Poria (Fu Ling) Mushroom Powder 100% Organic
Full Spectrum Steam Activated Bio-Available Wolfiporia extensa USA Grown - Certified Organic by MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Certification Services)
No imported mushrooms, no fillers, only dried powdered mycelium and primordia.
INGREDIENTS: Organic Poria cocos (Wolfiporia extensa) mycelium preparation, Myceliated Organic Brown Rice
PACKAGING: To assure quality packaged in a tamper proof, safety sealed bag
NO FILLERS: These mushrooms have been grown in organic brown rice. As they grow the mushrooms "eat" essentially all of the rice but there may still be traces of rice. The "organic myceliated brown rice" is listed as an "other ingredient" just in case one must avoid rice in their diet.
For more than two thousand years Poria mushroom has been a commonly prescribed traditional medicine used in a variety of health conditions.
Poria is also known as Fu Ling, Hoelen, Indian Bread, Matsuhodo, Tuckahoe or Wolfiporia cocos.*
Stephen Harrod Buhner frequently used Poria cocos as a crucial and supportive ally.
Rather than viewing herbs purely as static "antibiotics," Buhner’s "take" focused on the complex ecological relationship between the pathogen, the host's body, and the intelligence of the plant or fungus.
Buhner primarily incorporated Poria cocos into his expanded and supportive protocols for chronic Lyme disease, co-infections, and viral protocols for several specific therapeutic reasons:
1. Draining "Dampness" and Fluid Retention
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Poria is famous for its ability to drain dampness and promote urination without exhausting the body's vital fluids. Buhner adapted this to help patients suffering from the metabolic stagnation, edema, and puffy swelling often triggered by chronic systemic inflammation and toxic overload from tick-borne infections
2. Gastrointestinal Support & Nutrient Absorption
Buhner recognized that heavy antibiotic use or persistent infections severely compromise the gut. Poria is highly regarded for strengthening the "Spleen" (the digestive hub in TCM), relieving bloating, supporting the gut microbiome, and treating chronic loose stools or poor nutrient absorption. It acts as a gentle, non-irritating digestive tonic.
3. Calming the Spirit (The Shen)
Neurological symptoms—such as insomnia, heart palpitations, severe anxiety, and "brain fog"—are hallmark challenges in chronic Lyme and viral recovery. Buhner utilized Poria because it contains triterpenoids and polysaccharides that exert a mild, stabilizing sedative effect on the central nervous system, helping to soothe the mind and restore deeper rest.
4. Immunomodulation
Rather than aggressively stimulating the immune system (which can worsen autoimmune-like flares in Lyme disease), Poria cocos is an immunomodulator. It helps regulate inflammatory cytokine cascades, assisting the host body in recalibrating its defenses rather than overreacting to remaining pathogens.
Summary of Buhner's Approach
In Buhner's framework, Poria is rarely a headline "pathogen killer." Instead, it is a vital systemic repair agent. It forms part of the secondary, adaptive tier of his protocols—designed to protect cellular tissue, rebuild organ pathways, regulate fluids, and steady a frayed nervous system.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified health practitioner before using, especially if you have any serious medical conditions, are pregnant, breast feeding, or currently taking medications. Keep out of reach of children.