Poria cocos comes from the Shennong Materia Medica Classic. According to the "Bielu", Poria cocos and Poria god were born under the great pine trees in the valley of Mount Tai. Harvest in February and August, dry and shady. Poria cocos is a medicine that prolongs life and soothes the soul and nourishes the mind after long-term consumption, avoiding hunger and prolonging life. It was common to take Poria cocos during the Wei, Jin, Tang, and Song dynasties. In the Qing Dynasty, Poria cocos was used as a health and longevity medicine, especially Empress Dowager Cixi. She not only consumed Poria cocos herself, but also made Poria cocos cakes and rewarded them to ministers. Someone conducted research on Empress Dowager Cixi's longevity tonifying formula and found that the most commonly used medicine is Poria cocos, which is present in 78% of the formulas. Next, let me share with you the efficacy and effects of Poria cocos.
The function of Poria cocos:
① Diuretic effect
Poria cocos is used for symptoms such as poor urination and edema. Poria cocos has the function of promoting diuresis and dampness, while its medicinal properties are calm, promoting diuresis without damaging the vital energy. Therefore, it is necessary to take medicine for promoting diuresis and dampness. Any symptoms of poor urination and stagnant water and dampness, whether biased towards cold and dampness, dampness and heat, or belonging to spleen deficiency and dampness accumulation, can be used in combination. For those who lean towards cold and dampness, they can be paired with osmanthus twigs, Atractylodes macrocephala, and other herbs; For those with a preference for damp heat, it can be paired with ingredients such as Poria cocos and Alisma orientalis; Belonging to those with spleen qi deficiency, they can be paired with Codonopsis pilosula, Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes macrocephala, etc; For those who belong to the category of deficiency cold, they can also be used with aconite and Atractylodes macrocephala. 
② Antibacterial effect
The 100% decoction of Poria cocos has inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus, and other bacteria using the plate punching method.
③ Impact on the digestive system
Poria cocos has a direct relaxing effect on the isolated intestinal tract of rabbits, a preventive effect on ulcers formed by pyloric ligation in rats, and can lower gastric acid levels. It also has a significant protective effect on CCl4 induced liver injury in rats, significantly reducing the activity of alanine aminotransferase and preventing liver cell necrosis.
④ Reduce blood sugar
Poria cocos can lower blood sugar, and for individuals with high blood sugar, Poria cocos has a certain therapeutic effect.
⑤ Effects on the heart
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Poria cocos can be used for symptoms such as palpitations and insomnia. Poria cocos can nourish the heart and calm the mind, so it can be used for symptoms such as restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia. It is often mixed with ginseng, polygala, and sour jujube kernels. Experiments have also shown that tinctures and extracts can inhibit the isolated heart of toads, while ether or ethanol extracts can enhance cardiac contractions. There is no antiemetic effect on pigeon vomiting caused by digitalis.
⑥ Antitumor effect
Poria cocos polysaccharides have shown strong anti-tumor effects in animal experiments. Poria cocos has the functions of anti thymic atrophy, anti splenic enlargement, and inhibition of tumor growth.
⑦ The impact on immune function
(1) Increase the cytotoxic effect of macrophages.
(2) Hydroxymethyl Poria cocos polysaccharide can significantly enhance the number of spleen antibody secreting cells and specific antigen binding cells in mice.
(3) Increase the number of acid non-specific esterase positive lymphocytes.
(4) Enhance the cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes.
⑧ Impact on the blood system
Poria cocos can reduce and accelerate the recovery of white blood cells, increase the red blood cells of healthy individuals by about 25% in vitro, and effectively delay the depletion of blood cells during the warming process. Experiments have shown that Poria cocos can significantly increase plasma corticosterone levels in mice.
⑨ The impact on the central nervous system
Poria cocos decoction has a sedative effect. The synergistic effect of Poria cocos and pentobarbital sodium. Poria cocos decoction (10g/kg) did not significantly prolong the anesthesia time of pentobarbital sodium; A dose of 40g/kg significantly prolonged the anesthesia time compared to the control group, and as the dose increased, the sedation index also increased. This synergistic effect may be due to their central inhibitory effect, or it may hinder the breakdown and excretion of pentobarbital, leading to an extension of anesthesia time.
⑩ Anti cancer
Poria cocos has a certain anti-cancer effect. The patients with esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, tongue cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, ulcerative melanoma and other cancers commonly used in clinical treatment belong to those with spleen deficiency and dampness, phlegm retention, and damp heat accumulation.
⑪ Nourishing Qi and Strengthening Spleen
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Poria cocos can be used for spleen deficiency and diarrhea. Poria cocos can not only strengthen the spleen, but also penetrate dampness. For diarrhea and diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency and abnormal circulation, the use of Poria cocos has a comprehensive effect on both specimens and is often combined with Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, yam, and other herbs. It can also be used as an adjuvant for tonifying the lungs and spleen, and treating qi deficiency.
⑫ Treating phlegm
Poria cocos is used for phlegm and cough, phlegm dampness entering the meridians, and shoulder and back pain. Poria cocos has a therapeutic effect on the syndrome of spleen deficiency, inability to transport and transform water and dampness, and cessation of aggregation to produce phlegm and drink. Can be used together with Pinellia ternata and Chenpi, or with Cinnamomum cassia and Atractylodes macrocephala. To treat phlegm dampness entering the meridians, shoulder soreness and back pain, it can be used together with Pinellia ternata and Fructus Aurantii.
Eating precautions for Poria cocos:
① It is not suitable for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire, dry mouth and dry throat Elderly patients with kidney deficiency, excessive urination, frequent urination, and nocturnal emissions should use it with caution.
Eating precautions for Poria cocos:
Lotus leaf Poria cocos Congee
Ingredients: 1 lotus leaf (fresh or dry), 50g Poria cocos, 100g japonica or millet, and an appropriate amount of white sugar.
Method:
1) Remove the residue from the lotus leaf decoction, and add Poria cocos, washed glutinous rice or millet to the soup with the lotus leaf residue removed;
2) Cook it into Congee, and add white granulated sugar to taste it before cooking.
This Congee can clear away heat, calm the mind, stop diarrhea and dysentery, and has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on cardiovascular diseases and neurasthenia.
Poria cocos tofu
Raw materials: 20g Poria cocos powder, 500g tofu, an appropriate amount of carrots and shiitake mushrooms (serving for 3 people)
Cooking method: Mix Poria cocos powder with tofu evenly, season with salt and cooking wine, then stir fry carrots and mushrooms in the pot until half cooked. Then put the tofu in the pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat. It is best to season and start cooking.
The main ingredient of this Tonic Diet is tofu, so people with renal insufficiency and gout should not eat more.