Red Poria cocos, also known as red Poria or red Poria cocos, is the dried red part of the Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf., a fungus of the Polyporaceae family. It is harvested from July to September. After being dug up, it is cleaned of mud and then piled up to "sweat". It is then spread out and dried until the surface is dry. It is then "sweated" again, repeating this process several times until the Poria skin wrinkles. The outer skin is then peeled off and the Poria is sliced into uniform thickness. The pink portion is the red Poria cocos, which is then dried.
[Processing method] 1. Red Poria cocos, as mentioned in the "Direct Guide to Pediatric Medicine and Prescription": "Remove the skin." "Hong's Collection of Tested Formulas": "Cut." "Essential Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Home": "Remove the skin, grate." "Lu's Forbidden Formula": "Remove the skin, soak in milk." "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Steam with milk." Currently, the original medicinal materials are taken, separated into different sizes, soaked, washed, and moistened. They are then steamed in a steamer and cut into thick slices or pieces while still hot, and then dried. For processed slices from the place of origin, the ash debris can be sifted out.
2. Zhu Red Poria cocos: Take the red Poria cocos slices or pieces, spray them with water, moisten them slightly, mix them with a specified amount of cinnabar powder, and turn them over constantly until the surface of the Poria cocos is covered with cinnabar powder. Then, let them dry. For every 100kg of red Poria cocos, 2kg of cinnabar powder is used.
[Characteristics of prepared slices] Red Poria cocos is irregularly thick slices or small pieces of varying sizes, with a light red or light brown color. It has a loose texture and slight elasticity. It has a faint odor and a mild taste. Zhu Red Poria cocos is similar in shape to red Poria cocos slices, with a red surface.
[Processing properties] Red Poria cocos has a sweet and mild taste and is neutral in nature. It belongs to the heart, spleen, and bladder meridians. It has the functions of promoting diuresis and eliminating damp-heat. It is mostly used for urinary difficulties, edema, cloudy urine, and diarrhea. For example, it is used in the treatment of kidney dysfunction with urinary difficulties in the Zhushe Tang from the "Comprehensive Collection of Holy Aid"; the treatment of edema with chest fullness and shortness of breath in the Fuling Tang from the "Comprehensive Collection of Holy Aid"; the treatment of water-dampness in the triple burner, chest and rib distention, and dizziness in the Chifuling Wan from the "Medical Inventions"; the treatment of white turbid and obstructed urine with occasional pain in the Fuling Tang from the "Jifeng Puji Fang". Zhu Red Poria cocos is rarely used and is derived from the tradition of Zhu Fuling.
