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Lingzhi Classroom

The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

Compendium of Materia Medica

Lingzhi Pills: Treat deficiency of spleen and kidney qi, replenish essence and marrow, and improve hearing and vision. Take one jin of Atractylodes lancea; soak it in rice-washing water—five days in spring and summer, seven days in autumn and winter—changing the water daily. Scrape off the outer skin with a bamboo knife, slice it, and dry it in the sun. Grind it into a fine powder using a stone mortar, steam it with jujube pulp, and form it into pills about the size of Chinese walnuts. Take three to fifty pills each time, with jujube decoction on an empty stomach. (From “Qixiao Liangfang”) This formula truly nourishes the spleen and kidneys, generates essence, and strengthens the bones. Atractylodes lancea (peeled), five jin—grind into powder, soak in rice-washing water, let settle, and use only the sediment; sesame seeds, two and a half sheng—remove the husks, grind thoroughly, then strain through a silk bag to remove residue. Mix the clarified liquid with the powdered Atractylodes, and expose to the sun until dry. Take three qian each time, mixed with rice soup or wine on an empty stomach. (From “Sun’s Treatise on Yellow Face and Poor Appetite”: for both men and women who have a pale complexion and poor appetite, preferring to lie down—use one jin of Atractylodes, half a jin of prepared Rehmannia root, and one liang of dried ginger (prepared by roasting) in winter; in spring and autumn… For children’s indigestion and malnutrition: take four liang of Atractylodes, grind it into powder. Take one sheep liver, split it open with a bamboo knife, sprinkle with the powdered Atractylodes, tie it up with thread, place it in an earthenware pot and boil until cooked, then pound it into pills and administer. (From “Shengsheng Bian”)

Compendium of Materia Medica
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The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

New Interpretation of Medical Formulas

Ingredients of Lingwu Erren Ointment: 500 g of Ganoderma lucidum, 500 g of Polygonum multiflorum, 250 g of walnut kernels, and 250 g of Coix seed. Functions: Nourishes the liver and kidneys, replenishes essence and blood, and harmonizes the spleen and lungs.

New Interpretation of Medical Formulas
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The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

Hua Tuo’s Divine Formula

Volume Twenty-One <Title> 21006: The Divine Formula of Hua Tuo’s Mica Pill

Hua Tuo’s Divine Formula
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The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

Imperial Pharmacy Formula

Purple Reishi Pill [Formula Composition]: Purple Reishi, half a liang; Cinnabar, two liang; White Quartz, two liang; Oyster Shell, one liang; Coptis, half a liang; Scutellaria, half a liang; Poria, half a liang; Alum and Gourd Seed, each half a liang. [Functions and Indications]: To subdue heart fire, nourish kidney water, conserve true qi, and strengthen yang functions.

Imperial Pharmacy Formula
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The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

Taiping Sacred Benefit Formula

The Immortal’s Method of Wearing Lingzhi to Lighten the Body and Achieve Flight: Take a piece of lingzhi growing on rock, with eighteen to nineteen segments, weighing ten jin; dry it in the sun, grind it into a powder, steam it for one full hour, then dry it again, and pound it once more until reduced to fine particles. Mix the resulting powder with refined honey to form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Each morning and evening, take twenty pills with wine. After ten days, the body will feel light; after twenty days, all ailments will cease; and after thirty days, the body will be as pure as white jade…

Taiping Sacred Benefit Formula
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The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

Universal Prescriptions

Volume 264: The Section on Elixirs and Dietary Remedies — Immortal Elixirs and Dietary Remedies Method for Immortals to Take Lingzhi to Lighten the Body and Achieve Flight Obtain a piece of lingzhi growing on rock, with eight or nine nodes, weighing ten jin. Dry it in the sun, grind it into a powder, steam it for one hour, then dry it again. Repeat this process until thoroughly dried, and pound it another ten thousand times. Mix the resulting powder with refined honey to form pills.

Universal Prescriptions
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The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

Complete Record of Sacred Cures

The Complete Record of Sacred Cures, Volume Ninety: For Loss of Appetite and Restlessness of the Spirit, Preserving Essence—Formula for Purple Ganoderma Pills Purple Ganoderma (1.5 liang), Chinese yam, Aconite (calcined, peeled, and pitted), Platycladus seeds (stir-fried until fragrant, then ground separately), Citrus aurantium fruit (pith removed, stir-fried with bran until golden), Morinda root (core removed), White Poria (peeled of its black outer layer, each 1.5 fen), Ginseng, Raw Rehmannia root (washed and dried), Oatmeal Lily bulb (core removed, dried), Schisandra berries (stem and leaves removed, stir-fried), Pinellia (washed in boiling water to remove stickiness, then stir-fried), Peony bark, Aconite (calcined, pitted, each 3 fen), Polygonum seed, Polygala root (cores removed, each 1 fen), Alisma, Melon seed (each 0.5 liang, stir-fried until fragrant).

