Fungi have been used in both cuisine and medicine in China since the beginning of human history, with the earliest recordings of fungi being used for medicinal purposes dating back to the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica (《神农本草经》Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng), which is believed to have been compiled in the Qin-Han period (221 BCE -220 CE)[1]. As of 2013, there have been 835 species recorded as being used as nutraceuticals in China, most of which can be found in local specialty dishes[2]. The massive selection of edible mushrooms in China is staggering. When at a local produce market in places such as Yunnan, the types and sheer number of dried and fresh edible mushrooms is a spectacular sight to behold. They are prepared in numerous fashions, usually with distinctly regional flavors and presentations as well as having the bonus of being locally harvested[3]. Apart from being satisfyingly delicious, many fungi have been shown to have antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities among other purported benefits[4].
Even though there is an astonishing number of fungi recorded in China, there is a smaller number of fungi that are routinely used, five of which are the most common in herbal prescriptions. These are Poria (Poria cocos), Polyporus (Polyporus umbellatus), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Honey Fungus (Armillariella mellea) and Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis)[1]. Each of these fungi has local subspecies or different nomenclature for different parts of the fungus with slightly different properties, but for the sake of this overview, I'll focus on the common varieties that are standard in herbal prescriptions. To appreciate the traditional meaning of the properties of Chinese herbs, it is important to review a few major concepts in Chinese Herbology, which are flavor, nature and channel affinity. The five flavors are acrid, sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and bland having little or no flavor. Sweetness is mostly nourishing and replenishing, but can also have some effect on moderating pain. Acrid flavors are dispersing and releasing, sourness can astringe and bind, bitterness can purge, dry or firm softness and saltiness can draw downwards (downbear) and soften hardness. The nature of a substance largely reflects the subjective effects on temperature and is cold, cool, warm, and hot with neutral in the center of the spectrum. The basic idea is if there are signs of heat, use cooling or cold herbs; if there are signs of cold use warming or hot herbs. Channel affinity describes the channel and organ system(s) that the medicine has the most effect on. Descriptions of herbal medicines within the Chinese medical system include a combination of these characteristics which, combined with empirical evidence and experience, designates the actions and indications of these medicines[1].
For example, a very common herb, field mint (Mentha haplocalyx), is acrid and cooling and enters the Lung and Liver channels[1]. The acrid flavor disperses and releases, and the cooling nature counteracts heat. This herb disperses wind-heat, clears and benefits the head, eyes, and throat, and is used for treating acute upper respiratory infections that present with fever, cough, headache, red eyes, and sore throat. It can also vent rashes that are in their beginning stages in illnesses such as measles1. These actions and indications are due to the flavor, nature, and channel affinity that the herb possesses.
Now back to the fungi….
Poria cocos (Fúílng 茯 苓) is extremely common in Chinese medicine with up to 10% of formulas featuring this herb[5]. Its first recorded description is in the oldest surviving Chinese materia medica, the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica[1]. This fungus commonly grows on the roots of pine trees and can be described as looking like a potato or small coconut. Poria is sweet and bland in flavor and neutral in nature. It enters the Spleen, Heart, Kidney, and Lung channels. Its actions, according to Chinese Herbology, are to promote urination and leach out dampness, strengthen the Spleen and harmonize the middle, and strengthen the Spleen and transform phlegm1. It is used to treat edema, urinary difficulty, or diarrhea due to the accumulation of fluids. Because of its benefits on the Spleen system, it can also treat gastrointestinal disorders that are characterized by bloating, poor digestion, lack of appetite, and loose stools. Also, when the Spleen's fluid metabolism (according to Chinese physiology) is not functioning properly, fluids can become stagnant and congeal creating internal phlegm. By strengthening the Spleen system, Poria can transform phlegm to treat conditions such as vomiting and nausea due to mucus buildup in the gut[1].
It deserves to be mentioned that one variety of Poria, Fú Shén (茯神), which is the innermost part of the fungus, is used primarily for its calming effect, which can be useful for treating certain types of insomnia, palpitations, or forgetfulness due to deficiency type patterns[1].
