The source is from the sclerotium of Poria cocos (schw) Wolf, family Polyporaceae. The sclerotium mostly parasitizes on the root of Japanese red pine and Pinus massoniana Lamb, family Pinaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Yunnan, Hubei, and Sichuan, etc., dug and collected from July to September, piled repeatedly, dried in the sun. The crude one is used.
Medicinal Properties:
Sweet and bland in flavor, mild in nature, and attributive to the heart, spleen and kidney meridians.
Actions:
Promote diuresis to resolve dampness from the lower energizer, invigorate the spleen and tranquilize the mind.
Application
It is used for edema and dysuria. For all kinds of edema; for that caused by hypofunction of bladder-qi, it is combined with Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi), Zhuling ( Polyporus ) , Baizhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), and Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis), etc., such as Wuling San (Powder); for that with deficiency of qi, combined with Fangji (Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae ), Huangqi (Radix Astragali); for that with yang-deficiency of the spleen and kidney, combined with Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Praeparata ), Ganjiang ( Rhizoma Zingiberis ), etc., such as Zhenwu Tang (Decoction).
For all syndromes of spleen-deficiency, especially effective in spleen-deficiency with dampness, it is combined with Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis) and Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), such as Sijunzi Tang (Decoction). For retention of fluid due to spleen-deficiency, combined with Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) and Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), etc., such as Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (Decociton); for diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, combined with Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae ), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), and Yiyiren (Semen Coicis), etc..
For deficiency of both the heart and spleen manifested as restlessness, palpitation and insomnia, it is usually combined with Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) and Yuanzhi (Radix Polygalae), such as Guipi Tang (Decoction).
Usage and Dosage:
10 - 15 g is used in decoction for oral use.
