This product is the sclerotium of the fungus Polyporus (Polyporus umbellatus (Pers) Fries) from the Polyporaceae family. Chinese Taxillus Herb grows on the decaying roots of birch, maple, oak, and other trees. It is mainly produced in Shaanxi, Hebei, Yunnan, and other regions. It is harvested in the spring and autumn seasons, cleaned of soil and sand, and then dried. It is sliced for medicinal use and used in its raw form.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet and bland, neutral. Act on kidney and bladder meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Promoting urination and draining dampness.

bubble_chart Indications

Used for dysuria, edema, diarrhea, and turbid urine. This product is sweet and bland, with a strong diuretic effect, stronger than Poria, and can be selected for any condition involving water-dampness stagnation. For spleen deficiency edema and dysuria, it is often used with Poria, Alisma, and White Atractylodes Rhizome, such as in Powder of Four Ingredients with Poria. For water-dampness diarrhea, it is combined with Atractylodes Rhizome, Magnolia Bark, and Poria, such as in Stomach Poria Decoction. For yin deficiency with heat, dysuria, and turbid urine, it can be combined with Alisma, Talc, and Donkey-hide Gelatin, such as in Polyporus Decoction.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Mainly treats malaria, removing toxins... benefits water passage."
2. Bencao Yanyi: "Polyporus has a strong effect in guiding water, but long-term use will damage kidney qi and blur vision."
3. Bencao Gangmu: "Opens striae and interstice, treats strangury, swelling, beriberi, leukorrhea, pregnancy strangury during pregnancy, fetal swelling, and difficulty in urination." It also states, "Opens striae and interstice, promotes urination, and has the same efficacy as Poria. However, it is not as good as Poria when used in tonic medicines."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 5-10g.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Avoid use in cases of absence of water or dampness.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Polyporus mainly contains ergot sterols, crude protein, soluble sugars, polysaccharides, etc. Its decoction has a strong diuretic effect. The diuretic mechanism is primarily due to the inhibition of the reabsorption of water and electrolytes, especially potassium, sodium, and chloride, in the renal tubules. Polyporus polysaccharides also have certain anti-tumor and hepatitis prevention effects.