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All About Poriae cocos
(Fu Ling):
http://www.cco.caltech.edu/
An
Introduction
"A Humble, but Famous Mushroom."
What
is Poria?
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus and Species: Poriae cocos
Poria cocos is a very old and widely used herb especially in Chinese
medicine. Poria cocos is a solid fungus also known as Fu Ling, Poria,
Tuckahoe, Indian bread, or Hoelen, and grows on the roots of old, dead
pine trees. Poria cocos has been traditionally used as a tonic to
benefit the internal organs. Poria is normally white in color, and also
called "white poria". The variant with light red color is called "red
poria".
Main chemical constituents of Poria cocos includes: beta-pachyman, a
polysaccharide beta-pachymarose, several organic acids such as tumulosic
acid, eubricoic acid, pinicolic acid, and pachymic acid,
3-beta-hydroxylanosta-7,9(11). 24-trien-21-oic acid, chitin, protein,
fat, glucose, sterols, lecithin, gum, choline, etc. Poria cocos has
tranquilizing, diuretic, and cardiotonic effects. Poria cocos also
lowers blood sugar levels, and has anti-bactrial, immunotonic,
anti-cancer effects.
-Therapeutic Actions:
In traditional medicine, Poria cocos is commonly used for:
1. Chronic fatigue syndrome
2. Diarrhea
3. Dizziness
4. Edema
5. Energy
6. Insomnia
7. Kidney health
8. Nervousness
9. Urination
10. Weakness
-Usage:
The fruiting body and the outer peel of Poria cocos is used.
Dose: Daily intake of up to 9-15 grams of dry root is suggested, and for
acute facial edema, up to 60 grams may be used [Chinese Herbal
Medicine, Materia Medica: edited by Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble,
revised edition, 1993].
Side Effects: None known. However, avoid in cases of frequent, copious
urination due to cold from deficiency.
Poriae cocos Research:
Scientific and Clinical Researches
Like the majority of herbs, Poria cocos
needs more experimental data for scientific verification of the
anecdotal evidences of its health effects. Although there are positive
indications of Poria's health benefits, most of them are inconclusive
due to the scarcity of data. Reviews and reports from some of the recent
researches on Poria cocos are provided:
Life Sci 2002 Jan 18;70(9):1023-33 - Antioxidant activity of
anti-inflammatory plant extracts
J Ethnopharmacol 2000 Nov;73(1-2):61-9 - On the anti-inflammatory
and anti-phospholipase A(2) activity of extracts from lanostane-rich
species
Phytochemistry 1998 Aug;48(8):1357-60 - 3 beta-p-hydroxybenzoyldehydrotumulosic
acid from Poria cocos, and its anti-inflammatory effect
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1997 Mar;45(3):492-4 - Effect of the
basidiomycete Poria cocos on experimental dermatitis and other
inflammatory conditions
Oncology 1996 Sep-Oct;53(5):382-5 - Inhibitory effects of lanostane-type
triterpene acids, the components of Poria cocos, on tumor promotion by
12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in
mouse skin
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1996 Apr;44(4):847-9 - Isolation of
inhibitors of TPA-induced mouse ear edema from Hoelen, Poria cocos
Planta Med 1995 Dec;61(6):527-30 - Anti-emetic principles of Poria
cocos
Jpn J Pharmacol 1992 May;59(1):89-96 - Studies on antinephritic
effects of plant components (3): Effect of pachyman, a main component of
Poria cocos Wolf on original-type anti-GBM nephritis in rats and its
mechanisms
Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi 1992 -
Suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta,
interleukin-6 and granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor
secretion from human monocytes by an extract of Poria cocos
Poria Links
Complementary and Alternative Healing University - Fu Ling
Ontario Herbalist Association - Fu Ling (Poria cocos)
Doctor's Health Supply.com: Chinese Herbs - Poria cocos
Go-Symmetry.com - Poria Cocos - Fu Ling
Herbwork.com - Poria
gMushroom.com - Sells drug paraphernalia and psychedelic mushrooms
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