Herb & supplement monograph

Poria Mushroom Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Poria Mushroom interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Poria Mushroom is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Poria Mushroom is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Poria Mushroom Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Poria Mushroom drug interaction appears low for most people, since none of the reported concerns have been confirmed in humans. No interactions are rated major, and every one on record is a moderate concern drawn from animal or lab research rather than human studies.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The combinations most worth watching involve sedatives and other CNS depressants, because animal research suggests poria mushroom has calming properties that could add to drowsiness from these medicines. Animal studies also show it may affect an enzyme involved in nerve signaling, which could in theory blunt anticholinergic drugs or strengthen cholinergic drugs, such as some medicines for bladder, gut, or memory conditions. None of these effects has been shown to happen in people, so they remain precautions rather than proven problems.

What the rest of the list means

Although poria mushroom is linked to a long list of medications, that number reflects a few theoretical mechanisms applied across many drugs in the same classes. Every listed interaction rests on animal or lab findings, and no human study has confirmed a meaningful change with any medication so far.

Check your medications against Poria Mushroom

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Poria Mushroom interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Poria Mushroom

417 medications have a known interaction with Poria Mushroom, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Poria Mushroom using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Poria Mushroom interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Poria Mushroom combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Poria Mushroom affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Poria Mushroom is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 3 drug categories Poria Mushroom interacts with

Anticholinergic DrugsCholinergic DrugsCns Depressants

Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, poria mushroom might decrease the clinical effects of anticholinergic drugs.
In animal research, poria mushroom essential oil reduces acetylcholinesterase activity. This interaction has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, poria mushroom might have additive effects when used with cholinergic drugs.
In animal research, poria mushroom essential oil reduces acetylcholinesterase activity. This interaction has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, taking poria mushroom extract may enhance the therapeutic and adverse effects of sedatives.
Animal research shows that poria mushroom extract has sedative properties. This interaction has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Poria Mushroom: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Poria mushroom (Fu Ling) is a fungus long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, mainly as a mild diuretic and digestive and calming aid. Modern scientific evidence in humans is very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. It is generally considered well tolerated, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to a lack of safety data.

Scientific name: Wolfiporia extensa
Family: Polyporaceae
Part used: Dried fungus body (sclerotium)
Common forms: Dried slices, powder, capsules, teas, and ingredient in traditional herbal formulas

People commonly use it for

Fluid retention and swelling
Digestive complaints
Sleep and calming support
General wellness and immune support
Urinary support

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally well tolerated in traditional use, but human safety data are limited.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

Poria mushroom is a fungus that grows on the roots of pine trees, mostly in parts of Asia and North America. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is known as Fu Ling, and the part used is the dried underground body of the fungus called the sclerotium.

It has been used for centuries, usually as one ingredient in larger herbal formulas rather than on its own. People have traditionally taken it to help the body get rid of extra fluid, to support digestion, and to promote calm and restful sleep.

Today you can find poria as dried slices, powders, capsules, and teas. It is often combined with other herbs in classic formulas.

How it works

Poria contains a number of natural compounds, including complex sugars called polysaccharides (such as pachyman) and substances known as triterpenes. Laboratory studies suggest these may have diuretic (fluid-removing), anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating effects.

Some animal and test-tube research also suggests possible calming and antioxidant activity. However, these findings are early and were not done in people, so it is unclear whether the same effects happen in the human body or at the doses people normally take.

Effectiveness

Does Poria Mushroom work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 13 uses evaluated

13 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Poria Mushroom, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 13 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Cancer