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Primarily treats the breaking up of stagnant Qi. Drains damp-heat from the Heart, Small Intestine, and Bladder. Benefits orifices, promotes Qi movement, and induces diuresis. Red Poria (Chiling) has a slightly sweet taste; it enters the Stomach to dissipate damp-heat in the Blood level, as the Stomach is an area abundant in both Qi and Blood, serving as the pivot for ascending and descending mechanisms. Although they are the same herb, why does the red variety drain excess while the white variety tonifies deficiency? Generally, the white and firm variety belongs to Metal, possessing dense Qi; whereas the red and loose variety has not absorbed Qi with great density, relying merely on its bland and leaching nature to promote urination and expel dampness. (Poria Peel) Treats edema and abdominal distension with skin swelling; opens the water pathways and releases the interstices (Cou Li).

Flavor: Sweet; Nature: Neutral. Specifically regulates the Heart Meridian, tonifying deficiency of Heart Qi. It treats wind-induced vertigo (Feng Xuan), Heart deficiency affecting mental clarity and wisdom, and palpitations due to deficiency. For deficient individuals experiencing difficulty in urination, add it to the prescription. Treating Heart diseases requires the use of Poria with Hostwood (Fushen). Zhang Jiejie stated: "For wind-induced vertigo and Heart deficiency, only Fushen can eliminate it." However, Poria also treats Heart diseases. (Li Shizhen) Poria is formed when the resin of ancient pine trees flows into the ground, absorbing the essence of frost, dew, spring water, and soil over a long period. Poria with Hostwood (Fushen) is the part wrapping around the root, connected to the pine root, with continuous Qi flow, thus having superior efficacy in tonifying Heart Qi, as it obtains the residual Qi of True Yang. Hence named "Shen" (Spirit), this is its function. (Bencao Liming) Shengque Wan treats unsettled Spirit, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, unhappiness, failure of Fire to descend, and failure of Water to ascend, accompanied by occasional tremors. Regular consumption eliminates Yin cold, nourishes Yang, and fully tonifies Heart Qi. Formula: Poria with Hostwood (Fushen), peeled, 2 liang; Agarwood (Chenxiang), 0.5 liang. Grind into powder, make pills with refined honey the size of small beans. Take 30 pills per dose after meals, washed down with Ginseng decoction.

[Discussion] Poria grows by borrowing Pine Qi but does not attach to the root, forming lumps independently. The portion that wraps the root and is light and spongy is Poria with Hostwood (Fushen). Generally, those buried deep absorb the most refined essence of spring water and soil; those attached to roots and formed shallowly borrow more Yang essence. Thus, it is used to treat Heart diseases, unlike Poria which obtains dense Yin within Yang. Furthermore, regarding Poria and Fushen, both utilize the firm and white parts, employing their dense Qi. There are also non-firm varieties, but one should distinguish the density of Yin and Yang based on burial depth, rather than comparing them by deficiency or excess. Both Fushen and Poria tonify the Heart, yet there are slight differences. Poria guides the Qi of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, causing Lung Qi to descend into the Heart to generate Blood, and absorbs Yin from Yang; it seems closer to tonifying Heart Blood, with calming the Spirit being its primary effect, as the Heart governs vessels and the Spirit resides in vessels. Fushen also guides Qi, but since it is shallower underground and has not accumulated Yin Qi to return to Yang, its tonification of Heart Qi appears more specific than Poria, though its ability to calm the Spirit is inferior to Poria. When using Fushen to tonify the Heart, it must be assisted by Polygala Root (Yuanzhi). Since Fushen specifically tonifies Heart Yang, it relies on Yuanzhi to lift the Yang within Yin to ascend and offer itself to the Heart, thereby achieving the effect of tonifying the Heart.