Snow fungus
Tremella fuciformis
Snow fungus is a white, nearly translucent, "trembling"
fungus that grows on a great variety of trees throughout
Asia and in warmer climates worldwide. The fungus gets
the common name of wood ear for the way it looks on the
decaying logs on which it grows. Good-quality snow
fungus has a pale, yellowish-white color and a mucilage like
texture. Chinese and Japanese herbalists have used snow
fungus for more than 2,000 years, primarily to increase
fluids in the body, for dry coughs, and for
palpitations. It
has been used as a tonic herb and as a beauty enhancer to
improve the complexion.
Other names
- Bai Mu Erh
- Shirokikurage
- Silver Tree-ear Fungus
- White Jelly-leaf
- White Muer
- White Tree-ear
- Wood Ear Fungus
Uses
Snow fungus is an immune stimulant that fights
infection,
especially chronic infections. Studies have found that it
also demonstrates antitumor activity, lowers levels of
low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol), protects
the liver, and fights inflammation, and that it may slow the
aging process. Supposedly, if snow fungus is eaten
regularly, facial freckles will disappear, although this has not
been tested in any scientific fashion.
Benefits of snow fungus for specific health conditions
include the following:
- Atherosclerosis and
high cholesterol. In Japan, snow fungus
is used to prevent atherosclerosis, in which cholesterol
gathers into plaques within the arteries. It does this by
lowering total blood-cholesterol levels. To date, however, only
one preliminary clinical study has confirmed the value of
snow fungus for this purpose. However, research on snow
fungus polysaccharides as infection-fighters has confirmed
that they help maintain cholesterol levels in the linings of
cells, where cholesterol is needed, possibly helping to draw
it out of the bloodstream.
- Cancer. Scientific studies have found that the
mucilage like polysaccharides found in snow fungus fit like keys
into receptor sites on certain immune cells. This increases
the production of interferon and interleukin-2 (IL-2), two
important immune-system chemicals, and stimulate the
production of germ-eating macrophages. Snow fungus
also increases the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and
enhances the effectiveness of antibodies. In addition, snow
fungus reduces the rate at which cancers spread. In order
to grow and spread, tumors have to establish their own
blood-vessel systems. Snow fungus compounds counteract
a blood chemical called platelet-activating factor (PAF),
which makes the blood less likely to clot and spin a fibrin
"net" on which blood vessels to serve the tumor can form.
Laboratory tests have demonstrated that snow fungus
extracts kill cervical cancer cells, as well those taken from
other types of tumors. Snow fungus is known to sensitize
the cervix and uterus to radiation treatment, making that
treatment more effective. One of the most valuable medical
uses of snow fungus is to prevent leukopenia, or low white
blood cell counts, in people undergoing chemotherapy or
radiation treatment for cancer.
Considerations
Snow fungus is available as an extract and in an over-the-
counter patent medicine called Yin Mi Pian. Like all other
so-called "jelly
fungi," snow fungus has no known toxicity
and also can be eaten as a food.
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