Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHealth BenefitsPossible Side EffectsDosage and PreparationWhat to Look for
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Health Benefits
Possible Side Effects
Dosage and Preparation
What to Look for
Poria (Poria cocos) is a type of mushroom. It’s been used for 2,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It’s one of the most commonly prescribed traditional remedies in China.
Poria has caught the attention of researchers as a potential remedy for symptoms of several different conditions. So far, research has focused on animals or laboratory studies. with some promising biochemical results.
The medicinal part of the mushroom is the filaments under the cap. You can buy poria dried or in capsule form.
In this article, you’ll learn what poria’s being studied for, what’s known about it as a treatment, what side effects and risks are possible, typical dosages, how to prepare it, and what to look for in a product.
Verywell / Getty Images
Also Known AsChina rootChina tuckahoeFu lingHoelenMatsuhodo
Also Known As
China rootChina tuckahoeFu lingHoelenMatsuhodo
The mushrooms have severalbeneficial actionsincluding:
Early research suggests that poria may be useful in treating:
Several other uses have less evidence but show promise.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Preliminary research suggests that poria mushrooms may help fight Alzheimer’s disease.
A 2021 study on mice showed that poria helped the brain clear beta-amyloid (ßA) from the brain.ßA is what forms plaques that cause Alzheimer’s symptoms. The end result was that poria improved cognitive function. It also improved gut health, which may be a factor in Alzheimer’s disease due to the brain-gut axis.
This builds on earlier research that showed Poria extract reducedoxidative stresson biopsied brain cells obtained from rats. At that time, researchers suggestedP. cocosmay help shield the brain from the toxic effects of ßA.
Cancer
Several studies suggest poria may have anti-tumor properties against the following types of cancer:
A 2018 study reported an extract ofP. cocosshowed cell-killing abilities in four human lung cancer cell lines.
A 2020 study found it improved the anti-tumor effect of drug treatment and also reversed drug resistance, which can be a problem in people with cancer.
Another 2020 study showed a compound from poria mushrooms (pachymic acid) killed breast cancer cells. Researchers noted that pachymic acid has the potential to be used as a low-side-effect treatment.
Other research has identified a polysaccharide (a type of sugar) in poria as a potential anti-tumor drug.
The mushroom also appears to make changes to the immune system that may help fight cancer.
These are all lab or animal studies. We’ll need human trials to know whether poria is a safe and effective cancer treatment.
Preventing Breast Cancer in Black Women
Diabetes
Poria mushrooms may be effective against type-2 diabetes.
In a 2011 study,researchersfound an extract ofP. cocossignificantly lowered blood sugar levels in mice.They credited triterpenes, which are believed to improve insulin sensitivity, for this effect.
A 2016 study showed an herbal blend including poria lessened insulin resistance in rats.
Preventing Diabetes Complications
Other Benefits
Other potential benefits of poria are less well-researched and still in lab and animal testing. More research needs to be done, but research so far is promising for these uses.
Benefits of Taking Lion’s Mane Mushroom
While poria has been used for centuries, that doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Not enough research has been done, especially in humans, to gauge poria’s side effects. Little is known about safety, long-term risks, or possible drug interactions.
If you experience any side effects (like vomiting ordiarrhea) after consuming poria, let your healthcare provider know.
Not much is known about the safety of poria mushrooms during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or nursing, it’s best to avoid poria mushrooms in any form.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
No guidelines are established for dosages of poria mushrooms. Studies show low toxicity levels,meaning it takes a large amount to cause an overdose.
But beyond that, poria’s side effects profile is generally unknown.
When taken in tablet or capsule form, poria is typically dosed between 500 milligrams (mg) once daily to 1,200 mg twice daily. Never exceed the manufacturer’s dosing recommendations, and always follow your doctor’s recommendations.
Ways it is prepared and consumed:
Supplements and herbal remedies are largely unregulated in the United States. They don’t have to go through the testing pharmaceutical drugs do.
Products used in traditional Chinese medicine may pose safety concerns because they are so loosely regulated. In the past, products have been tainted with heavy metals, pesticides, and even drugs.
Imported natural remedies pose a risk of contamination. It’s even possible that they don’t contain the ingredients listed on the product label. If buying imported whole dried poria mushrooms, do not assume they are safe because they come in a sealed container. If there are any signs of mold or moisture, discard them immediately.
Voluntary Certification
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bars manufacturers of dietary supplements from making any unproven or misleading claims about cures or other health benefits. Those kinds of statements could be a red flag that a company isn’t reputable.
Summary
Poria cocoshas been used in TCM for 2,000 years. It’s showing promise as a treatment for numerous health conditions, especially Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and diabetes. It may also have benefits for digestion, insomnia, depression, osteoporosis, and skin aging.
The safety profile of poria isn’t yet established. Toxicity appears to be low. Report any negative side effects to your healthcare provider.
A Word From Verywell
It’s easy to think of natural products as “safe.” However, they can cause side effects and drug interactions.
Don’t delay conventional treatment in favor of poria or other alternative treatments. That can have dire effects on your outcome, especially when it comes to cancer.
To protect your health, involve your healthcare provider in all your treatment decisions, including poria and other natural products. They may be able to spot potential problems based on your overall health and what medications you’re taking.
Fo-Ti for Aging: Does It Work and Is It Safe?
29 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Li X, He Y, Zeng P, et al.Molecular basis for Poria cocos mushroom polysaccharide used as an antitumour drug in China.J Cell Mol Med. 2019;23(1):4-20. doi:10.1111/jcmm.13564
Park YH, Son IH, Kim B, Lyu YS, Moon HI, Kang HW.Poria cocos water extract (PCW) protects PC12 neuronal cells from beta-amyloid-induced cell death through antioxidant and antiapoptotic functions.Pharmazie.2009 Nov;64(11):760-4.
