Ingredient Fungus / Mushroom (菌类 jūn lèi)

Zhu Ling

Polyporus mushroom · 猪苓

Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries · Polyporus

Also known as: Zhu Fu Ling (猪茯苓)

Zhu Ling (Polyporus mushroom) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Zhū Líng is a medicinal mushroom (fungal sclerotium) used in Chinese medicine primarily as a natural diuretic to help the body drain excess water. It is commonly used for swelling, difficulty urinating, urinary tract discomfort, and watery diarrhoea. Among the water-draining herbs, it is considered one of the strongest at promoting urination, though it is not a tonic and should not be used long-term without guidance.

Category Dampness-draining herbs (利水渗湿药)
Therapeutic focus Urinary Health Fluid Retention and Edema Kidney and Bladder Health Diarrhea Relief

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Bland (淡 dàn)

Channels entered

Kidneys, Urinary Bladder

Parts used

Fungus / Mushroom (菌类 jūn lèi)

Available in our store
View in Store
From $23.00

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Ingredient Does

Every ingredient has a specific set of actions — here's what Zhu Ling does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Zhu Ling is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Urinary Health Fluid Retention and Edema Kidney and Bladder Health Diarrhea Relief

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Zhu Ling performs to restore balance in the body:

Promotes Urination and Drains Dampness

How these actions work

'Promotes urination and drains dampness' means Zhū Líng helps the body expel excess fluid through urination. Its sweet and bland taste gives it a gentle, seeping quality that guides accumulated water and dampness downward and out through the Bladder. This makes it useful whenever fluid is not moving properly in the body, showing up as swelling (edema), difficulty urinating, watery diarrhoea, cloudy or painful urination, or excessive vaginal discharge. Zhū Líng's neutral temperature means it neither heats nor cools, so it can be combined with warming herbs for cold-dampness patterns or with cooling herbs for damp-heat patterns.

Compared to its close relative Fú Líng (Poria), Zhū Líng is considered a stronger diuretic. However, it lacks Fú Líng's ability to strengthen the Spleen or calm the spirit. As the classical Materia Medica texts note, Zhū Líng is a specialist in draining water, not a tonic. Because it works by moving fluids out, prolonged use without appropriate need can deplete the body's healthy fluids. It is therefore avoided in people who have no dampness or who are already Yin-deficient, unless carefully combined with Yin-nourishing herbs like Ē Jiāo (donkey-hide gelatin), as in Zhū Líng Tāng.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Zhu Ling is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Zhu Ling addresses this pattern

When water and dampness accumulate in the body due to impaired fluid metabolism, they can cause generalized or localized swelling, reduced urine output, and a heavy, waterlogged feeling. Zhū Líng's bland, seeping nature directly targets the Kidney and Bladder channels to open the water pathways and promote urination, draining the excess fluid that defines this pattern. Its neutral temperature makes it suitable regardless of whether the dampness leans warm or cold, and it is frequently combined with Fú Líng and Zé Xiè to strengthen the overall draining effect.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Edema

Generalized or lower body swelling

Difficult Urination

Scanty or absent urination

Abdominal Distention

Abdominal fullness from fluid retention

Heavy Sensation In The Head

Heavy, sluggish body feeling

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Zhu Ling is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Water-Dampness Flooding

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, edema results from the body's failure to properly transform and transport fluids. The Lungs, Spleen, and Kidneys all play roles in water metabolism. When any of these organ systems are impaired, or when the Bladder's 'Qi transformation' function is disrupted, fluids accumulate and overflow into the skin and tissues. Depending on where the blockage occurs, edema may appear in the face and upper body (Lung-related), the abdomen (Spleen-related), or the lower limbs (Kidney-related). The underlying pathogenic factor is always excess water-dampness that the body cannot move.

