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Chi Fu Ling赤茯苓

Poriae Cocos Sclerotium Rubrum · Red Poria

Herbs that Drain Dampness 利水渗湿药

Overview

The reddish layer of the Poria sclerotium, separated from the white flesh that is dispensed as Fu Ling. Sweet, bland and neutral, entering the Heart, Spleen, Stomach and Bladder channels, it shares Fu Ling's damp-draining diuretic action but leans away from supplementing the Spleen and toward clearing damp-heat and freeing the urine — the part chosen when there is heat in the lower burner, scanty dark urine, or heat harassing the Heart with restlessness.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, bland · Neutral

Channels

Heart · Spleen · Stomach · Bladder

Typical Dosage

9–15 g in decoction
赤茯苓Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Promotes urination, drains damp-heatScanty dark urine, burning urination, and damp-heat accumulating in the lower burner.
  • Clears heat troubling the HeartRestlessness and irritability where damp-heat and a heat-troubled Heart occur together, the damp being drawn off through the urine.
  • Resolves damp swellingEdema and fullness with a damp-heat picture, where plain white Fu Ling would be too supplementing.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Chi Fu Ling

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Scanty, dark, burning urination
    - Damp-heat edema and lower-burner fullness
    - Restlessness with damp-heat

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Urinary tract infectionEdemaOliguria

Contraindications

Cautions

This is the draining part rather than the supplementing one: it is not what to reach for when the Spleen is weak and needs building, nor when urination is already frequent and clear from yang deficiency. Prolonged draining without tonification depletes fluids and qi.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Not a classical contraindication — practitioner judgment applies.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. 《中华人民共和国药典》(Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. Chen & Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.