The difference between Sarsaparilla and Poria cocos lies in the difference of source, efficacy and main treatment.
1. Source: Sarsaparilla comes from the dried rhizome of Sarsaparilla, family Liliaceae. Poria cocos is derived from the dried tuber of Sarsaparilla glabra, family Liliaceae.
2. Efficacy: Sarsaparilla has the efficacy of inducing dampness and removing turbidity, dispelling wind and paralysis, and detoxifying and dissipating blood stasis; Poria cocos has the efficacy of detoxifying, removing dampness, and facilitating the joints.
3. Indications: Sarsaparilla can be used in the treatment of urinary drenching, excessive discharge, rheumatism and paralysis, boils and carbuncles.
Poria cocos can be used in syphilis and mercury poisoning caused by limb contracture, tendon and bone pain; damp-heat gonorrhea, hypogonadism, carbuncle, scrofula (mainly refers to the neck lymph node tuberculosis), scabies. Be cautious of using Poria cocos if there is deficiency of yin in the liver and kidney.
The adverse reactions of Sarsaparilla and Poria cocos have not been clarified, it is prohibited for those who are allergic to the two drugs, use under the supervision of a physician.