Complete Record of Sacred Cures
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The Classic of Materia Medica on Lingzhi

"Compendium of Materia Medica"

Red Ganoderma, Black Ganoderma, Purple Ganoderma—each is classified into six grades according to its color, and its flavor corresponds to the five elements. Its qi is balanced in all respects, and it is non‑toxic when ingested or applied externally. Green Ganoderma, resembling emerald feathers (also known as Dragon Ganoderma), corresponds to the wood element and has a sour taste; it grows on Mount Tai and is especially effective in tonifying liver qi. It fosters benevolence and forbearance, strengthens resolve, and clarifies the eyes while calming the spirit.

"Compendium of Materia Medica"
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Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Lingzhi and Licorice Decoction

[Source] Guo Renxu, “Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,” No. 2, 1988. [Herbal Composition] Each of Ganoderma lucidum, Rehmannia glutinosa, Epimedium, Millettia dielsiana, and Jujube is 30 grams; each of prepared licorice and Scrophularia ningpoensis is 15 grams; donkey-hide gelatin 6 grams (melted separately); and each of fresh ginger, Codonopsis pilosula, Cinnamomum cassia, Ophiopogon japonicus, Semen Prunus Armeniaca, and Carthamus tinctorius is 10 grams. [Functions and Indications] Tonifies qi and nourishes yin, unblocks yang and transforms qi, activates blood circulation and opens the channels. Used for premature beats (arrhythmia) presenting with palpitations, chest oppression and pain, shortness of breath and weakness, dizziness, or five‑heart vexation and heat, insomnia with frequent dreams, or aversion to cold and cold extremities; the tongue is pale red or slightly reddish, with few ecchymoses, the coating is thin, and the pulse is fine, wiry, and slippery, often accompanied by a thready, intermittent, or rapid pulse.

Lingzhi and Licorice Decoction
Lingzhi and Licorice Decoction

Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Empirical Formula for Leukopenia — Shenqi Shengbai Decoction

【Herbal Formula】Dangshen 20 g, Huangqi 20 g, Jixueteng 30 g, Wuzhimao Tao, Danggui 10 g, Huangjing 15 g, Qizi 10 g, Baizhu 10 g, Gushuibu 10 g, Lingzhi 10 g. 【Functions and Indications】Following chemotherapy, the patient presents with fatigue and weakness, aversion to cold, frequent susceptibility to colds, spontaneous sweating and asthenia, soreness and weakness in the lower back and legs, dizziness and blurred vision, poor appetite, low-grade fever with dry throat. Biochemical tests reveal a marked reduction in white blood cells; the tongue is pale‑red with a white coating. The syndrome is attributed to deficiency of the zang organs and dual deficiency of qi and blood. 【Modifications】For loss of appetite, add Ji Neijin and Maiya; for hair loss, add Tusi Zi 10 g and Heshouwu 15 g; for soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, add Sangjisheng and Duzhong. For predominant yin deficiency, add Nüzhenzi and Sangshenzi; for severe deficiency of both qi and blood, add Hongshen and Lurong. For thrombocytopenia, add Lurong, Ejiao, and Xianhecao. In female patients with menstrual irregularities, add Yimu Cao and Shudi; for amenorrhea, add Yin Yang Huo, Tusi Zi, Shudi, and Danggui.

Empirical Formula for Leukopenia — Shenqi Shengbai Decoction
Empirical Formula for Leukopenia — Shenqi Shengbai Decoction

Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Vascular Neurogenic Headache Formula

【Herbal Formula】Chuanxiong 6 g × 2 packets, Quanxie 3 g, Danggui 5 g, Baizhi 6 g, Tianma 5 g, Xia Kucǎo 10 g 【Functions and Indications】Used for vascular‑neural headaches that have not responded to other treatments; dosage may be adjusted as follows: add Bai Shao for constipation, add Shan Zhi for severe heat, and add Zao Ren for insomnia. Treatment course: one month per course; 1–3 courses.

