Pinyin: Muer
Aliases
Hei Mu'er, Mu Jun, Er Zi, Mu Rong
Source
Fungus of the family Auriculariaceae.Auricularia auriculaDried fruiting body of (L. ex Hook.) Underw.
Botanical Description
Basidiocarps grow in clusters, often overlapping in an imbricate pattern. They are ear-shaped, leaf-shaped, or nearly cup-shaped with wavy margins, thin, 2-6 cm wide (up to 12 cm at maximum), approximately 2 mm thick, and attached to the substrate by a lateral short stipe or narrow base. Initially soft and gelatinous, sticky and elastic, later becoming slightly cartilaginous.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows on decaying wood of broadleaf trees such as oak, elm, poplar, and locust. Distributed throughout China, and also artificially cultivated in various regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested in summer and autumn. After picking, place in a drying room and dry at a temperature gradually increasing from 35°C to 60°C, then store for use.
Medicinal Properties
The fruiting body appears as irregular pieces, mostly wrinkled, varying in size; the sterile surface is dark brown or purplish brown with sparse, very short hairs, while the fertile surface is lighter in color. Odor: faintly aromatic; Taste: bland.
Chemical Constituents
This product primarily contains melanin, Auricularia polysaccharides, monosaccharides, ergosterol, amino acids, vitamins, and other components.
Pharmacology
Anti-coagulant, anti-platelet aggregation, and anti-thrombotic effects; increases white blood cell count; promotes immune function; promotes nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis; lowers blood lipids and resists atherosclerosis; delays aging; has certain anti-radiation and anti-inflammatory effects; has significant anti-ulcer and hypoglycemic effects; has anti-fertility effects, with the most pronounced anti-implantation and anti-early pregnancy effects; has anti-cancer and anti-mutation effects, as well as antifungal effects.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet, neutral. Enters the Lung, Spleen, Large Intestine, and Liver channels.
Functions and Indications
Tonifies Qi and nourishes Blood, moistens the Lungs and stops cough, stops bleeding, lowers blood pressure, and fights cancer. Indications: Qi deficiency and Blood depletion, chronic cough due to Lung deficiency, hemoptysis, epistaxis, bloody dysentery, hemorrhoidal bleeding, uterine bleeding, hypertension, fundus hemorrhage, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, traumatic pain.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 3-10 g; or simmer in soup; or char until preserving the nature, then grind into powder.
Precautions and Contraindications
Those with deficiency-cold type loose stools should use with caution.
Prescriptions
1. For nausea with excessive phlegm: 7-8 large black fungus pieces, decoct in water and take orally, 2 times daily. (Zhongguo Yaoyong Zhenjun) 2. For mushroom poisoning: 30 g black fungus, add 30 g white sugar, boil and eat. (Zhongguo Yaoyong Zhenjun) 3. For dry stools and hemorrhoidal bleeding: 5 g black fungus, 30 g dried persimmon, boil together until soft, eat freely. (Changbaishan Zhiwu Yaozhi) 4. For metrorrhagia and metrostaxis: Fry black fungus until smoking, grind into powder. Take 6.3 g each time with 0.9 g hair ash (total 7.2 g), mix with good wine and take to induce sweating. (Sun Tianren Jixiao Fang) 5. For hypertension and fundus bleeding: 3-6 g black fungus, 5 g rock sugar, add appropriate amount of clean water, simmer slowly to make a soup, take in one dose before bedtime. 1 dose daily, 10 days as a course. (Yaoyong Jisheng) 6. For hypertension: 15 g black fungus, 1 preserved egg, stew in water, take frequently as tea. (Fujian Yaowu Zhi) 7. For cold tears from the eyes: 30 g black fungus (charred), 30 g Equisetum hiemale. Grind into powder. Take 9 g each time, decoct in clear rice-washing water and take. (Huiji Fang) 8. For all types of toothache: Equal amounts of black fungus and Schizonepeta tenuifolia. Decoct in water and use as a mouth rinse until pain stops. (Haishang Fang)
