Use of Bai Mu Er (snow ear mushrooms) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Remove impurities, wash, soak in water and dry.
Dosage: 3-9 grams
Main actions according to TCM*: Nourishes Yin of the Lung and Stomach. Moistens the Lungs and promotes the generation of Fluids
Primary conditions or symptoms for which Bai Mu Er may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Coughing Fatigue Bloody sputum
Contraindications*: This is a very safe ingredient and can be eaten freely as food.
Key TCM concepts behind Bai Mu Er's properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Bai Mu Er belongs to the 'Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency' category. Tonic herbs are used for patterns of Deficiency, when one lacks one of the 'Four Treasures' (Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang). Yin tonics have a heavy, moist nature. They either nourish the Kidneys and Liver or moisten the Lungs and Stomach. Extreme Yin Deficiency often translates into a 'burn-out', unfortunately more and more common among people today. It is worth mentioning that another great remedy against Yin Deficiency is a lot of rest and sleep; no herb will ever be able to replace this!
Furthermore Bai Mu Er is Neutral in nature. This means that Bai Mu Er typically doesn't affect the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Eating too many "Hot" (Yang) ingredients can lead to an imbalance whereby one has a Yang Excess. The inverse is true as well: too many "Cold" (Yin) ingredients can lead to a Yin Excess. The Neutral nature of Bai Mu Er means that you don't have to worry about that!
Bai Mu Er also tastes Sweet. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Sweet ingredients like Bai Mu Er tends to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect because they replenish Qi and Blood.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Bai Mu Er is thought to target the Stomach, the Kidney and the Lung. In TCM the Stomach is responsible for receiving and ripening ingested food and fluids. It is also tasked with descending the digested elements downwards to the Small Intestine. The Kidneys do not only regulate the urinary system but also play a key role in the reproductive system and the growth and aging process of the body. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body.
Research on Bai Mu Er
The exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by submerged mycelial culture of Tremella fuciformis might be developed as potential oral hypoglycemic agents or functional foods for the management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.1
Sources:
1. Cho, E.J., Hwang, H.J., Kim, S.W. et al. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol (2007) 75: 1257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-0972-2
Use of Bai Mu Er as food
Bai Mu Er is also eaten as food. It is used as an ingredient in dishes such as Snow ear mushrooms soup with jujube dates.