味淡微甘，性平无毒，入肺脾小肠三经。主补脾气，利小便，止烦渴，定惊悸，久服延
年。去皮心研细，入水中搅之浮者，是其筋也，宜去之，误服损目。赤者专主利水。抱根而
生者名茯神，主补心安神，除惊悸，治健忘。马兰为使，恶白蔹，畏牡蒙、地榆、雄黄、秦
艽、龟甲，忌醋及酸物。
按∶茯苓色白，是西方肺金之象也。味淡，是太阳渗利之品也。微甘，是中央脾土之味
也，故均入之。夫脾最恶湿，而小便利则湿自除，所以补脾既能渗泄，燥脾似不能生津已。
洁古何为称其止渴，良由色白属金，能培肺部，肺金得补，则自能生水。且经曰∶膀胱者，
州都之官，津液藏焉，气化则能出矣。诚以其上连于肺，得肺气以化之，津液从之出尔。药
性所谓白者入壬癸，亦此意也。而渴有不止者乎？至于惊悸者，心经之虚也，而心与小肠相
为表里，既泻小肠，而心火亦为之清矣，故能定之。丹溪曰∶阴虚未为相宜，盖虞其渗泄尔。
然味尚甘，甘主缓，亦无大害，非若猪苓一于淡渗，而大伤阴分也。《药性》云∶小便多而
能止，大便结而能通，与本功相反，未可轻信。赤者属丙丁，专入膀胱泻火，故利水之外无
他长。茯神抱根，有依而附之之义，惊悸者魂不能附，健忘者神不能守，宜其治矣。《广志》
云∶茯神松脂所作，胜茯苓。《衍义》曰∶气盛者泄于身，不抱本根，结为茯苓，有津气而
不甚盛，不离其本，结为茯神，考兹两书，各相违悖。然仙经服食，多需茯苓，而茯神不与
焉。两说之是非，于是乎辨。
茯苓味道淡而略带甘甜，药性平和，无毒，归入肺、脾、小肠三经。主要功效是补益脾气，通利小便，缓解烦渴，安定惊悸，长期服用可以延年益寿。使用时需去除外皮和中心部分，研磨成细粉，放入水中搅拌，浮在水面上的部分是它的筋络，应当去除，如果误服会损伤眼睛。颜色发红的茯苓专门主治利水。生长在树根周围并包裹着树根的称为茯神，主要功效是补心安神，消除惊悸，治疗健忘。以马兰草作为引经药，厌恶白蔹，畏惧牡蒙、地榆、雄黄、秦艽、龟甲，忌食醋及酸性食物。
按语：茯苓颜色洁白，这是西方肺金之象。味道淡，属于太阳经渗湿利水的药物。略带甘甜，是中央脾土的味道，所以能同时入肺脾二经。脾脏最厌恶湿气，而小便通畅则湿气自然消除，所以补脾的同时既能渗湿泄浊，看似不能生津液。张洁古为什么称它能止渴？大概是因为其色白属金，能培补肺部，肺金得到补益，则自然能生水（津液）。况且《内经》说：“膀胱者，州都之官，津液藏焉，气化则能出矣。”确实是因为它上连于肺，依赖肺气的气化作用，津液才能随之排出。药性理论所谓“白色入壬癸（肾水）”，也是这个意思。那么口渴怎么能不止呢？至于惊悸，是心经虚损的表现，而心与小肠互为表里，既然清泻了小肠之火，心火也随之清凉，所以能安定惊悸。朱丹溪说：阴虚体质者使用并不适宜，因为担心其渗泄作用伤阴。然而茯苓味道尚且甘缓，甘味主缓急，所以也没有大害，不像猪苓一味淡渗，会严重损伤阴分。《药性论》中说：它能止多尿，通便秘，这与本品的实际功效相反，不可轻信。红色的茯苓属丙丁火，专门进入膀胱泻火，所以在利水之外没有其他特长。茯神包裹树根生长，有依附之意，惊悸是神魂不能依附，健忘是心神不能守舍，所以适合治疗这些病症。《广志》说：茯神是由松脂凝结而成，优于茯苓。《本草衍义》说：气盛的地方，湿气泄于身体外部，不包裹树根，凝结成茯苓；如果有津气但不太旺盛，不离树根本身，凝结成茯神。考察这两本书，说法互相矛盾。然而道家仙经中服食养生，大多需要茯苓，而不用茯神。这两种说法的是非，由此得以辨明。
Poria (Fuling) has a bland taste with a slight sweetness, is neutral in nature and non-toxic. It enters the Lung, Spleen, and Small Intestine meridians. Its primary functions are to tonify Spleen Qi (Spleen energy), promote urination, relieve thirst and restlessness, calm palpitations and fright, and prolong life with long-term use. Before use, the outer skin and inner core should be removed, and it should be ground into fine powder. When stirred in water, the floating parts are its fibrous strands (筋), which should be discarded; accidental ingestion may damage vision. Red Poria specifically focuses on promoting diuresis. Poria that grows wrapped around the pine roots is called Shenma (Poria with Hostwood). It primarily tonifies the Heart and calms the Spirit (Shen), eliminates palpitations and fright, and treats amnesia. Horse tansy (Malan) serves as an guiding herb. It is incompatible with Amur Peony Root (Bailian) and fears Mumen, Pericarpium Evodiae (Duyu), Realgar (Xionghuang), Gentian (Qinjiao), and Turtle Shell (Guijia). Vinegar and sour foods are contraindicated.
