Polyporus, Zhu Ling 猪苓

Zhu Ling (TCM)
Chorei Matake (Japan)
Picture Polyporus umbellatus
(Illustration by Emil Doerstling) (Wikimedia)

Picture Polyporus umbellatus
Photo by Jatlas2 (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Polyporus umbellatus

Parts used:


Fruiting body (Fungi)

Temperature & Taste:


Neutral/Cool, dry. Sweet, bland

Classification:


D. Clear Damp, Promote Urine

Uses:


1. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Scanty Urine, painful and dribbling Urine
-heaviness of the body, dullness, lethargy
-Leukorrhea
-Jaundice, Diarrhea

2. Clears Damp, Resolves Masses:
-Cancer therapy, especially Bladder; also Liver, Breast etc
-taken with Chemotherapy has improved outcomes and quality of life.
-licensed for use in Cancer therapy in China
-also used for Hepatitis in China, especially Hepatitis B

3. Benefits the Heart, Supports Qi:
-long-term use was said to make one ‘Happy, vigorous, and look younger’. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)


Dose:


Decoction: 6–15 grams
Polysaccharide-rich extract is taken in 3–6 gram doses in Cancer therapy.

Main Combinations:


1. Edema and Dampness, Polyporus Zhu Ling with Poria Fu Ling, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Tangerine peel Chen Pi
2. To increase Immunity in cases with Damp:
i. Polyporus Zhu Ling with Poria Fu Ling, Astragalus Huang Qi
ii. Polyporus Zhu Ling with Ganoderma Ling Zhi
3. Multiple Myeloma, Polyporus Zhu Ling with Poria Fu Ling, Astragalus Huang Qi (30–120 grams), Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi), fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang), Chinese Red Date (Da Zao). Aconiutum Fu Zi or Dang Gui are added if there is Yang or Blood deficiency respectively. This has been successfully used as a stand-alone formula for over 18 years in one case. (see here)
4. Cancer:
i. Polyporus Zhu Ling with Astragalus Huang Qi to maintain energy, increase immunity and lower side effects from chemotherapy.
ii. in Cancer therapy Polyporus Zhu Ling may be combined with other Mushroom medicines like Phellinus, Ganoderma, Inonotus etc.
iii. Polyporus Zhu Ling, Poria Fu Ling, Ganoderm Ling Zhi, Astragalus Huang Qi, Atracylodes Bai Zhu, Licorice, Tangerine peel Chen Pi.

Major Formulas:


Wu Ling San

Cautions:


1. Only used in cases with Damp. It can damage the Yin due to its strong diuretic and drying effect.

Main Preparations used:



1. GENERAL / REVIEW:
–Components of the sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus
–Three exopolysaccharides from the liquid fermentation of Polyporus umbellatus and their bioactivities
–Polyporus umbellatus, an edible-medicinal cultivated mushroom with multiple developed health-care products as food, medicine and cosmetics: a review

2. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–New anti-inflammatory ergostane-type ecdysteroids from the sclerotium of Polyporus umbellatus

3. ANTI-TUMOR / ANTI-CANCER:
–Cytotoxic steroids from Polyporus umbellatus
–Studies on constituents of fruit body of Polyporus umbellatus and their cytotoxic activity
–Cytotoxic activity of ergosta-4, 6, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one from the sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus
–Combined Effects of Chuling (Polyporus umbellatus) Extract and Mitomycin C on Experimental Liver Cancer
–Inhibition of Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis by Aqueous Extract of Sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus Fries and Polyporus Polysaccharide
–Polyporus umbellatus inhibited tumor cell proliferation and promoted tumor cell apoptosis by down-regulating AKT in breast cancer
–Antitumor and antimutagenic effect of the proteinpolysaccharides from Polyporus umbellatus

4. IMMUNOSTIMULANT.
–TLR4-mediated activation of macrophages by the polysaccharide fraction from Polyporus umbellatus
–Purification, initial characterization and immune activities of polysaccharides from the fungus, Polyporus umbellatus
 –GPP (Composition of Ganoderma Lucidum Poly-saccharides and Polyporus Umbellatus Poly-saccharides) Enhances Innate Immune Function in Mice  

5. DIURETIC:
–Bioactivity-directed isolation, identification of diuretic compounds from Polyporus umbellatus
–Diuretic activity and kidney medulla AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, V2R expression of the aqueous extract of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus FRIES in normal rats

6. NEPHROPROTECTIVE:
–Ergosta‐4,6,8(14),22‐tetraen‐3‐one isolated from Polyporus umbellatus prevents early renal injury in aristolochic acid‐induced nephropathy rats
–Renoprotective effect and mechanism of polysaccharide from Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia on renal fibrosis

7. HEPATITIS. 
–Therapeutic effect of combined therapy of Salvia miltiorrhizae and Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B
–The efficacy of Polyporus Umbellatus polysaccharide in treating hepatitis B in China

8. ANTI-RADIATION EFFECT.

9. PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH:
–Studies on active substances in herbs used for hair treatment. I. Effects of herb extracts on hair growth and isolation of an active substance from Polyporus umbellatus