Why Zhu Ling Helps

Zhū Líng directly addresses the excess water accumulation by strongly promoting urination and draining dampness through the Kidney and Bladder channels. Its bland, seeping quality opens the water pathways and encourages the body to expel retained fluid via urine. Because it is the strongest diuretic among the common water-draining herbs, it is a first-line choice when fluid retention is significant. Its neutral temperature allows it to be combined flexibly with warming herbs (like Guì Zhī in Wǔ Líng Sǎn) for cold-type edema, or with cooling herbs for heat-type edema.

Also commonly used for

Difficult Urination

Urinary retention, oliguria

Painful Urination

Dysuria from damp-heat

Cloudy Urine

Turbid urination

Sticky Vaginal Discharge

Leukorrhea from dampness

Kidney Stones

As part of formulas that promote stone passage

Ascites

Liver cirrhosis-related ascites

Hepatitis

Hepatitis B, via polysaccharide extracts in modern use

Ingredient Properties

Every ingredient has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Bland (淡 dàn)

Channels Entered

Kidneys Urinary Bladder

Parts Used

Fungus / Mushroom (菌类 jūn lèi)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Zhu Ling — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

6-12g

Maximum dosage

Up to 15-20g in acute edema or severe urinary obstruction, under practitioner supervision. Some practitioners use doses of 18-21g (6-7 qian) for severe urinary retention.

Dosage notes

Standard decoction dose is 6-12g. For mild dampness or as part of a multi-herb formula, 6-9g is typical. For more pronounced urinary difficulty, edema, or dampness-related diarrhea, 9-12g may be used. When used in powder form (as in some classical applications), a smaller amount applies (about 1-2g per dose, taken with warm water). Excessive dosage or prolonged use risks depleting body fluids and damaging Kidney Qi. In formulas for Yin-deficient patients with water accumulation (as in Zhu Ling Tang), it is always combined with Yin-nourishing herbs like E Jiao to offset its drying tendency.

Common Ingredient Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Zhu Ling for enhanced therapeutic effect

Fu Ling
Fu Ling 1:1 (e.g. 9g each)

Both herbs drain dampness and promote urination, but they complement each other: Zhū Líng is the stronger diuretic, while Fú Líng also strengthens the Spleen and calms the spirit. Together they provide powerful water drainage while supporting the Spleen's ability to manage fluids, preventing the dampness from simply returning.

When to use: Edema, water retention, and urinary difficulty where both strong diuresis and underlying Spleen support are needed. This is the core diuretic pair in Wǔ Líng Sǎn and Zhū Líng Tāng.

Ze Xie
Ze Xie 1:1 to 1:1.5 (e.g. Zhū Líng 9g : Zé Xiè 12–15g)

Zhū Líng and Zé Xiè both promote urination, but through slightly different mechanisms. Classical texts describe Zhū Líng as working 'from Yáng to open the Yīn' (ascending quality) while Zé Xiè works 'from Yīn to reach the Yáng' (descending quality). Zé Xiè also clears deficiency heat from the Kidneys. Together they provide comprehensive, balanced water drainage without becoming too drying in any one direction.

When to use: Significant fluid accumulation with urinary difficulty, especially when there is some heat component. Seen together in Wǔ Líng Sǎn, Zhū Líng Tāng, and Sì Líng Sǎn.

E Jiao
E Jiao 1:1 (e.g. 9g each)

This pairing balances Zhū Líng's strong draining action with Ē Jiāo's Yin-nourishing and Blood-enriching properties. Zhū Líng removes pathogenic water while Ē Jiāo replenishes the healthy fluids and prevents the draining from damaging Yin. The result is 'draining water without injuring Yin' (利水而不伤阴).

When to use: Urinary difficulty or painful urination with signs of Yin deficiency or damp-heat injuring fluids, such as thirst, dry mouth, insomnia, or heat signs. This is the signature pairing in Zhū Líng Tāng.

Hua Shi
Hua Shi 1:1 (e.g. 9g each)

Huá Shí (talcum) clears heat and promotes urination through its slippery, cooling nature, while Zhū Líng provides strong bland-percolating diuresis. Together they clear damp-heat from the lower burner more effectively than either alone, both draining the dampness and cooling the heat.

