help protect tissues during chemotherapy.

In Japan, Poria is used—on its own or in combination remedies—for better sleep, relaxation, and as a sedative, as well as for tonifying the stomach, bladder, and spleen. Regular consumption of Poria is regarded as beneficial both as a diuretic (for reducing water retention) and as an immunomodulator.

Poria has been a staple in Chinese medicine for centuries, especially in southern regions where its use is intertwined with traditional rituals. Since ancient times, the dried mushroom has been ground into a fine powder and consumed daily to strengthen the body and provide its beneficial effects.

Pharmacological studies show that Poria by itself has a mild diuretic effect. When administered intravenously to dogs or orally to people and rabbits in the Wu Ling San formula, its diuretic effect significantly increases, as demonstrated by higher levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions in urine, likely due to osmosis.

An antibiotic effect was observed in alcohol extracts of Poria against certain species of spirochetes, though other bacteria appeared resistant. Animal studies have also shown that Poria components can have a relaxing effect on the digestive tract, anti-ulcer activity, and inhibition of gastric acid secretion. Additional laboratory studies in animal models suggest potential benefits for regulating blood glucose and supporting healthy heart contraction.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Poria is considered neutral in taste (sometimes mildly sweet or tasteless) and character. It is said to act on the meridians of the heart, lungs, spleen, and kidneys. Its primary functions are to eliminate excess dampness, promote water metabolism, strengthen the spleen and stomach, calm the heart, and ease the nerves. Main adult indications include difficult or painful urination, swelling from edema, cough due to fluid retention in the lungs, vomiting, poor appetite from spleen dysfunction, diarrhea, palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, gonorrhea, and others.

Poria features in several classic Chinese herbal formulas known for their specific benefits: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan targets abdominal water retention in women, painful menstruation, postpartum bleeding, and menstrual irregularities; Zhu Ling Tang is used for retaining water, heat, edema, and urinary difficulties; Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang is recommended for dizziness or heart palpitations caused by excessive phlegm and fluid retention; Si Jun Zi Tang addresses fatigue and digestive issues arising from primary spleen and stomach weakness; Gui Pi Tang is combined for heart-spleen imbalances, qi deficiency, palpitations, insomnia, and forgetfulness.

Triterpenic carboxylic acids and their derivatives in Poria have been shown in animal studies to reduce symptoms of chronic inflammation (including dermatitis such as redness, swelling, and likely pain). Laboratory experiments confirm the inhibition of inflammatory factors and the enzyme phospholipase A2 by pachymic and dehydrotumulosic acid. In humans, topical Poria extracts showed beneficial effects on contact dermatitis during early stages without significant complications, especially compared to indomethacin.

Triterpene and polysaccharide fractions of Poria have displayed anticancer activity in laboratory cell tests. Mechanisms include regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B, suppression of key signaling pathways, reduced angiogenesis, and induction of apoptosis. These effects were demonstrated on lung, prostate, ovarian, stomach, pancreas, breast, skin, leukemia, and melanoma cells in laboratory models. Limited studies have been done in animals (against sarcoma and papilloma), and human trials are still awaited.

In diabetes-induced mice, compounds from Poria were found to improve peripheral insulin sensitivity and lower plasma glucose, likely thanks to triterpenoids. Related effects include slowing fat conversion, increasing free glucose uptake, and activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors.

Enhanced immune activity was observed after regular doses of Poria decoction in the spleen and thymus of stressed mice, as measured by increased cytokines, tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, and nuclear factor kappa-B in macrophages—effects likely supported by suppression of pathological growth factors.

Active Compounds

The sclerotium of Poria contains triterpenoids, polysaccharides, ergosterol, caprylic, undecanoic, lauric, dodecanoic, and palmitic acids and their salts, among other compounds. The main triterpenoids include pachymic, dehydropachymic, tumulosic, and methylated derivatives. Among polysaccharides, pachyman, pachymaran, and glucan H11 are predominant. Other extracted substances include polyporenic acid C, monosaccharides (D-glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose, fucose, rhamnose), amino acids, enzymes, steroids, choline, histidine, and sodium as a mineral.

Traditional Dosage

Sources recommend a dosage of 3–10 g (about one heaping teaspoon to a tablespoon) of dried Poria once daily, simmered in 200–500 ml water for 15–30 minutes. For more severe conditions, up to 15 g may be used; water can be added as needed. The sclerotium can also be ground and taken mixed with lukewarm water.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the recommended daily dosage is 3–45 g of dried mushroom. According to the Chinese Compendium of Materia Medica, 9–18 g per day is prescribed to support spleen and stomach function, 30–45 g daily for edema and water retention, and 3–9 g daily for calming effects and treatment of heart palpitations.