生于古松之下，感土木之气而成，故味甘淡，性平，无毒。入手足少阴、手太阳、
足太阴、阳明经、阳中之阴也。甘能补中，淡能利窍，故为渗湿扶脾、解热散结、利水
补中之要药。专入脾肾功多。如入补脾药中，宜不制者，方得淡渗之功，若入补阴药
中，宜人乳拌晒，以减淡渗之势。茯神抱木而生，有根据守之义，故专入心经，为安种益
智健忘却惊之需，其心木名黄松节，治伤风口眼歪斜，毒风筋挛不语，凡神惊掣，虚而
健忘，其所主与伏神大同小异耳。
白茯苓，主胸胁逆气，腹中痰水，忧恚惊恐，寒热烦满，心下结痛，咳逆舌干，水
肿淋结，五劳七伤，安胎气暖腰膝，生津液健脾驱痰火，益肺利血，渗湿安魂，却惊开
胃浓肠，上以渗脾肺之湿，下以伐肝肾之邪，故为利水燥湿之要药。入四君，则佐参
术以渗脾家之湿。入六味，则使泽泻以行肾邪之余。赤入心脾小肠，专功泻热利水。白
者兼补，赤者专泻。白者入壬癸，赤者之丙丁。茯神专补心经，主恍惚惊悸，恚怒健
忘，辟不详开心智，安魂魄养精神，盖假松之气，而津盛发泄于外以成者为茯苓，其内
守抱根而生者为茯神，有根据附之义，为收敛神气之用，取静而能安也。
茯苓皮，本性淡而能渗湿，色黑而象水，故入五皮汤中，以为利水消肿之剂。琥
珀亦松液精华凝结地中千年而成象，故生于阳而成于阴也，属阳与金，色赤味甘，肝心
脾小肠血分之药。本性燥而渗湿，故亦和水，辛温而色赤，故能消瘀，资禀敛涩，故
能长肌，成于冲净，故能定魄。
主治（痘疹合参） 茯苓，利水除湿，益气和中，本为扶脾养胃之药，但多淡渗走
利之功，故于痘疮灌浆时忌服，恐令水气下行，外不行浆，内防发渴，惟泄泻者，水泡
者，及收靥时并用之。赤者惟利水泻热而不补，如小便多，及汗多阴虚者，所当忌也。
按∶茯苓假土之精气，松之余气而成，无中生有得地浓之精，为脾家之要药。《素
问》曰∶饮入于胃，游溢精气，上输于肺。调通水道，下输膀胱。则利水之药，皆上行
而后下降也。洁古谓其上升，东垣谓其下降，各不相皆也。但小便频多，其源甚异。
《经》云∶肺气盛则便数，虚则小便遗，心虚则少气遗尿，下焦虚则遗尿，胞络移热于
膀胱则遗尿，膀胱不约为遗，厥阴病则遗尿，所谓肺气盛者，实热也。宜茯苓以渗其
热，故曰小便多者能止也。若肺虚心虚，胞
络热厥阴病，皆虚火也必上热下寒，所当升阳，膀胱不约，下焦虚者，乃火投于水，水
泉不藏，必肢冷脉迟，当用温热，皆非茯苓可治，故曰阴虚者，不宜用也。茯神抱根而
生，有根据守之义，故魂不守舍者用以安之。赤者入丙丁，但主导赤而已。
白茯苓生长在古松之下，感受泥土和树木的气息而生成，因此味道甘甜且淡，性质平和，没有毒性。它归入手少阴心经、足少阴肾经、手太阳小肠经、足太阴脾经、足阳明胃经，属于阳中之阴。甘味能补益中焦，淡味能通利窍道，因此它是渗湿健脾、清热散结、利水补中的关键药物。主要作用于脾脏和肾脏。如果用于补脾的药物中，宜使用未经炮制的茯苓，这样才能发挥其淡渗的功效；如果用于补阴的药物中，宜用人乳拌和后晒干，以减弱其淡渗的势头。茯神抱着树干生长，有依附坚守的含义，因此专门入心经，是安定心神、益智健忘、消除惊悸所必需的。它的中心木质部分名为黄松节，治疗伤风引起的口眼歪斜、毒风导致的筋脉拘挛和不能言语，凡是神志惊恐抽搐、虚弱导致的健忘，其主要功效与茯神大同小异。
白茯苓，主治胸胁部气逆上冲，腹中的痰饮和水湿，忧愁愤怒惊恐，寒热交替烦躁胀满，心下（胃脘部）结聚疼痛，咳嗽气逆舌干，水肿淋证结块，五劳七伤，能安胎气、温暖腰膝，生津液、健脾、驱除痰火，益肺气、利血，渗湿安神，消除惊悸、开胃、厚肠。向上可以渗泄脾肺的湿气，向下可以攻伐肝肾的邪气，因此是利水燥湿的关键药物。加入四君子汤中，则辅助人参、白术来渗泄脾家的湿气。加入六味地黄丸中，则引导泽泻来行泄肾邪的余留。赤茯苓入心、脾、小肠经，专门功效为泻热利水。白色茯苓兼有补益作用，赤色茯苓专门泻实。白色茯苓入壬癸（水/肾），赤色茯苓入丙丁（火/心）。茯神专门补益心经，主治恍惚惊悸、愤怒健忘，辟除不祥、开启心智，安定魂魄、滋养精神，大概是借助松树的气，津液旺盛发泄于外而形成的称为茯苓，其内部坚守抱根而生的称为茯神，有依附坚守的意义，用于收敛神气，取安静而能安定的意思。
茯苓皮，本性淡而能渗湿，颜色黑而象征水，因此加入五皮散中，作为利水消肿的方剂。琥珀也是松树液体精华凝结在地中千年而成，形状像象（一说像虎魄），因此生于阳而成于阴，属性属阳并与金相关，颜色赤红、味道甘甜，是肝、心、脾、小肠血分的药物。本性燥而能渗湿，所以也能治水，辛温且颜色赤红，所以能消散瘀血，禀性收敛涩滞，所以能促进肌肉生长，形成于纯净，所以能安定魂魄。
