Fu Shen (茯神) — Poria-with-Pine-Root
Fu Shen is Poria cocos that has grown around a piece of pine root, valued particularly for its Shen-calming action. It is the Poria-related herb of choice for anxiety, palpitations and insomnia with underlying Spleen deficiency.
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Dosage
- Cautions and incompatibilities
- Key formulas
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Fu Shen (茯神) — Poria-with-Pine-Root (Poria cocos (with pine root inclusion)) — is a Chinese herb in the Calm Shen category. I prescribe it as part of bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granule formulas from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Fu Shen |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 茯神 |
| Latin name | Poria cocos (with pine root inclusion) |
| English name | Poria-with-Pine-Root |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet, bland |
| Channels entered | Heart, Spleen |
| Category | Calm Shen |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Calms the Shen
- Strengthens Spleen and drains Damp
Indications
- Insomnia and palpitations
- Anxiety with poor sleep
- Restlessness with excessive thinking
- Poor appetite with mental fatigue
4. Dosage
9–15g
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
- No major contraindications; very safe
6. Key formulas
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Fu Shen where its indications and TCM pattern match the patient’s presentation, always as part of a tailored formula. Return to the Chinese herbs directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
