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Josephine holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (UTS). She is a member of FCMA and ACCMA, and is registered with AHPRA as a Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner.
Fu Ling is the sclerotium (underground fungal body) of Poria cocos, a fungus that grows on the roots of pine trees. It is one of the most versatile and widely used herbs in the Chinese pharmacopoeia, appearing in approximately one-third of all classical formulas. Sweet and bland in flavour, neutral in temperature, Fu Ling enters the Heart, Spleen, and Kidney meridians. Its neutral temperature means it can be safely used in both hot and cold conditions without risk of aggravating either.
Fu Ling has three main functions: promoting urination to drain Dampness (for oedema, difficult urination, and fluid accumulation), strengthening the Spleen and harmonising the middle (for poor appetite, loose stools, and digestive weakness), and calming the Heart and tranquillising the spirit (for palpitations, insomnia, and anxiety). Different parts of Fu Ling have slightly different emphases: the outer skin (Fu Ling Pi) is strongest for draining oedema, the inner white portion (Bai Fu Ling) tonifies the Spleen and calms the spirit, and the portion surrounding the pine root (Fu Shen) is most effective for settling the Shen.
Fu Ling's gentle nature and neutral temperature make it an ideal herb for long-term use and for patients with mixed or delicate conditions. It is a component of Si Jun Zi Tang, Wu Ling San (Five Ingredient Powder with Poria), and Gui Pi Tang, among many others. Standard dosage is 9 to 15 grams. It has very few contraindications, though it should be used cautiously in cases of Yin deficiency with excessive urination, where further fluid drainage is undesirable.
Fu Ling (Poria) is a fungal body that grows on pine roots. It is sweet, bland, and neutral in temperature, making it one of the safest and most versatile herbs in TCM. It drains dampness through urination, strengthens the Spleen, and calms the spirit. It appears in roughly one-third of all classical Chinese herbal formulas.
Fu Ling's neutral temperature, mild flavour, and multiple gentle actions make it broadly compatible. It supports digestion, drains excess fluid, and calms the mind without being heating or cooling. This versatility allows it to complement both warming and cooling formulas, addressing dampness and digestive weakness — two of the most common clinical issues.
Josephine Zhuo (TCM) is an AHPRA registered health practitioner — acupuncturist and herbalist.
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