When to use: Damp-heat painful urination (lín zhèng), urinary tract infections with burning, urgency, and turbid urine. Found together in Zhū Líng Tāng.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Zhu Ling in a prominent role

Zhu Ling Tang 猪苓汤 King

The formula named after the herb. Zhū Líng Tāng from the Shāng Hán Lùn (Zhū Líng, Fú Líng, Zé Xiè, Huá Shí, Ē Jiāo) is the defining showcase of Zhū Líng's ability to drain water while protecting Yin. It treats water-heat mutual binding with Yin damage, showing how Zhū Líng's strong diuresis can be safely deployed even when the body's fluids are already compromised.

Wu Ling San 五苓散 Deputy

The most famous water-regulating formula in all of Chinese medicine. In Wǔ Líng Sǎn (Zhū Líng, Fú Líng, Zé Xiè, Bái Zhú, Guì Zhī), Zhū Líng serves as Deputy alongside Fú Líng, reinforcing the formula's water-draining power. This formula demonstrates Zhū Líng's core function of promoting urination in the context of Bladder Qi transformation failure.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Fu Ling
Zhu Ling vs Fu Ling

Both are fungal sclerotia with sweet, bland taste and water-draining action, but they differ significantly. Zhū Líng is the stronger diuretic, making it the better choice when powerful water drainage is the primary goal. Fú Líng, however, also tonifies the Spleen, calms the Heart spirit, and transforms phlegm, making it far more versatile and suitable for tonic formulas, insomnia, and chronic Spleen deficiency. As the classical texts state: 'Zhū Líng drains water more powerfully than Fú Líng, but it cannot replace Fú Líng in tonic prescriptions.'

Ze Xie
Zhu Ling vs Ze Xie

Both promote urination and drain dampness, entering the Kidney and Bladder channels. The key difference is temperature: Zé Xiè is cold and can clear heat, especially deficiency-fire from the Kidneys, making it suitable for Yin-nourishing formulas like Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán. Zhū Líng is neutral and purely drains water without clearing heat or nourishing Yin. Zhū Líng is preferred when strong, straightforward diuresis is needed without adding cold, while Zé Xiè is preferred when there is Kidney heat or when a cooling effect is desired.

Yi Yi Ren
Zhu Ling vs Yi Yi Ren

Both drain dampness, but through different mechanisms and strengths. Yì Yǐ Rén (Coix seed) is milder and also strengthens the Spleen, clears heat, and expels pus, making it more of a gentle, food-grade option for chronic dampness, skin conditions, and digestive issues. Zhū Líng is a much more targeted and powerful diuretic for acute fluid retention and urinary problems. Choose Zhū Líng for significant edema or urinary obstruction, and Yì Yǐ Rén for milder, chronic dampness or when a gentler approach is appropriate.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Zhu Ling

Zhu Ling can potentially be confused with Fu Ling (Poria cocos), as both are fungal sclerotia used as diuretics. However, Fu Ling has a brown outer skin (not black) and a white, more homogeneous cross-section without the granular quality of Zhu Ling. A species called 'Ci Zhu Ling' (刺猪苓, thorny Zhu Ling) is a vine-growing plant used in parts of Hubei (historically Shi Zhou) for topical application on sores, which is an entirely different organism and should not be substituted. In some regions, sclerotia of other fungal species may be offered as substitutes. Authentic Zhu Ling can be verified by its characteristic black, wrinkled, pig-dung-like exterior, white to yellowish-white granular cross-section, and the fact that its powder becomes gelatinous (粘胶状) when boiled with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any ingredient.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Zhu Ling

Non-toxic

Zhu Ling is classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Toxicity studies on Zhu Ling polysaccharide (PUPS) at 2000 times the therapeutic dose in a single administration, or 100 times the dose given daily for 28 days by oral or intraperitoneal routes, showed no toxic reactions in mice or dogs, and no organ damage was observed. Carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, allergy, and skin irritation tests also showed no significant toxicity. However, classical sources consistently warn that prolonged or excessive use depletes body fluids, damages Kidney Qi, and can impair vision, as Zhu Ling is strongly draining in nature. This is a functional concern related to overuse rather than chemical toxicity.