Commentary: The white color of Poria corresponds to the image of Metal of the West (Lung). Its bland taste characterizes it as a draining and leaching agent of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) level. Its slight sweetness corresponds to the flavor of Earth of the Center (Spleen); therefore, it enters both. The Spleen most detests Dampness, and when urination is unobstructed, Dampness is naturally eliminated. Thus, while tonifying the Spleen through draining and leaching, it appears unable to generate Body Fluids (Jin Ye). Why did Zhang Jiegu (Zhang Congzheng's teacher, Liu Wansu's contemporary, often cited for his theories on dampness/thirst) claim it stops thirst? This is likely because its white color belongs to Metal, which can nourish the Lung. Once Lung Metal is nourished, it can naturally generate Water (Body Fluids). Furthermore, the Classic states: "The Bladder is the official of the capital, storing Body Fluids; only through Qi transformation can they be excreted." Indeed, since it connects superiorly to the Lung, it relies on Lung Qi to transform them, allowing Body Fluids to exit accordingly. The pharmacological principle stating "White enters Ren and Gui (Water/Kidney)" implies this same meaning. How then can thirst not cease? As for palpitations and fright, these stem from deficiency of the Heart meridian. Since the Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interior partners, by draining the Small Intestine, Heart Fire is also cleared, thus calming the condition. Zhu Danxi stated: "It is not suitable for Yin deficiency, as one must fear its draining and leaching effects." However, since its taste is still sweet, and Sweetness governs moderation/slackening, it causes no great harm, unlike Polyporus (Zhuling), which is purely bland-draining and severely injures the Yin aspect. *Yao Xing Lun* claims it can stop polyuria and unblock constipation, which contradicts its actual functions; such claims should not be readily believed. Red Poria belongs to Bing and Ding (Fire), specifically entering the Bladder to drain Fire, so apart from promoting diuresis, it has no other merits. Shenma grows wrapped around the root, symbolizing attachment. Palpitations occur when the Hun (Ethereal Soul) cannot attach; amnesia occurs when the Shen (Spirit) cannot reside. Hence, it is appropriate for treating these conditions. *Guang Zhi* states: "Shenma is made of pine resin and is superior to Poria." *Bencao Yan Yi* states: "Where Qi is abundant, moisture leaks outwards, not wrapping the root, condensing into Poria; where there is fluid Qi but not too abundant, staying close to the root, it condenses into Shenma." Examining these two books, their statements contradict each other. However, Daoist elixir texts mostly require Poria for consumption, excluding Shenma. The validity of these two theories is thereby distinguished.