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Polyporus fungus

Polyporus, also known as oak hare, is a mushroom whose filaments (threads in which food material is stored) are used as medicine. In traditional medicine, Polyporus filaments are used for memory loss, anxiety, restlessness, exhaustion, tension, nervousness, dizziness, difficulty urinating, water retention, sleep problems, enlargement of the spleen, stomach problems, diarrhea and tumors, as well as to control coughs. Polyporus filaments are used in numerous herbal combination products to treat diarrhea, persistent kidney inflammation and tinnitus, as well as to reduce bleeding in the upper digestive tract.

How does Polyporus work?

Polyporus contains chemicals that may improve kidney function, lower serum cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation and suppress immune function. Polyporus may also have anti-vomiting and anti-tumor effects.

How effective is polyporus?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of Polyporus for memory loss, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, tension, nervousness, dizziness, difficulty urinating or painful urination, water retention, insomnia, inflamed spleen, stomach problems, diarrhea, tumors and coughs. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of Polyporus in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Polyporus appears to be safe and harmless for most people. There are no known adverse effects of Polyporus, but it has not been well studied scientifically either.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of polyporus during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should refrain from using it.

Interactions

At this time, there is no information on interactions of Polyporus with medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Polyporus depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Polyporus products. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

  1. Cuellar MJ, Giner RM, Recio MC, et al. Effect of the basidiomycete Poria cocos on experimental dermatitis and other inflammatory conditions. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1997;45:492-4.
  2. Gong QM, Wang SL, Gan C. [A clinical study on the treatment of acute upper digestive tract hemorrhage with wen-she decoction]. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1989;9:272-3, 260.
  3. Hattori T, Hayashi K, Nagao T, et al. Studies on antinephritic effects of plant components (3): Effect of pachyman, a main component of Poria cocos Wolf on original-type anti-GBM nephritis in rats and its mechanisms. Jpn J Pharmacol 1992;59:89-96.
  4. Kaminaga T, Yasukawa K, Kanno H, et al. Inhibitory effects of lanostane-type triterpene acids, the components of Poria cocos, on tumor promotion by 12-O tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. Oncology 1996;53:382-5.
  5. Li YL. [Clinical and experimental study on the treatment of children diarrhea by granule of children-diarrhea fast-stopping]. [Article in Chinese]. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1991;11:79-82, 67.
  6. Nukaya H, Yamashiro H, Fukazawa H, et al. Isolation of inhibitors of TPA-induced mouse ear edema from Hoelen, Poria cocos. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1996;44:847-9.
  7. Prieto JM, Recio MC, Giner RM, et al. Influence of traditional Chinese anti-inflammatory medicinal plants on leukocyte and platelet functions. J Pharm Pharmacol 2003;55:1275-82.
  8. Tai T, Akita Y, Kinoshita K, et al. Anti-emetic principles of Poria cocos. Planta Med 1995;61:527-30.
  9. Tseng J, Chang JG. Suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor secretion from human monocytes by an extract of Poria cocos. Chung Hua Min Kuo Wei Sheng Wu Chi Mien I Hsueh Tsa Chih 1992;25:1-11.
  10. Wang SQ, Du XR, Lu HW, et al. Experimental and clinical studies of Shen Yan Ling in treatment of chronic glomerulonephritis. J Tradit Chin Med 1989;9:132-4.
  11. Wang SS, Yang S, Ma Y. [Efficacy of poria-polyporus anti-diarrhea oral liquor in treating infantile rotavirus diarrhea: a controlled study with smicta]. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1995;15:284-6.
  12. Yang DJ. [Tinnitus treated with combined traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine]. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1989;9:270-1, 259-60.
  13. Yasukawa K, Kaminaga T, Kitanaka S, et al. 3 beta-p-hydroxybenzoyldehydrotumulosic acid from Poria cocos, and its anti-inflammatory effect. Phytochemistry 1998;48:1357-60