« Quotations about Love VI | Home | Cognitive Evaluation Theory »
Snow Fungus
By Peace | March 27, 2006
White fungus (Tremella fuciformis)
Other names - Bai Mu Erh, Shirokikurage, Silver Tree-ear, Fungus, White Jelly-leaf, White Muer, White Tree-ear
Other Languages - China: seet gnee Japan: shiro kikurage Malaysia: cendawan jelly puteh
In spite of its description it may more accurately be described as having an ivory colour. Closely related to black cloud ear fungus, it is sometimes sold dried and gift-boxed. Varying in size, the larger being more expensive, it resembles crinkled, pale-gold sea sponges. Slightly rarer than black fungus, hence the slightly higher price tag, white fungus is used in much the same way, except that it is also used in sweet soups.
Description
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.
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.
Cooking
To prepare dried white fungus for cooking, soak in warm water for up to half an hour and then trim off the thick, yellowish base. It needs longer soaking than black fungus because, instead of being flat, the frilly cluster forms a rounded shape like a natural sponge. Like black fungus, it absorbs the flavours it is cooked with. In its dried state, it will keep indefinitely in an airtight container.
Topics: View All |