Contraindications

Situations where Zhu Ling should not be used or requires extra caution

Avoid

Yin deficiency without dampness. Zhu Ling is a powerful draining herb that can deplete body fluids. Classical sources warn that it should not be used when there is no dampness present, as it will exhaust Yin and fluids. The Yi Xue Qi Yuan states: 'Zhu Ling is bland and draining, very drying, and can consume fluids. Do not use without a dampness pattern.'

Avoid

Kidney deficiency with unclear or scanty urination unrelated to dampness. The De Pei Ben Cao warns against use when there is blurred vision and thirst without dampness, as the herb drains Kidney Yin.

Caution

Prolonged use. Multiple classical sources including the Ben Cao Yan Yi caution that long-term use damages Kidney Qi and can cause blurred vision, because the herb's strong draining nature depletes fluids that nourish the eyes.

Caution

Kidney deficiency with dampness. The Yi Xue Ru Men notes that even when dampness is present, if there is underlying Kidney deficiency, Zhu Ling should be used cautiously or combined with Kidney-nourishing herbs.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Generally considered safe at standard doses during pregnancy for appropriate indications. Classical sources, including the Ben Cao Gang Mu, specifically note Zhu Ling's use for pregnancy-related edema and urinary difficulty (妊娠子淋胎肿). The Zi Mu Mi Lu records using Zhu Ling powder for pregnancy edema extending from feet to abdomen with difficult urination. However, because of its strongly draining nature, it should only be used when a clear dampness pattern is present, and prolonged use should be avoided to prevent fluid depletion. Use under practitioner guidance.

Breastfeeding

No specific classical or modern contraindications for breastfeeding have been documented. As a bland, draining herb, Zhu Ling theoretically could reduce body fluid production if used in excess, which might potentially affect milk supply. Use at standard doses for a clear dampness indication is unlikely to pose concerns. As with all diuretic herbs, avoid prolonged or high-dose use during breastfeeding. Practitioner guidance is recommended.

Children

Zhu Ling can be used in children for appropriate indications such as urinary difficulty or edema. Classical sources record its use for paediatric conditions, including constipation in children (combined with chicken droppings). Dosage should be reduced proportionally according to age and body weight, typically one-third to one-half the adult dose. Because of its draining nature, particular care should be taken to avoid overuse and fluid depletion in young children, who are more susceptible to dehydration.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Zhu Ling

Zhu Ling's active steroid compounds (ergosterone and related ergosterol derivatives) exert diuretic effects by inhibiting renal tubular reabsorption of water and electrolytes (particularly sodium, potassium, and chloride). This mechanism overlaps with that of pharmaceutical diuretics such as thiazides, loop diuretics, and potassium-sparing diuretics. Concurrent use may potentiate diuretic effects and increase the risk of electrolyte imbalances (hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia). Monitoring of electrolytes is advisable.

Zhu Ling polysaccharide (PUPS) has documented immunomodulatory activity, enhancing macrophage function and T-cell/B-cell proliferation. Caution is warranted when used concurrently with immunosuppressive medications (e.g. cyclosporine, tacrolimus, corticosteroids), as Zhu Ling may counteract their immunosuppressive effects.

No direct herb-drug interactions with anticoagulants or hepatic enzyme systems have been documented in published literature.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Zhu Ling

Avoid excessive intake of cold, raw, or icy foods and drinks while taking Zhu Ling, as these can impair the Spleen's ability to transform dampness, working against the herb's therapeutic purpose. Favour warm, easily digestible foods that support Spleen function, such as cooked grains, soups, and lightly cooked vegetables. Limiting salt intake may be helpful when using Zhu Ling for edema, as excess sodium promotes fluid retention.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Zhu Ling source organism

Zhu Ling is not a plant but the dried sclerotium (underground resting body) of the polypore fungus Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries, belonging to the family Polyporaceae. The sclerotium grows 10 to 15 cm below the soil surface near the roots of hardwood trees, particularly oak, birch, maple, and beech. It forms irregular, elongated, or roughly cylindrical nodules, 5 to 25 cm long and 2 to 6 cm in diameter, with a black to dark brown, wrinkled exterior resembling dried pig dung (hence the Chinese name, literally "pig fungus").

