Wulinshen (乌灵参), also known as "Black Spirit Ginseng" or the sclerotium of Lasiosphaera fenzlii, is a fungus used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, Wulinshen is traditionally believed to nourish the heart and calm the mind, but it is also sometimes used to "tonify the Kidneys" and support essence (jing). The connection to the Kidneys in TCM is based on the broader doctrine that many tonic herbs, especially those affecting the nervous system and vital essence, can also benefit the Kidneys, which are considered a storehouse of life force and vital energy in TCM theory.

Texts such as the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and various materia medica describe Wulinshen's use for symptoms associated with deficiency of Kidney essence, such as insomnia, forgetfulness, and fatigue. However, the evidence is based on hundreds of years of recorded traditional use rather than modern clinical trials. There are few, if any, high-quality scientific studies specifically validating Wulinshen's effects on kidney function as defined in Western medicine. Most available scientific research centers on its possible neuroprotective and immunomodulatory actions, not direct renal effects.

In summary, Wulinshen is used to support the Kidneys primarily based on traditional Chinese medical theory and historical practice, not on rigorous modern scientific evidence.