主治（痘疹合参）：茯苓，利水除湿，益气和中，本是扶持脾胃的药物，但多具有淡渗走利的功效，所以在痘疮灌浆时期忌服，恐怕导致水气下行，外部不能灌浆，内部防止引发口渴，只有出现泄泻、水泡以及收靥（结痂脱落）时并用。赤茯苓只利水泻热而不补益，如小便频多，以及汗多阴虚者，应当禁忌。
按语：茯苓假借土的精气，松树的残余气息而生成，无中生有，得到地气浓厚的精华，是脾家的重要药物。《素问》说：“饮食进入胃，游溢精气，上输于肺。”调通水道，下输膀胱。那么利水的药物，都是先上行而后下降的。洁古（张元素）认为它上升，东垣（李杲）认为它下降，各自说法不同。但是小便频多的原因非常复杂。《内经》说：“肺气盛则小便频数，虚则小便失禁，心虚则少气遗尿，下焦虚则遗尿，胞络移热于膀胱则遗尿，膀胱不约束则遗尿，厥阴病则遗尿。”所谓肺气盛，是指实热。适宜用茯苓来渗泄其热，所以说小便多者能用茯苓止住。如果是肺虚、心虚、胞络热、厥阴病，都属于虚火，必然上热下寒，应当升阳；膀胱不约束，下焦虚者，乃是火投入水中，水泉不藏，必然四肢冷、脉迟，应当用温热药，这些都不是茯苓能治疗的，所以说阴虚者不宜使用。茯神抱根而生，有依附坚守的意义，所以神魂不守舍的人用它来安定。赤茯苓入丙丁（火/心），只是主导红色罢了。
Bai Fuling (Poria, *Poria cocos*), growing beneath ancient pines and formed by absorbing the qi of earth and wood, possesses a sweet and bland flavor, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian; it belongs to Yin within Yang. Sweetness tonifies the Middle Jiao, while blandness unblocks orifices; thus, it is a crucial herb for leaching out dampness, supporting the Spleen, clearing heat, dissipating nodules, promoting urination, and tonifying the Middle. It primarily acts on the Spleen and Kidneys. When included in formulas that tonify the Spleen, unprocessed Poria is preferred to retain its bland-leaching efficacy. When included in formulas that tonify Yin, it should be mixed with human milk and sun-dried to mitigate its draining intensity. Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), which grows embracing the tree root, symbolizes attachment and steadfastness; therefore, it specifically enters the Heart Meridian and is essential for calming the Shen (Spirit), enhancing intelligence, improving memory, and dispelling fright. Its central woody part is called Huangsongjie (Yellow Pine Joint), used to treat facial paralysis due to wind-stroke, tendon spasms and muteness caused by toxic wind, as well as spirit fright with convulsions and forgetfulness due to deficiency. Its primary indications are largely similar to those of Bai Fuling.