The above-ground fruiting body is a striking rosette of numerous small, circular, umbrella-shaped caps (each only 1 to 4 cm across), light brown with a central depression, emerging from a repeatedly branching whitish stalk. The whole compound fruiting body can reach up to 40 cm in diameter and appears briefly in spring or autumn. Remarkably, P. umbellatus requires a symbiotic relationship with the honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) to survive; the Armillaria rhizomorphs invade the sclerotium, providing essential nutrients that stimulate its growth and breaking its dormancy.

The species is found across the temperate Northern Hemisphere in both broadleaf and coniferous forests, including throughout China, Japan, Europe, and North America, though it is considered relatively rare in the wild.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Zhu Ling is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Spring and autumn. In southern China, it may be collected year-round; in northern China, summer and autumn are the primary harvest seasons.

Primary growing regions

Major production areas include Shaanxi, Yunnan, Henan, Shanxi, Hebei, and Sichuan provinces, as well as northeastern China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning) and Inner Mongolia. Shaanxi and Yunnan have the largest output, with Shaanxi-produced Zhu Ling traditionally considered the highest quality. The herb is listed among the 'Ten Great Qin Medicines' (十大秦药) of Shaanxi province. In Yunnan, it is distributed in mountain counties such as Lijiang, Weixi, and Dali, where the product is characteristically large, firm, dark-skinned, and white-fleshed. Research indicates that polysaccharide content tends to be relatively higher in specimens from Shaanxi and Sichuan.

Quality indicators

Good quality Zhu Ling sclerotia are large and well-formed, with a black, lustrous outer skin that may have a lacquer-like sheen. The body should feel firm and solid with some heft. The cross-section should be distinctly white or yellowish-white with a slightly granular texture and good powderiness (粉性足). The aroma is very faint and the taste is bland. Avoid specimens that are lightweight, hollow, soft, mouldy, or have a dark or discoloured cross-section. Pieces that are small, broken, or have an overly thin cortex are considered inferior.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Zhu Ling and its therapeutic uses

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》)

Original: 味甘平。主痎疟，解毒蛊疰不祥，利水道。久服轻身耐老。

Translation: Sweet in flavour, neutral in nature. Treats intermittent malaria, resolves toxins, dispels gu-poison and inauspicious influences, promotes the water passages. Prolonged use lightens the body and delays aging.

Ben Cao Yan Yi (《本草衍义》)

Original: 猪苓引水之功多，久服必损肾气，昏人目。

Translation: Zhu Ling's power to move water is great; prolonged use will inevitably damage Kidney Qi and cloud a person's vision.

Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》, Li Shizhen)

Original: 开腠理，治淋肿脚气，白浊带下，妊娠子淋胎肿，小便不利。开腠理，利小便，与茯苓同功。但入补药不如茯苓也。

Translation: Opens the interstices, treats painful urination with swelling and leg Qi, turbid vaginal discharge, pregnancy-related urinary difficulty and fetal edema, and inhibited urination. Opens the interstices and promotes urination with the same function as Fu Ling, but is not as good as Fu Ling in tonifying formulas.

Yi Xue Qi Yuan (《医学启源》, Zhang Yuansu)

Original: 猪苓淡渗，大燥亡津液，无湿证勿服。

Translation: Zhu Ling is bland and draining, very drying and consuming of body fluids. Do not take it when there is no dampness pattern.

