With increased humidity in recent weeks, many people report feeling heavy, fatigued, and plagued by dampness-related symptoms like oily skin, sticky stools, and thick tongue coating. Enter Poria, revered as the "Divine Herb for All Seasons". This versatile fungus not only eliminates dampness but also reduces swelling, calms the mind, and strengthens the spleen.
Benefits of Poria
Poria is sweet and bland in taste, neutral in nature, and enters the heart, lung, spleen, and kidney meridians. Its key actions include:
Promoting diuresis and draining dampness
Fortifying the spleen
Calming the mind
Modern research highlights its rich composition of polysaccharides, triterpenoids, ergosterol, and choline, which support immune modulation, anti-aging, and cognitive health.
How to Choose Quality Poria
Beware of counterfeit products in the market. Use these tips to identify authentic Poria:
Color: Natural Poria ranges from white to pale red or brown. Overly white pieces may have been sulfur-fumigated.
Texture: High-quality slices have uniform color and smooth surfaces.
Smell: Authentic Poria is odorless. Avoid batches with musty or sour odors.
Taste: It should taste slightly sweet and sticky. Bitter, sour, or astringent flavors indicate poor quality.
Poria Recipes for Health
1. Enhanced Four-Saints Soup
Ingredients:
80g Dioscorea rhizome
30g Poria, 30g Euryale seeds, 30 lotus seeds
6g dried tangerine peel, 300g pork bones
Benefits: Strengthens spleen, drains dampness.
Method: Blanch pork bones, simmer all ingredients for 1.5 hours. Season with salt.
2. Goji-Poria Tea
Ingredients: 10g Poria, 5g goji berries, 5g black tea.
Benefits: Nourishes spleen and kidneys.
Method: Grind Poria into coarse powder, steep with tea and goji in hot water. Drink twice daily.
3. Poria Cake
Ingredients: 200g flour, 15g Poria powder, 3g yeast, 3g baking powder, 20g sugar, assorted nuts.
Benefits: Reduces dampness, supports digestion.
Method: Mix dry ingredients, ferment batter, steam with nuts for 25 minutes.
Poria vs. Smilax
Poria (Poria cocos fungus): Drains dampness, calms the mind, strengthens the spleen.
Smilax (Smilax glabra rhizome): Detoxifies, relieves joint pain, treats skin infections.
Smilax Recipes
Smilax Pork Soup
Ingredients: 200g fresh smilax, 500g pork, ginger, salt.
Benefits: Detoxifies, strengthens joints, aids digestion.
Method: Simmer smilax, pork, and ginger for 1.5 hours.
Double Bean and Smilax Soup
Ingredients: 30g smilax, 50g hyacinth beans, 30g red beans, 1/4 dried tangerine peel, 300g lean pork, ginger.
Benefits: Clears heat, drains dampness.
Method: Soak beans, simmer all ingredients for 1.5 hours.
Key Notes
Poria is safe for most constitutions but avoid during excessive damp-cold or yin deficiency with heat.
Always consult a TCM practitioner for personalized formulations.
Harness the power of Poria to harmonize your body with the seasons!
