猪苓

Naming

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

The Processing of 猪苓

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.

The Effect of 猪苓

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 Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Bai Zhu, Gui Zhi 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 Rou Dou Kou 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.