● Species profile
Poria
Wolfiporia cocos
Photo: Trappem, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Called fu ling in Chinese, it grows as a large underground lump on pine roots and is one of the most used ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. It shows up in formulas for sleep, digestion, and fluid balance. Evidence is mostly lab and animal work, often on multi-herb blends.
Historical Use and Context
Known as fu ling, poria is one of the most-used ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine and is listed in the Shennong Bencao Jing, nearly 2,000 years old. It grows on pine roots and shows up in a large share of classic herbal formulas, used to drain dampness and calm the mind.
In the southeastern United States it was called tuckahoe or Indian bread and eaten as a starchy staple.
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