What is Poria cocos?

According to the Pharmacopoeia

This product is the dried mycelium of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, Poriaceae. Mostly in July to September digging, after digging out to remove sediment, pile up “sweating”, spread out to dry the surface, and then “sweating”, repeated several times to the wrinkles, most of the internal moisture loss, dry, known as “Poria cocos a “; or fresh Poria according to different parts of the cut, shade-dried, respectively, known as “Poria block” and “Poria slice”.

Characteristics
Poria cocos is spherical, oval, oblate or irregular lumps of different sizes. The outer skin is thin and rough, brown to black brown, with obvious wrinkled texture. Weight, solid texture, granular in section, some with fissures, light brown outer layer, white interior, a few light red, some holding a pine root in the center. Slight gas, light flavor, chewing sticky teeth.

Poria lumps Poria cocos cut after peeling, cubic or cubic thick slices of different sizes. White, light red or light brown.

Poria cocos slices Poria cocos cut after peeling, irregular thick slices, thickness varies. White, light red or light brown

Flavor and Meridian] Sweet, light, and flat. Attributed to the heart, lung, spleen and kidney meridians.

Functions and Indications] Inducing diuresis and seepage of dampness, strengthening the spleen and tranquilizing the heart. Used for edema and urination, phlegm, palpitations, spleen deficiency, loose stools and diarrhea, restlessness of the heart and mind, palpitations and insomnia.

Usage and dosage] 10~15g.

Storage: In a dry place, moisture-proof.

Poria’s chemical composition and pharmacological effects

1.Main chemical composition
After research, Poria cocos polysaccharide and triterpenoids are the main components of Poria.

2.Pharmacological effects
2.1 Anti-tumor effect
The anticancer effects of Poria are roughly as follows:
(1) affecting the DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis of tumor cells, thus inhibiting cell growth and reproduction and leading to the death of cancer cells.

(2) Affecting the microtubule system in the process of tumor cell division, making it unable to maintain dynamic balance, the sub-protein units (microtubulin) in spindle filaments lose their polymerization ability, and the tumor cell division stays at the mid-equatorial plate.
(3) Rattle the glycoprotein on the biofilm of tumor cells and change their malignant behavior.

2.2 Immunomodulatory effects
Deng嫒 et al. proved that the material basis of Poria regulating immune function is mainly triterpenoids, water-soluble polysaccharides and acidic polysaccharides through the establishment of immunocompromised model in mice. Zhang Weiyuan et al. orally designed three dosages of Poria, i.e., high, medium and low, and examined the efficacy of Poria in three aspects, i.e., macrophage function, cellular immune function and humoral immune function.

The results showed that all the three doses of Poria spore powder could significantly improve the phagocytic activity of phagocytes in immunocompromised mice (P<0.05), and the middle dose had the best effect, indicating that Poria spore powder had a certain enhancement effect on the immune function of immunocompromised mice.

2.3 Anti-inflammatory effect
Poria polysaccharide has a certain inhibitory effect on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, especially on Escherichia coli and Bacillus thuringiensis. It can effectively resist follicular stomatitis virus and herpes simplex virus type I. Among them, carboxymethyl poria polysaccharide has obvious antiviral effect, and the indirect antiviral effect presented on human embryonic myocytes and human embryonic lung cells is consistent.

Zhao Qiangqiang examined the effects of Poria cocos polysaccharides PS1 and PS2 on non-specific immunity, cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mice by using the mouse carbon granule contouring assay, the PHA-stimulated T-lymphocyte transformation assay and the mouse splenocyte antibody formation assay, respectively. The results showed that PS1 and PS2 had significant anti-inflammatory effects and could significantly promote the non-specific immune function and cellular immune function in mice.

Uses of Poria

1. Poria cake for beauty and skin care
According to traditional Chinese medicine, Poria cocos has a sweet, light flavor and flat nature, which can remove spots and whiten and moisturize the skin, as well as enhance immune function and dilate blood vessels. The essence of the herb “said:” white Poria for the end, and honey and, dressing face above the sores and maternal black blisters such as bird’s egg.” Poria cocos can go black and white face, and keep teeth and hair, prolong life.

Modern clinical research also shows that Poria contains a large number of easily absorbed polysaccharide substances, can enhance the body’s immune function, on the long illness, frailty, the elderly are helpful. Some of the ingredients such as Poria sub-polysaccharide also has an inhibitory effect on cancer cells, long-term use can promote the recovery of cancer patients after chemotherapy, surgery.

Ingredients: Poria 15 grams, 200 grams of flour, 3 grams of baking powder, 3 grams of yeast, 15 grams of sugar, raisins.

Practice: Poria is broken with a blender, and mixed with flour, baking powder and sugar; mix the flour, sieve; yeast powder poured into warm water, stir well, and let stand for 5 minutes. Pour the yeast water into the mixed flour and stir well. Pour into a container, cover with plastic wrap and ferment for 1 hour (in winter, when the temperature is low, put hot water in the pot and cover the pot to accelerate fermentation). When fermentation is complete (double the amount before fermentation), garnish with some raisins and steam over high heat for 10 minutes. Cut into suitable sizes and serve.

Effects: Diuretic and tranquilizing, lowering blood pressure.

2. Water retention and swelling of the lotus leaf Poria porridge
Ingredients: 1 lotus leaf (fresh, dry can be), Poria 50 grams, round-grained rice or millet 100 grams, sugar in moderation (diabetic patients do not put sugar).

Practice: decoct the lotus leaf soup to slag, Poria, cleaned round-grained rice or millet into the soup to go to the lotus leaf slag; with the cooking into porridge, out of the pot before adding sugar seasoning that is eaten.

Efficacy: promote water retention and eliminate swelling, dispel dampness.

Suitable for the crowd: water and dampness within the stop, dampness obstruction of the spleen and stomach; as well as the accumulation of dampness in the body of the obese people.

3. whitening mask to dispel spots
Ingredients: Angelica dahurica powder 10g, white poria powder 10g, white and powder 10g, mung bean powder 20g, honey or milk.

Practice: Angelica dahurica powder, white poria, white and powder, mung bean powder mix, add the right amount of honey, milk and blend, if you feel too sticky, you can slightly add some distilled water. The mask on the face, can be covered with a warm towel, each time about 20 minutes, can be done 2 to 3 times a week.

Efficacy: Poria can dispel spots and whiten and nourish the skin; Angelica dahurica can dispel wind and dampness, activate blood circulation and relieve pain; Baihe can reduce swelling and promote muscle growth, activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis; with mung beans can clear heat and detoxification. The combination of the four medicines activates facial qi and blood, eliminates skin swelling and pain, and has a certain preventive and therapeutic effect on acne and pimples.

Note: Avoid use if there are exposed wounds or suppurating infections on the face to avoid infection.