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Bai Fuling (Poria, *Poria cocos*), growing beneath ancient pines and formed by absorbing the qi of earth and wood, possesses a sweet and bland flavor, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian; it belongs to Yin within Yang. Sweetness tonifies the Middle Jiao, while blandness unblocks orifices; thus, it is a crucial herb for leaching out dampness, supporting the Spleen, clearing heat, dissipating nodules, promoting urination, and tonifying the Middle. It primarily acts on the Spleen and Kidneys. When included in formulas that tonify the Spleen, unprocessed Poria is preferred to retain its bland-leaching efficacy. When included in formulas that tonify Yin, it should be mixed with human milk and sun-dried to mitigate its draining intensity. Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), which grows embracing the tree root, symbolizes attachment and steadfastness; therefore, it specifically enters the Heart Meridian and is essential for calming the Shen (Spirit), enhancing intelligence, improving memory, and dispelling fright. Its central woody part is called Huangsongjie (Yellow Pine Joint), used to treat facial paralysis due to wind-stroke, tendon spasms and muteness caused by toxic wind, as well as spirit fright with convulsions and forgetfulness due to deficiency. Its primary indications are largely similar to those of Bai Fuling.

Bai Fuling treats rebellious Qi in the chest and hypochondrium, phlegm-fluid retention in the abdomen, sorrow, anger, fright, and palpitations, alternating chills and fever, irritability, fullness, knotting pain in the epigastrium, coughing with rebellious Qi and dry tongue, edema, strangury, and masses. It addresses the five exhaustions and seven injuries, calms fetal movement, warms the waist and knees, generates body fluids, strengthens the Spleen, expels phlegm-fire, benefits the Lungs, promotes blood circulation, leaches dampness, calms the Soul (Hun), dispels fright, opens the stomach, and thickens the intestines. Upwardly, it leaches dampness from the Spleen and Lungs; downwardly, it attacks pathogens in the the Liver and Kidneys. Thus, it is a key herb for promoting urination and drying dampness. In Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), it assists Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) to leach dampness from the Spleen. In Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), it guides Zexie (Alisma Rhizome) to drain residual kidney pathogens. Chifuling (Red Poria) enters the Heart, Spleen, and Small Intestine meridians, specializing in clearing heat and promoting urination. White Poria has both tonifying and draining effects, whereas Red Poria specializes in draining. White Poria corresponds to Ren-Gui (Water/Kidney), while Red Poria corresponds to Bing-Ding (Fire/Heart). Fushen specifically tonifies the Heart Meridian, treating mental confusion, fright, palpitations, anger, and forgetfulness; it wards off ill omens, opens the mind, calms the Hun and Po (Soul and Corporeal Soul), and nourishes the Spirit. This is because it borrows the Qi of the pine; when the essence flows abundantly and manifests outwardly, it becomes Fuling; when it stays inwardly, embracing the root, it becomes Fushen. It embodies the meaning of attachment and is used to consolidate the Shen, taking advantage of stillness to achieve calm.

Fulingpi (Poria Peel), being naturally bland, can leach dampness; its black color corresponds to Water. Therefore, it is included in Wupi Tang (Five Peel Decoction) as an agent for promoting urination and reducing edema. Hupo (Amber), also formed from the essence of pine resin condensed underground over millennia, is generated in Yang but completed in Yin. It belongs to Yang and Metal, is red in color and sweet in taste, and acts on the Blood aspect of the Liver, Heart, Spleen, and Small Intestine. Its nature is dry and able to leach dampness, so it can also regulate water. Being acrid, warm, and red, it can dissipate stasis. Due to its astringent nature, it promotes muscle growth. Formed through purity, it stabilizes the Po.

Indications (Integrated Analysis of Smallpox): Fuling promotes urination, removes dampness, supplements Qi, and harmonizes the Middle. It is fundamentally a herb for supporting the Spleen and nourishing the Stomach. However, due to its predominant bland-draining and moving properties, it is contraindicated during the pustule-filling stage of smallpox, lest it cause fluid Qi to descend, preventing external filling of pustules and internally triggering thirst. It is only used concurrently in cases of diarrhea, vesicular eruptions, and during the scabbing phase. Red Poria only promotes urination and clears heat without tonifying; it is contraindicated in cases of frequent urination and excessive sweating leading to Yin deficiency.

Commentary: Fuling forms by borrowing the essence of earth and the residual Qi of pines, creating something from nothing, obtaining the dense essence of the earth, making it a vital herb for the Spleen. The *Su Wen* states: "When drink enters the Stomach, its essence floats and overflows, transporting upward to the Lungs." Regulating the water passages, it transports downward to the Bladder. Thus, diuretic herbs generally ascend first before descending. Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) claimed it ascends, while Dongyuan (Li Gao) claimed it descends; their views differ. However, the causes of frequent urination vary greatly. The Classics state: "Excess Lung Qi leads to frequent urination; deficiency leads to urinary incontinence. Heart deficiency leads to shortness of breath and urinary incontinence. Lower Jiao deficiency leads to urinary incontinence. Heat transferring from the Bao Luo (Uterus/Bladder Collateral) to the Bladder leads to urinary incontinence. Bladder failure to constrain leads to incontinence. Jueyin disease leads to incontinence." The term "Lung Qi excess" refers to Excess-Heat. It is appropriate to use Fuling to leach this heat; hence, it can stop frequent urination. If the condition involves Lung deficiency, Heart deficiency, Bao Luo heat, or Jueyin disease, these are all Deficiency-Fire conditions, characterized by upper heat and lower cold, requiring raising Yang. For bladder incontinence due to Lower Jiao deficiency, fire is cast into water, causing the spring of water not to be contained, resulting in cold limbs and a slow pulse; warm-tonic herbs are required. These are not treatable by Fuling; hence, it is unsuitable for Yin deficiency. Fushen grows embracing the root, embodying attachment and steadfastness, and is used to calm those whose Hun does not reside in its proper place. Red Poria enters Bing-Ding (Fire/Heart) and merely governs the red aspect.