Fulingmu, a Chinese medicinal herb, is the middle part of the pine root in the fungus Fuling. It is mainly used to calm the liver and soothe the nerves. It is effective for palpitations and forgetfulness, aphasia caused by stroke, and leg cramps. When collecting Fuling, select the ones with pine roots, remove the Fuling blocks (used for Fuling), and pick the fine pine roots.
【Original Form of Fulingmu】
The fruiting body is spherical, oval, elliptical, or irregular in shape, 10-30cm long or longer, and the weight varies, generally weighing 500-5000g. The outer skin is thick and wrinkled, dark brown in color, and becomes hard after being dried.
The inside is white or light pink, in a granular form. The fruiting body grows on the surface of the fruiting body, flat and thick, 3-8cm thick, white and fleshy, becoming light brown when old or dried. The tubes are densely arranged, with thin walls, round, polygonal, or irregular in shape, with a diameter of 0.5-1.5cm, and the edges are split into teeth-like structures. The spores are rectangular to nearly cylindrical in shape, smooth, with a slanted tip, and their size is (7.5-9)μm×(3-3.5)μm.
【Identification of Characteristics】
Fulingmu is mostly in the form of curved pine roots, resembling rotten wood. The residual Fuling on the outside is white or grayish white, while the inside is woody. It is soft and light in texture. It has a faint aroma and a mild taste.
【Efficacy and Function of Fulingmu】
Fulingmu is mainly used to calm the liver and soothe the nerves. It is effective for palpitations and forgetfulness, aphasia caused by stroke, and leg cramps.
① "Pharmacology of Medicinal Herbs": "Treats partial wind, facial and mouth deviation, convulsions caused by toxic wind, aphasia, sudden shock, and forgetfulness."
② "Compendium": "Treats leg cramps, tendon contractions."
③ "Chinese Materia Medica": "Calms the mind and soothes the nerves."
【Compound of Fulingmu】
① Treatment for leg cramps with cold sensation in the tendons and cramps: Fulingmu (take the pine root core from Fuling, file it into rice-like particles) 1 liang, frankincense 1 qian (grind it into powder). Fry until charred, leaving only one or two percent of it, remove the fire toxins, and grind into fine powder. Take 1-2 qian each time, mixed with hot papaya wine and taken orally. ("Essential Methods for Treating Leg Cramps" - Songjie San)
② Treatment for strong tongue and speech impediment caused by stroke: Fulingmu (fried) 1 liang, peppermint (roasted) 2 liang, scorpion tails (toxic removed) 2 liang. Grind into powder. Take 1-2 qian each time, mixed with warm wine and taken orally. ("Health Treasure Mirror" - Fuling San)
