TCMIO

Fu Shen in Traditional Chinese Medicine

茯神fú shén

Fu Shen (Poria cum Radix Pini), known in Chinese as 茯神 is the sclerotium with pine root of Poria cum Radix Pini (Polyporaceae), a traditional Chinese medicinal material with documented use in classical TCM texts.

This page presents its traditional TCM context, botanical identity, available evidence scope, and safety information — not as medical advice, but as an educational reference.

Traditional TCM ContextSafety information available

Sclerotium with pine root of Poria cum Radix Pini.

Image details

License: Source: Sogou Baike (baike.sogou.com)

Attribution: Source: Sogou Baike — 茯神

On this page

Key Facts

Material
Sclerotium with pine root
Botanical source
Poria cum Radix Pini
Direct human evidence
No verified study currently linked

What Is Fu Shen?

Fu Shen (Poria cum Radix Pini), known in Chinese as 茯神 is the sclerotium with pine root of Poria cum Radix Pini (Polyporaceae), a traditional Chinese medicinal material with documented use in classical TCM texts. In the traditional TCM framework, it is classified as neutral in nature and sweet, bland in flavor.

Calms the Shen (spirit), strengthens the Spleen, promotes urination. Specifically used when insomnia has an anxiety/restlessness component.[1]

Botanical description: Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Polyporaceae) — the sclerotium of the fungus with a segment of pine root (Pinus massoniana) embedded within. The distinguishing feature of Fu Shen is the presence of the pine root core, which is absent in Fu Ling.

Traditional TCM Context

Nature: NeutralFlavor: Sweet, BlandMeridians: Heart, Spleen

Traditional functions: Calms the Shen (spirit), strengthens the Spleen, promotes urination. Specifically used when insomnia has an anxiety/restlessness component.[1]

Traditional uses: Used for insomnia with palpitations, anxiety, forgetfulness, and restlessness. Fu Shen is preferred over Fu Ling when calming the spirit is the primary goal.

Related TCM patterns

Heart Fire心火亢盛Yin Deficiency阴虚

This description reflects traditional TCM theory and is not a modern medical diagnosis or treatment claim.

What Research Applies to Fu Shen?

Research on Poria cocos triterpenoids shows sedative and GABA-modulating activity in preclinical studies. Specific research on Fu Shen (Poria with pine root) is limited; most published data evaluate Poria cocos sclerotium without pine root.

No published research studies are currently linked to Fu Shen in this library.

Research information will be added as verified studies become available.

Safety Information

Safety Summary

What is known

Fu Shen shares the same fungal organism (Poria cocos) as Fu Ling, and its safety profile is presumed similar. Poria cocos has a long history of traditional use with low reported acute toxicity. No herb-specific clinical safety studies (adverse events, toxicity, long-term use) are available for Fu Shen as a distinct TCM material. The pine root component adds no known additional toxicity risk.

Special populations

  • Pregnancy: No herb-specific assessment in this library
  • Breastfeeding: No herb-specific assessment in this library
  • Children: No herb-specific assessment in this library
  • Drug interactions: No herb-specific assessment in this library

What remains uncertain

  • Herb-specific clinical safety data (adverse events, toxicity, long-term use) are not available for review.
  • Drug-herb interaction data specific to Fu Shen may be lacking; most published interaction studies use extracts or isolated compounds.

Who should seek professional guidance

Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, those taking prescription medications, people managing chronic conditions, and anyone considering herbal products for children should consult a qualified healthcare professional before using Fu Shen or any herbal product.

Platform safety boundary

TCMIO provides educational information only — not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. We do not provide dosage guidance, administration instructions, or individualized treatment plans. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herbal product.

Safety during pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric use has not been systematically evaluated for Fu Shen as a medicinal material. For urgent or severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Sources Used on This Page(2)

  1. 1.

    Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2020 Edition), Volume I. Beijing: China Medical Science Press; 2020.

    Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020
    Bibliographic details

    Supports: Botanical Identity, Traditional TCM Context, Traditional Functions

    Reliability: High

    Source type: Government Source

  2. 2.

    Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, 2020 Edition, Volume I. Beijing: China Medical Science Press; 2020. Monograph: Poria (Fu Ling). Note: Fu Shen is not separately monographed; it is derived from Poria cocos sclerotium with embedded pine root.

    Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020
    Bibliographic details

    Reliability: gold

    Last checked: July 2026

    Source type: pharmacopoeia

Prepared by: TCMIO Editorial TeamLast updated: July 2, 2026Editorial PolicySafety Policy

Medical Disclaimer: The information on TCMIO is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herbal products, starting any new treatment, or making changes to your existing healthcare regimen. Do not stop or modify any prescribed treatment without consulting your healthcare provider.

If you are experiencing severe or urgent symptoms, seek immediate medical attention by calling emergency services or visiting the nearest emergency department.