Fu ling / poria

Wolfiporia extensa

Other names: 茯苓 fúlíng; 茯神 fúshén, Fu ling / poria

Edible plant

Chinese

Photo credit: Trappem at English Wikipedia

Toxicity: Generally low-toxicity in traditional use; comprehensive human safety data limited.

Contraindications: Traditionally cautioned in cases without dampness or with frequent urination; pregnancy/clinical data limited.

Interactions: Theoretical additive effect with diuretics; otherwise not well characterized.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Data limited.

Evidence level

Preclinical

Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.

powder · sclerotium

Part used: sclerotium

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

decoction · sclerotium

Part used: sclerotium

Traditional use: draining dampness, promoting urination, strengthening spleen, calming spirit (fushen)

Proposed mechanism: triterpenes (pachymic acid, poricoic acids), beta-pachyman/polysaccharides

Evidence:Preclinical

Edible parts: Sclerotium used as bland food-medicine (fuling cakes/茯苓饼, tonic congee) at traditional amounts.

Cultivated/authenticated fungal sclerotium; never substitute foraged underground fungi, which can be misidentified and toxic.

Functional-food fungus; mainly indigestible polysaccharides (beta-pachyman) and triterpenes; low conventional nutrient value.

Chinese

Sources (2)

Wolfiporia extensa / Poria cocos (Wikipedia), English, accessed 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfiporia_extensa
Poria cocos - Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs, English, https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/poria-cocos