The efficacy and function of birch leather fungus

Birch mushroom can not only supplement the body's nutritional elements, but also help regulate various functions of the body. It also has high medicinal value. Today, I will take you to learn about birch mushroom.

[Other names] Birch inonotus, mushroom

[Source] Medicinal material source: The fruiting body of the Polyporaceae fungus Folium birchii.

[Original morphology] The fruiting body is leathery to nearly corky, lateral and sessile, solitary or superimposed. The cap is semicircular, fan-shaped or shell-shaped, (2-5)cm×(2-6-10)cm, and 0.3-1cm thick; the cap surface is grayish white, light yellowish brown to light grayish brown, densely covered with short hairs, with obvious concentric rings, and turns khaki to grayish brown after drying, or has radial wrinkles; the cap edge is thin, sharp or slightly blunt, and often has wavy shallow cracks. The tube folds are sheet-like, leathery, white, and turn to earthy yellow after drying. The folds are 3-10mm wide and 1-1.5mm apart. Most folds are not forked, while a few are forked or intertwined into holes. The fold edges are thin, sharp, and wavy, and later crack into serrations. Spores are cylindrical, slightly curved, colorless, smooth, (4.5-6)μm×(1.5-2)μm. The cystic body is tongue-shaped.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown on rotten wood of broad-leaved trees such as birch, oak, poplar, willow, and coniferous trees such as fir and fir.

【Properties】 Characteristic identification: The fruiting body is sessile. The cap is fan-shaped, shell-shaped or semicircular, with a diameter of up to 8 cm and a thickness of 2-6 mm. The surface is gray-brown, densely covered with short hairs, with ring bands of varying widths, and the edges are thin, wavy or shallowly cracked. The gills are khaki yellow, wavy, and the edges of the folds are wavy or nearly serrated. Leathery. Slight odor, light taste.

【Chemical composition】 Contains cellulolytic enzyme, as well as trace elements such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, etc. It also contains amino acids such as alanine and leucine, as well as taurine, citrulline and creatine.

【Nature and flavor】 Light; warm

【Functions and indications】Dispel wind and cold; relax muscles and activate blood circulation. Mainly used for waist and leg pain; numbness of hands and feet; muscle discomfort; limb convulsions

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 5-15g; or made into pills.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In fact, you will only know its benefits after practicing it. Just like the traditional Chinese medicine birch fungus introduced above, it turns out that birch fungus can also treat some other diseases. Therefore, eating it in moderation has many benefits.