Description

Poria (Poria cocos) is a type of mushroom long used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a medicinal tonic to promote immune health. It is also believed by some to prevent or treat a wide range of illnesses and disorders, from anxiety and insomnia to cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Next to licorice root, poria is arguably one of the most commonly prescribed traditional remedies in China. Typically sourced from the mushroom's filaments (the threadlike membranes under the cap), this medicinal mushroom is available both in dried and dietary supplement form.

Health Benefits

Poria mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in eastern medicines for their diuretic, sedative, and tonic effects. Poria contains several substances thought to promote good health, including polysaccharides (known to enhance immune function) and triterpenoids (a class of compounds with antioxidant effects).

In traditional Chinese medicine, poria mushrooms are believed to aid in the prevention or treatment of a variety of common and uncommon illnesses, including:

1.      Alzheimer's disease

2.      Anxiety

3.      Cough

4.      Cancer

5.      Diabetes

6.      Diarrhea

7.      Fatigue

8.      High cholesterol

9.      Insomnia

10.   Kidney infection

11.   Senile dementia

12.   Tinnitus

13.   Urination problems