Auricularia

Latin: Auricularia polytricha

Czech: jidášovo ucho/boltcovitka hairy (or velvety)

Chinese: Hei Mu Er (Mu Er = wooden ears)

Japanese: Kikurage

Thevital Auricularia mushroom is known as Judas ear. It grows mainly on damaged deciduous trees, especially maples, oaks, ash and elms. Judas is said to have hanged himself on the trunk of an elder tree after betraying Jesus. Eventually, ear-shaped mushrooms began to grow on it. The fungus can survive in freezing temperatures, so it can be found all year round.

It is popular in Asian cuisine. It does not have a typical smell and taste, but it has an interesting consistency, which is elastic and gelatinous. It is suitable for soups, salads and noodles. The dried mushroom is used, which takes on its original consistency when watered. The water contains many medicinal substances and is drunk as tea or added to soups or sauces.

It was cultivated in China for use in TCM as early as around 600 AD. Although it has been used for hundreds of years, it was not written into the scientific botanical system until 1789 by J. B. F. Bulliard. It received its present name in 1897 from the Austrian botanist R. Weittstein.

It is currently the subject of research mainly for its anticoagulant effects, its ability to prevent thrombosis and as a prevention of myocardial infarction.

Characteristics according to traditional Chinese medicine

Nature: neutral

Taste: sweet

Tropism: Lung, Liver, Spleen, Stomach

Main effects according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• Nourishes the Yin and moistens the Lungs (especially the decoction of the whole mushroom)
• Replenishes Qi and nourishes the blood (after childbirth)
• revives blood, stops pain (abdominal)
• stops bleeding
• Strengthens bowel movement
• relaxes the tendons

When do we use Auricularia vital mushroom to maintain or improve health?

1) Cardiovascular system

• improves blood circulation and reduces pain
• used for: cold extremities, numbness in extremities
• removes blood stasis (Xue Yu) and has antithrombotic effects - inhibits thrombin activity, reduces platelet clumping
• clears heat and has anticoagulant effects - lowers blood pressure
• Itis used to prevent: atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, thrombosis
• combined with Reishi and Shiitake or Chaga mushrooms

Remark:

Auricularia revitalizes the blood and breaks stasis, thus relieving pain. It is effective for headaches, cramps, tingling in the limbs, etc. In the diagnosis of Raynaud's syndrome it is used with Cordyceps.

2) Stops bleeding

• used for hot bleeding - e.g. heavy menstruation

3) Coughing

• Nourishes Yin Plic - treats dry cough (rather a decoction of dried mushroom)

4) Anti-inflammatory effects

• Helps reduce inflammation - especially skin, mucous membrane and eyeinflammation
• often used for chronic inflammation - in combination with Shiitake and Reishi

5) Non-healing wounds

• promotes healing - mix with ointment on wounds
• combined with Coriolus

6) Neuropathy

• relieves neuropathic pain - occurs with a small stimulus and at rest
• nerve regeneration - combined with Hericium, Reishi and Agaricus mushrooms

Notes:

Neuropathic pains arise from the disruption of peripheral nerves by prolonged elevated glycaemia, nerve damage e.g. shingles, or after injuries.

7) Hemorrhoids

• improves bowel peristalsis - reduces frequent irritative secretions
• has anticoagulant action - stops bleeding from haemorrhoids

8) Constipation

• strengthens bowel movements and moistens dry bowels - thus helps with constipation
• Tong Chang Pian blend can be added to increase the effect

9) Strengthens eyesight

• Improves eye nutrition - by promoting blood circulation it improves nutrition to the periphery

Contraindications:

• Not to be used in women planning pregnancy, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding!

Less common use of Auricularia in clinical practice:

• Immunomodulatory effects.
• powerful antioxidant
• leucorrhoea (whitish mucoid discharge)
• stimulation of intestinal peristalsis
• cramps
• overweight
• hypertension
• lowers cholesterol
• joint inflammation
• increases oxygen supply to the blood
• slows aging
• weakness after childbirth
• tinnitus
• lumbago
• hepatoprotective effects
• kidney support
• hyperglycaemia

What to remember:

Auricularia improves blood circulation, removes thrombus, stops pain and bleeding. Nourishes Yin and helps with hemorrhoids and constipation.