https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Welcome everyone to share your experiences with the medicine in the replies, to facilitate other classmates’ search and learning
160. Poria (Fu Ling)
Apart from a slight sweetness, there is no particularly distinctive taste.
The advantage of Poria slices is that they can steep thoroughly even in an insulated cup. Actually, boiling Poria only once is somewhat wasteful. It feels like the flavor extracted from the first boiling and the fifth boiling is about the same, and the effect doesn’t differ much. It seems it should be reused multiple times—herbs like dragon bone are more suited for this approach, and dragon bone really is expensive nowadays.
Efficacy: As discussed in pulse diagnosis class, the most important effect of Poria is to “assist qi transformation.” Strengthening the spleen, tonifying the kidneys, promoting urination and draining dampness—all stem from this function. Before assisting qi transformation, Poria first gathers the qi from the heart and lungs toward the Dantian (providing startup energy to the “relay switch” of qi transformation), which helps to withdraw the floating qi. The manifested effect is “calming the mind.” After assisting qi transformation, the qi it activates is small in quantity, steady and continuous, without agitation, safely staying in the relatively weak middle and lower Jiao (lower energizer).
From a macroscopic point of view, Poria is a herb that strengthens the spleen and kidneys, unblocks the spleen meridians, and opens the lower Dantian, so its applications are very broad.
160.1 Poria Peel (Fu Ling Pi)
The water brewed has a sweet and slightly sour flavor. The soaked Poria peel becomes very tough and hard to chew.
Its specialized effect is promoting urination and reducing swelling, but its intensity is relatively strong, which might cause cavities (wind pathogenic factor) in the lower Dantian. Generally, it is unnecessary to use this.
160.2 Poria Spirit (Fu Shen)
Slightly sour and slightly fishy.
Its specialized effect is calming the mind, and indeed the calming effect feels about 1 time stronger than Poria. The subsequent “assisting qi transformation” effect is also stronger.
It is unclear how much of this is a psychological effect. Later, when having children or apprentices who do not understand Chinese medicine, I will have them try it.