The efficacy and function of split hoof

Chinese medicinal materials are very common, and there are many types of them. There are also some differences in their efficacy. Therefore, you need to have a good understanding before choosing. Do you know about the medicinal material called split hoof?

[Source] Medicinal material source: The fruiting body of the fungus Poria cocos.

【Original morphology】 The fruiting body is perennial. Woody, lateral, sessile, hemispherical to hoof-shaped, 3-20cm×6-30cm, 2-10cm thick. The lid surface is gray-brown at first, gradually changing to dark brown to black brown. It has hair when young, which gradually falls off and becomes smooth. It has wide concentric ridges and grooves, and becomes cracked and rough when old. The lid edge is blunt, dark brown, with small cracks, and there is no hymenium on the lower side, which is light earthy yellow. The tube mouth surface is dark yellow; the tube mouth is round and small, with 5-6 per 1mm; the fungus tube has multiple layers, the layers are not obvious, each layer is 2-5mm long, yellowish brown to reddish brown, and the old fungus tube is filled with white hyphae. The flesh of the mushroom is the same color as the tube, has a filamentous luster, concentric ring patterns, is layered, and is 0.5-3cm thick. The spores are nearly spherical, yellowish brown, smooth, often containing an oil droplet, (5-6)μm×(4-5)μm.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows on the trunks of broad-leaved trees such as birch.

【Properties】 Characteristic identification: The fruiting body is sessile. The cap is horseshoe-shaped or flat hemispherical, with a long diameter of 6-25cm, a short diameter of 3-13cm, and a thickness of 2-10cm. The surface is gray, dark brown or black, with concentric ring ridges, rough, cracked, and thick edges. The tube mouth surface is dark yellow, the tube mouth is round, there are 4-6 tube mouths every 1mm, and some fungal tubes are filled with white hyphae. Wood. Slight odor, light taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly bitter; neutral

【Functions and indications】Resolving symptoms and dispersing nodules; stopping bleeding and leucorrhea; strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea. Main symptoms: accumulation of masses, metrorrhagia, leucorrhea, and diarrhea due to spleen deficiency.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 10-15g; grind into powder, 3g each time, 2-3 times a day.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is an introduction to the Chinese medicinal herb split hoof. For medicinal herbs that we don't understand, we should learn more about them so that we can make full use of them in our lives and not be at a loss.