Fu Ling — Sclerotium Poriae Cocos Supports healthy fluid balance; calms the mind; eases bloating. "Fu Ling is traditionally used to support healthy fluid balance and enhance a calm, settled feeling." Clinical studies have revealed Poria cocos support the body's immune system, due its polysaccharide component Pachymaran, which supports immunomodulatory activity by activating relevant cell-signaling pathways. [PMC network pharmacology study, 2024].
Fú Ling as it is called in TCM, is a popular adaptogen known to “calm the spirit.” This ancient mushroom has been used for centuries in TCM formulations, classified as a tonic herb with mild sedative, immune modulating and diuretic properties. A 2023 clinical trial study conducted on insomnia sufferers with a mean age of 55 concluded that Poria cocos sclerotium improves the quality of sleep. [NIH, PubMed, 2023, Oct 1]. It is often used in modern herbal formulas to help anxiety, tension, stress and insomnia. Poria extracts increase serotonin levels and lower stress-induced sugar cravings. It supports digestive harmony by reducing sluggish digestion, bloating, diarrhea, restrained dampness and edema to normalize metabolic imbalances.
Gan Cao — Honey-Fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis Harmonizes the formula; supports pancreatic Qi; moderates other herbs. "Honey-fried Licorice Root harmonizes the formula and supports overall balance." Glycyrrhiza uralensis is highly valued for its natural healing and modern research shows anti-inflammatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties due to the glycyrrhizin, flavonoids, and triterpenoids compounds responsible for its medicinal effects to detoxify pathogens, clear heat, tonify the pancreas, replenish Qi and harmonize the other herbs in a formula. [NIH, PubMed, 2023, Mar 2].
Science Direct: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116491
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Lilium brownii/Baihe as Nutraceuticals: Insights into Its Composition and Therapeutic Properties
Yong-Fei Wang 1,2, Zi-Yi An 1,2,†, Le-Qi Yuan 1,2, Ting Wang 1,2, Wei-Lin Jin 1,2,*
Editors: Sabina Lachowicz-Wiśniewska, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan
Lilium/Baihe is one of the classic nutraceuticals, and its edible and medicinal parts are the bulbs of Lilium. Lilium has active components determined by pharmacological studies, which mainly include saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Lilium medicinally has the effect of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, dispelling fire, and calming the mind, and it is often used to treat symptoms such as yin deficiency and chronic cough, fatigue, cough and hemoptysis, deficiency and palpitation, insomnia, dreaminess, and trance. Lilium can also be used in diet therapy for cough and asthma, hypoglycemia, anti-tumor, improved sleep, enhanced immunity, Alzheimer’s prevention, and other effects according to MDPI-Pharmaceuticals.