Bai Fuling treats rebellious Qi in the chest and hypochondrium, phlegm-fluid retention in the abdomen, sorrow, anger, fright, and palpitations, alternating chills and fever, irritability, fullness, knotting pain in the epigastrium, coughing with rebellious Qi and dry tongue, edema, strangury, and masses. It addresses the five exhaustions and seven injuries, calms fetal movement, warms the waist and knees, generates body fluids, strengthens the Spleen, expels phlegm-fire, benefits the Lungs, promotes blood circulation, leaches dampness, calms the Soul (Hun), dispels fright, opens the stomach, and thickens the intestines. Upwardly, it leaches dampness from the Spleen and Lungs; downwardly, it attacks pathogens in the the Liver and Kidneys. Thus, it is a key herb for promoting urination and drying dampness. In Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), it assists Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) to leach dampness from the Spleen. In Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), it guides Zexie (Alisma Rhizome) to drain residual kidney pathogens. Chifuling (Red Poria) enters the Heart, Spleen, and Small Intestine meridians, specializing in clearing heat and promoting urination. White Poria has both tonifying and draining effects, whereas Red Poria specializes in draining. White Poria corresponds to Ren-Gui (Water/Kidney), while Red Poria corresponds to Bing-Ding (Fire/Heart). Fushen specifically tonifies the Heart Meridian, treating mental confusion, fright, palpitations, anger, and forgetfulness; it wards off ill omens, opens the mind, calms the Hun and Po (Soul and Corporeal Soul), and nourishes the Spirit. This is because it borrows the Qi of the pine; when the essence flows abundantly and manifests outwardly, it becomes Fuling; when it stays inwardly, embracing the root, it becomes Fushen. It embodies the meaning of attachment and is used to consolidate the Shen, taking advantage of stillness to achieve calm.
Fulingpi (Poria Peel), being naturally bland, can leach dampness; its black color corresponds to Water. Therefore, it is included in Wupi Tang (Five Peel Decoction) as an agent for promoting urination and reducing edema. Hupo (Amber), also formed from the essence of pine resin condensed underground over millennia, is generated in Yang but completed in Yin. It belongs to Yang and Metal, is red in color and sweet in taste, and acts on the Blood aspect of the Liver, Heart, Spleen, and Small Intestine. Its nature is dry and able to leach dampness, so it can also regulate water. Being acrid, warm, and red, it can dissipate stasis. Due to its astringent nature, it promotes muscle growth. Formed through purity, it stabilizes the Po.
Indications (Integrated Analysis of Smallpox): Fuling promotes urination, removes dampness, supplements Qi, and harmonizes the Middle. It is fundamentally a herb for supporting the Spleen and nourishing the Stomach. However, due to its predominant bland-draining and moving properties, it is contraindicated during the pustule-filling stage of smallpox, lest it cause fluid Qi to descend, preventing external filling of pustules and internally triggering thirst. It is only used concurrently in cases of diarrhea, vesicular eruptions, and during the scabbing phase. Red Poria only promotes urination and clears heat without tonifying; it is contraindicated in cases of frequent urination and excessive sweating leading to Yin deficiency.
Commentary: Fuling forms by borrowing the essence of earth and the residual Qi of pines, creating something from nothing, obtaining the dense essence of the earth, making it a vital herb for the Spleen. The *Su Wen* states: "When drink enters the Stomach, its essence floats and overflows, transporting upward to the Lungs." Regulating the water passages, it transports downward to the Bladder. Thus, diuretic herbs generally ascend first before descending. Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) claimed it ascends, while Dongyuan (Li Gao) claimed it descends; their views differ. However, the causes of frequent urination vary greatly. The Classics state: "Excess Lung Qi leads to frequent urination; deficiency leads to urinary incontinence. Heart deficiency leads to shortness of breath and urinary incontinence. Lower Jiao deficiency leads to urinary incontinence. Heat transferring from the Bao Luo (Uterus/Bladder Collateral) to the Bladder leads to urinary incontinence. Bladder failure to constrain leads to incontinence. Jueyin disease leads to incontinence." The term "Lung Qi excess" refers to Excess-Heat. It is appropriate to use Fuling to leach this heat; hence, it can stop frequent urination. If the condition involves Lung deficiency, Heart deficiency, Bao Luo heat, or Jueyin disease, these are all Deficiency-Fire conditions, characterized by upper heat and lower cold, requiring raising Yang. For bladder incontinence due to Lower Jiao deficiency, fire is cast into water, causing the spring of water not to be contained, resulting in cold limbs and a slow pulse; warm-tonic herbs are required. These are not treatable by Fuling; hence, it is unsuitable for Yin deficiency. Fushen grows embracing the root, embodying attachment and steadfastness, and is used to calm those whose Hun does not reside in its proper place. Red Poria enters Bing-Ding (Fire/Heart) and merely governs the red aspect.