Polyporus (Polyporus umbellatus), called Zhūílng ( 猪 苓) in Chinese, also first appeared in the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica. Interestingly, the fungus is named "pig's fungus" in Chinese due to its shape, which resembles pig's droppings. It is described as being sweet, bland, and slightly cool. Its major action is to promote urination, and by doing so, leach out dampness and facilitate fluid metabolism. It enters the Kidney and Urinary Bladder channels and is a strong diuretic used in the treatment of urinary difficulty, edema, and sometimes chronic diarrhea[1]. Unlike Poria, this fungus does not replenish or strengthen any part of the body and is stronger than Poria, and therefore should not be used long-term in cases of deficiency or when there is an absence of fluid buildup[1].
Ganoderma, also known as Reishi (Japanese), is very well known, even throughout the layperson community. This fungus is called Língzhī (灵 芝) in Chinese, which can be translated as "Spirit Mushroom" or "Divine Mushroom." It was also first recorded in the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica[1]. It is sweet in flavor and neutral in nature. It enters the Heart, Liver, and Lung channels and is used to calm the spirit by tonifying Heart qi and blood, as well as being able to tonify the Lung qi which is useful for treating chronic deficiency-type coughs[1]. Due to its ability to tonify qi and blood, it has been used for longevity and overall health throughout Asia for thousands of years.
Honey Fungus (Armillariella mellea), known as Mì huán jūn (密环菌) in Chinese, is a very interesting fungus that can be found in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa[6]. It is a common fungus and can be found growing on the roots, trunks, and stumps of trees, as well as on decaying wood and forest debris. It is parasitic and can cause root rot and decay in many species of trees and woody plants, including conifers and hardwoods. In some regions, it is considered a significant forest pathogen that can cause widespread damage to forests and orchards[6]. A. mellea is capable of producing light via bioluminescence in its mycelium, but not its fruiting body[7]. Honey fungus is sweet and neutral, enters the Liver channel, and is similar to another herb called Gastrodiae elata (tiān má 天麻) in its actions and indications, which it can be used interchangeably with. It is used to control spasms and tremors to treat vertigo, epilepsy, tetany, cerebral infarction, etc[1]. It is also used to alleviate pain to treat migraine headaches or pain and paresthesia of the lower back and extremities[1].
Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Dōng chóng xià cǎo 冬虫夏草) or Chinese caterpillar fungus, has grown in popularity in the last decade. It is known for being a gentle tonifying substance that was first recorded in the Thoroughly Revised Materia Medica (《本草从新》) which was written during the Qing dynasty around 1757 CE. Cordyceps is parasitic, mostly preying on the larvae of species of ghost moths on the Tibetan plateau [8,9,10]. There are 2 critical stages in the growth of Caterpillar fungus. First, it parasitizes underground dwelling larvae with the mycelium growing inside and devouring the host's innards, leaving the exoskeleton intact. A stroma of the fungus then grows from the exoskeleton and emerges from the ground, and is collected as a whole for medicine. The larvae are usually infected in the winter and the fungal stroma grows out of the ground in the spring of the following year (thus the Chinese name "Winter Penetration Spring Herb")[10]. With hyper-exploitation and climate change leading to a decrease in availability and high prices for naturally occurring cordyceps, it can be difficult to locate nowadays, therefore the forms used in supplements and medicine are synthetically cultivated.
O. sinensis is sweet and warming and enters the Lung and Kidney channels. It benefits the Kidneys and tonifies the yang and is used for infertility, erectile dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, sore and weak lower back and lower extremities associated with kidney yang deficiency [1,11,12]. It tonifies the Kidney yang and benefits Lung yin, transforms phlegm, and stops bleeding used for chronic deficiency-type coughs that may include blood-streaked sputum[1].
The traditional uses of these fungi varied by region, school of thought, and era, with the more standardized methods being a somewhat modern approach to Chinese medicine. Modern research is constantly finding new evidence of the benefits of using fungi as supplements and nutraceuticals, but due to the limitations of scientific inquiry, this is usually done from a reductionist point of view. In Chinese medicine, practitioners may find utility in the knowledge of which specific bioactive compounds act on which signaling pathways etc., but in the practice of writing herbal formulas, one must take into account the larger picture and aim to see these medicinal herbs as a whole, in combination with other herbs, and their relative effects on each other when writing herbal prescriptions, and then harmonize that with the pathological pattern that the patient presents with. It's more like orchestrating a symphony, rather than focusing on one note played by a single player in the group. This might be the true "spirit" of herbs, and by treating them in this manner, we may be able to harness the true benefits of these fungi.
*All images thanks to pixbay.com royalty free images
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