Grifola (Zhuling)

Naming
Zhu Ling (Grifola)-Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)

Origin
The sclerotium of Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries. of family Polyporaceae. The sclerotium mostly parasitizes on the rotten root of birch, Chinese sweet gum, etc.

Location
Shaanxi, Hebei, and Yunnan provinces, etc.

Harvest
Dug and collected in autumn and spring.

The true smell and taste
Sweet and bland.

Best quality
Large, firm, black and bright in the skin, white inside, and full.

Processing
Cut into pieces, unprocessed.

Property
Sweet, bland, neutral; kidney, and bladder meridians entered.

Actions .
Induce diuresis to alleviate edema.

Indications
A. Dysuria, edema

Its action of inducing diuresis is stronger than Fu Ling . It is indicated for all kinds of edema due to water-damp retention. For edema and dysuria due to water-damp retention, it could be used singly or combined with damp-draining diuretic. For instance, it is combined with Poria (Fuling), Rhizoma Alismatis (Zexie), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu), Ramulus Cinnamomi (Guizhi) in Wu Ling San from Shang Han Lun. For dysuria due to yin deficiency with heat, it is combined with heat-clearing, yin-nourishing and diuresis-inducing herbs. For instance, it is combined with Fu Ling, E Jiao, Ze Xie in Zhu Ling Tang from Shang Han Lun.

B. Diarrhea

It can arrest diarrhea by inducing diuresis. It is suitable for diarrhea of water-damp type. It is often combined spleen-invigorating and diuresis-inducing herbs to increase curative effect. For instance, it is combined with Fu Ling, Ze Xie and Bai Zhu in Si Ling San from Dan Xi Xin Fa. For frequent diarrhea due to damp-clod retained in stomach and intestine, it should be combined with middle-energizer-warming, intestine astringing and diarrhea-checking herbs. Fe instance, it is combined with Semen Myristicae (Roudoukou)">Semen Myristicae (Roudoukou) in Zhu Ling Wan from Sheng Ji Zong Lu.

Additionally, it is indicated for stranguria, profuse leucorrhea, downward flow of damp turbidity to the foot and jaundice for its action of draining dampness.

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 6~12 g.