Vascular Neurogenic Headache Formula
Vascular Neurogenic Headache Formula

Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Hepatitis B Formula

[Herbal Combination] Notoginseng 5 g, Ganoderma lucidum 10 g, Sophora flavescens 6 g × 2 sachets (encapsulated) [Functions and Indications] Used for chronic hepatitis B, regardless of whether symptoms are present or liver function is abnormal. Modifications: Optional additions include Polygonum cuspidatum, Schisandra chinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, or Salvia miltiorrhiza. Treatment course: 3 months per course; 2–4 courses in total. For patients who do not achieve seroconversion, one course per year thereafter to help prevent hepatic fibrosis.

Hepatitis B Formula
Hepatitis B Formula

Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Chronic Fatigue Formula

【Herbal Combination】Lingzhi 10 g, Ciwujia 10 g, Mai Dong 10 g, Wu Wei Zi 10 g, Yin Yang Huo 10 g, Ren Shen 5 g 【Functions and Indications】Used for chronic fatigue states primarily characterized by fatigue; dosage may be adjusted as follows: add Dang Gui for menstrual irregularities; add Chai Hu for irritability and insomnia; add Du Zhong for lower back pain and leg weakness; add Suan Zao Ren for severe insomnia. Treatment course: one month constitutes one course; a single course typically yields noticeable results, while 2–3 courses can help consolidate the therapeutic effect. Note: For mild cases, Ren Shen is generally not required.

Chronic Fatigue Formula
Chronic Fatigue Formula

Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Formula for Senile Dementia

【Herbal Combination】Notoginseng 5 g, Gastrodia 5 g, Astragalus 10 g, Acanthopanax 10 g, Epimedium 10 g, Ganoderma 10 g, Cicada Slough 3 g 【Functions and Indications】Indicated for senile dementia characterized primarily by cognitive decline, blunted facial expressions, and sluggish behavior. For patients with severe blood stasis presenting as stabbing headaches, add safflower; for those with phlegm-dampness obstructing the orifices, add polygala; for those with deficiency of the heart and spleen, add sour jujube seed; for those with deficiency of the marrow sea, add turtle shell, cornelian cherry, and prepared rehmannia. Treatment course: one course lasts 4 months; 1–3 courses are recommended. Note: This formula is most effective in the early stages of the disease, while its efficacy is relatively limited in advanced cases.

Formula for Senile Dementia
Formula for Senile Dementia

Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Formula for Chronic Bronchitis (Asthma)

【Herbal Combination】Lingzhi 10 g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 10 g, Drynaria fortunei 10 g, Fritillaria thunbergii 5 g (or Rhododendron molle 10 g) 【Functions and Indications】Suitable for chronic bronchitis (including asthma) during the acute or remission phase; adjust as follows: add Perilla seeds for poor appetite and excessive phlegm; add Scutellaria baicalensis and Houttuynia cordata for yellow‑purulent sputum (during the acute phase); if accompanied by heart failure with lower‑extremity edema, add Cinnamomum cassia, Pseudostellaria heterophylla, and Atractylodes macrocephala; in the advanced stage, when shortness of breath is severe and persistent, add Schisandra chinensis, Ginkgo biloba, or Cinnamon bark; for cold intolerance and cold limbs, add Epimedium. Treatment course: one course lasts 4 months; 1–3 courses are recommended, followed by one course per year. Note: (1) During the remission phase of asthma, Lingzhi and Placenta humani can be used alone; (2) If pulmonary heart disease or heart failure is present, manage according to the protocol for heart failure.

Formula for Chronic Bronchitis (Asthma)
Formula for Chronic Bronchitis (Asthma)

Modern renowned physicians use Lingzhi.

Formula for Coronary Heart Disease

【Herbal Combination】5 g of Ganoderma, 5 g of Panax notoginseng, 10 g of Salvia miltiorrhiza, 10 g of Astragalus membranaceus, and 10 g of Ginkgo biloba leaves (or Acanthopanax senticosus). 【Functions and Indications】Used for coronary heart disease, particularly suitable for silent coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other related conditions. 【Modifications】 For cold intolerance and cold extremities, add Epimedium; for prominent palpitations, add Ziziphus jujuba seed; for yin deficiency, add Ophiopogon; for bradycardia, add Cinnamomum cassia twig. Treatment Course: One course lasts 4 months; 1–3 courses are recommended.

Formula for Coronary Heart Disease
Formula for Coronary Heart Disease