Yao Pin Hua Yi (《药品化义》)

Original: 猪苓味淡，淡主于渗，入脾以通水道，用治水泻湿泻，通淋除湿，消水肿，除黄疸，独此最为捷。

Translation: Zhu Ling is bland in taste; blandness promotes percolation. It enters the Spleen to open the waterways. For treating watery diarrhea and damp diarrhea, promoting urination and eliminating dampness, reducing edema and relieving jaundice, nothing works faster than this.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Zhu Ling's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Zhu Ling has been used medicinally in China for over 2,000 years. It was first recorded in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (dating to the Han dynasty era), where it was classified as a middle-grade (中品) medicinal. The name 猪苓 literally means "pig fungus" because the dark, lumpy sclerotium resembles pig droppings. The classical scholar Tao Hongjing (陶弘景) explained in his annotations: "It is the fungus of the maple tree; its skin is very black and forms lumps resembling pig excrement, hence the name." Alternative classical names include 豕零 (from the Zhuangzi), 猳猪屎 (from the Ben Jing), and 地乌桃 (from the Ben Cao Tu Jing).

Zhang Zhongjing featured Zhu Ling prominently in the Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue, where it appears in the famous Zhu Ling Tang (猪苓汤) for treating Yin-deficient water accumulation with heat, and in Wu Ling San (五苓散) for fluid metabolism disorders. These formulas remain cornerstones of clinical practice. The Ben Cao Qiu Zhen distinguished Zhu Ling from the closely related Fu Ling (Poria), noting that while both drain dampness, Fu Ling enters the Qi level and ascends, whereas Zhu Ling enters the Blood level and descends. Li Shizhen observed that Zhu Ling matches Fu Ling in promoting urination but is inferior for use in tonifying formulas. In modern times, Zhu Ling polysaccharide (PUPS) was developed for clinical use beginning in 1979 and approved by the Chinese FDA as an injectable and capsule form for treating hepatitis B and as an adjunct cancer therapy.

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Zhu Ling

1

Comprehensive review: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Polyporus umbellatus (Review, 2013)

Zhao YY. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2013, 149(1): 35-48.

A broad review covering the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Zhu Ling. The review identified steroids and polysaccharides as the main bioactive compounds, and confirmed a wide range of pharmacological activities including diuretic, kidney-protective, anti-cancer, immune-enhancing, liver-protective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. The diuretic mechanism involves steroid compounds inhibiting renal tubular reabsorption of water and electrolytes.

2

Systematic review: The efficacy of Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide in treating hepatitis B in China (Review, 2019)

Guo Z, Zang Y, Zhang L. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, 2019, 163: 329-360.

A systematic review evaluating 11,703 clinically reported cases from over 100 Chinese publications spanning 27 years. Both PUPS capsule and injection are approved by the Chinese FDA. The review found that PUPS was effective for treating hepatitis B both as monotherapy and in combination with hepatitis B vaccine, interferon, or acyclovir, with combination therapies generally outperforming single agents.

3

Cochrane-style systematic review: Chinese medicinal herbs for chronic hepatitis B (Systematic Review, 2001)

Liu JP, McIntosh H, Lin H. Liver, 2001, 21(4): 280-286.

A systematic review of nine randomised trials (936 patients) assessing Chinese herbs for chronic hepatitis B. Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide showed a positive effect on HBeAg clearance compared to placebo (RR 3.06, 95% CI 1.13-8.29) and on HBV DNA clearance compared to non-specific treatment (RR 4.14, 95% CI 1.00-17.19). However, overall evidence quality was low, and the authors concluded that rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are still needed.

4

Clinical trial: Therapeutic effect of combined Salvia miltiorrhizae and Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide for chronic hepatitis B (RCT, 1993)

Xiong LL. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi (Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine), 1993, 13(9): 533-535.

A randomised trial of 90 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Group I received Dan Shen plus PUPS, Group II Dan Shen alone, and Group III PUPS alone. At 3 months, ALT normalisation rates were 80.0%, 40.0%, and 53.3%, and HBeAg negative conversion rates were 56.7%, 50.0%, and 16.7%, respectively. The combination therapy showed the best outcomes, with benefits maintained at 9-month follow-up.

PubMed

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.