Cheng S, Castillo V, Sliva D.CDC20 associated with cancer metastasis and novel mushroom‑derived CDC20 inhibitors with antimetastatic activity.Int J Oncol. 2019;54(6):2250-2256. doi:10.3892/ijo.2019.4791
Lin TY, Lu MK, Chang CC.Structural identification of a fucose-containing 1,3-β-mannoglucan from Poria cocos and its anti-lung cancer CL1-5 cells migration via inhibition of TGFβR-mediated signaling.Int J Biol Macromol. 2020;157:311-318. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.014
Jiang Y, Fan L.The effect of Poria cocos ethanol extract on the intestinal barrier function and intestinal microbiota in mice with breast cancer.J Ethnopharmacol. 2021;266:113456. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113456
Wang N, Liu D, Guo J, Sun Y, Guo T, Zhu X.Molecular mechanism of Poria cocos combined with oxaliplatin on the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer cells.Biomed Pharmacother. 2018;102:865-873. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.134
Xu H, Wang Y, Zhao J, et al.Triterpenes from Poria cocos are revealed as potential retinoid X receptor selective agonists based on cell and in silico evidence.Chem Biol Drug Des. 2020;95(5):493-502. doi:10.1111/cbdd.13610
Li Y, Li X, Lu Y, et al.Co-delivery of Poria cocos extract and doxorubicin as an ‘all-in-one’ nanocarrier to combat breast cancer multidrug resistance during chemotherapy[published correction appears in Nanomedicine. 2021 Jul;35:102336].Nanomedicine. 2020;23:102095. doi:10.1016/j.nano.2019.102095
Jiang Y, Fan L.Evaluation of anticancer activities of Poria cocos ethanol extract in breast cancer: In vivo and in vitro, identification and mechanism.J Ethnopharmacol. 2020;257:112851. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.112851
Li X, Ma L, Zhang L.Molecular basis for Poria cocos mushroom polysaccharide used as an antitumor drug in China.Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2019;163:263-296. doi:10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.02.011
Li TH, Hou CC, Chang CL, Yang WC.Anti-hyperglycemic properties of crude extract and triterpenes from Poria cocos.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.2011;2011:128402. doi:10.1155/2011/128402
Dai B, Wu Q, Zeng C, et al.The effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in liver of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats with insulin resistance.J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;192:382-389. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.07.024
Xu H, Wang Y, Jurutka PW, et al.16α-hydroxytrametenolic acid fromPoria cocosimproves intestinal barrier function through the glucocorticoid receptor-mediated PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway.J Agric Food Chem. 2019;67(39):10871-10879. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.9b04613
Zou YT, Zhou J, Wu CY, et al.Protective effects of Poria cocos and its components against cisplatin-induced intestinal injury.J Ethnopharmacol. 2021;269:113722. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113722
Zhao J, Niu X, Yu J, et al.Poria cocos polysaccharides attenuated ox-LDL-induced inflammation and oxidative stress via ERK activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibited foam cell formation in VSMCs.Int Immunopharmacol. 2020;80:106173. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2019.106173
Lee H, Cha HJ.Poria cocos Wolf extracts represses pigmentation in vitro and in vivo.Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2018;64(5):80-84.
Shah VK, Choi JJ, Han JY, Lee MK, Hong JT, Oh KW.Pachymic acid enhances pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors via GABAA-ergic systems in mice.Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2014;22(4):314-320. doi:10.4062/biomolther.2014.045
Jiang GP, Liao YJ, Huang LL, Zeng XJ, Liao XH.Effects and molecular mechanism of pachymic acid on ferroptosis in renal ischemia reperfusion injury.Mol Med Rep. 2021;23(1):63. doi:10.3892/mmr.2020.11704
Wu K, Guo C, Yang B, Wu X, Wang W.Antihepatotoxic benefits of Poria cocos polysaccharides on acetaminophen-lesioned livers in vivo and in vitro.J Cell Biochem. 2019;120(5):7482-7488. doi:10.1002/jcb.28022
Kim JH, Sim HA, Jung DY, et al.Poria cocusWolf extract ameliorates hepatic steatosis through regulation of lipid metabolism, inhibition of ER stress, and activation of autophagy via AMPK activation.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(19):4801. doi:10.3390/ijms20194801
Hwang YH, Jang SA, Lee A, Kim T, Ha H.Poria cocosameliorates bone loss in ovariectomized mice and inhibits osteoclastogenesis in vitro.Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1383. doi:10.3390/nu12051383
Fang CL, Paul CR, Day CH, et al.Poria cocos (Fuling) targets TGFβ/Smad7 associated collagen accumulation and enhances Nrf2-antioxidant mechanism to exert anti-skin aging effects in human dermal fibroblasts.Environ Toxicol. 2021;36(5):729-736. doi:10.1002/tox.23075
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Traditional Chinese Medicine: What you need to know. Bethesda, Maryland.Nie A, Chao Y, Zhang X, Jia W, Zhou Z, Zhu C.Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities ofWolfiporia cocos(F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb.Front Pharmacol. 2020;11:505249. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.505249
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Traditional Chinese Medicine: What you need to know. Bethesda, Maryland.
Nie A, Chao Y, Zhang X, Jia W, Zhou Z, Zhu C.Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities ofWolfiporia cocos(F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb.Front Pharmacol. 2020;11:505249. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.505249
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
