Tremella
Aliases：Bai Mu Er、Bai Er、Sang E、Wu Ding Zhi、Bai Er Zi
Yiner (Tremella Fuciformis) is a Chinese medicinal herb that nourishes and replenishes. It is the dried fruiting body of the fungus Tremella fuciformis Berk. (family Tremellaceae).
Efficacy & Actions
Nourish Yin and moisten the Lung; nourish the Stomach and promote fluid production.
Indications
Consumptive cough, blood-stained sputum, thirst with scanty fluids, debility after illness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
Modern Pharmacology
Tremella (Tremella fuciformis) exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including enhancing immune function, inhibiting tumor growth, providing radioprotective effects, exhibiting antiviral activity, acting as an antioxidant, alleviating fatigue, protecting the liver (anti‑hepatitis), showing antimutagenic effects, lowering blood glucose, reducing blood lipids, and delaying the aging process.
Ingredients
The main chemical constituents of Tremella (Tremella fuciformis) include polysaccharides, lipids, enzymes, proteins, and amino acids. Polysaccharides: Primarily acidic and neutral polysaccharides, along with cell wall polysaccharides and extracellular polysaccharides. Lipids: Mainly consist of ergosterol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and others. Enzymes: Two types have been identified – mannosidase and β‑N‑acetyl‑D‑hexosaminidase. Proteins and amino acids: A total of 17 amino acids have been detected, including proline, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, glycine, serine, and glutamic acid, among which proline shows the highest content. Inorganic salts (mineral ions): Primarily contain sulfur (S), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) ions.
Usage & Dosage
Internal use: 3–10 g in decoction; or stewed with rock sugar or meat.
Contraindications
In recent years, some Tremella (snow fungus) products on the market have been bleached with sulfur. Consumption of such products is harmful to human health and must be avoided. Furthermore, spoiled Tremella may become contaminated with bacteria and produce toxins. Consumption can cause poisoning, and in severe cases may lead to renal failure, cerebral edema, or even death.
Selected Formulas
1. Moistening the lung, stopping cough, and nourishing formula (from Guizhou Folk Prescriptions Collection) Take 6 g of white fungus (Tremella), 6 g of Zhushen (a local herb), and 3 g of Yinyanghuo (Epimedium). First, soak the Tremella and Zhushen in cold water until rehydrated. Add 1 small bowl of water, an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and a little lard. Slightly crush the Yinyanghuo, then place all ingredients in a bowl and steam. Remove the Yinyanghuo residue before serving. Drink the soup and eat the Tremella and Zhushen. 2. For lung‑yin deficiency cough (from Medicinal Parasitic Plants) Take 6 g of Tremella (soak in water first), 15 g of rock sugar, and an appropriate amount of water. Steam in a double boiler until fully cooked to make Tremella sugar soup. Divide into 2 doses per day. Indicated for dry cough, scanty sputum, and thirst due to lung‑yin deficiency. 3. For thirst due to fluid depletion after febrile disease (from Medicinal Parasitic Plants) Take 10 g of Tremella, 15 g of Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma), and 10 g of Xiaohuanicao (a local herb). Decoct in water. Remove the Tremella, filter out the other herbs, then drink the decoction and eat the Tremella. One dose per day. Suitable for thirst and desire to drink caused by fluid injury in the late stage of febrile disease. 4. Adjunctive formula during radiation or chemotherapy for cancer (from Medicinal Parasitic Plants) Take 12 g of Tremella, 45 g of Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum), and 30 g each of Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix) and Huangqi (Astragali Radix). Decoct all together. Remove the Tremella and discard the other herb residues. Then add 30 g each of Coix seed (Yiyiren) and rice, and cook into congee. One dose per day, used long‑term in conjunction with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, may help prevent leukopenia (drop in white blood cell count). 5. For essential hypertension (from Medicinal Parasitic Plants) Take 10 g of Tremella, 10 mL each of rice vinegar and water, and 3 eggs (hard‑boiled and shelled). Simmer all ingredients together over low heat. Eat the Tremella and eggs. Consume 1 egg per day, along with the soup and Tremella.
Daily Consumption
1. Tremella Congee Take 3–6 g of Tremella, soak in warm water for 1 hour, then simmer until it becomes a paste. Add an appropriate amount of rock sugar and consume. Regular consumption may moisten the lung and stop bleeding. It is effective for dry cough due to lung deficiency, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), hematemesis (vomiting blood), as well as metrorrhagia (abnormal uterine bleeding). 2. Braised Tremella with Vegetable Hearts Ingredients: 10 g dried Tremella, 12 stalks of Qinggangcai (or a similar green vegetable), 75 g cooked ham, 2 teaspoons starch, 1 cup broth, 1/4 teaspoon salt (or for an alternative: 1 cup broth, 1/3 teaspoon sugar, 1/3 teaspoon salt). Preparation:Soak dried Tremella in warm water until rehydrated. Trim off the yellow hard base. Add seasonings and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, then remove and drain. Shred the cooked ham into fine strips. Trim the heads, tails, and old leaves of the vegetables. Blanch in boiling water until tender, then remove and arrange around the rim of a plate. Heat a wok, bring the seasonings (broth, salt, sugar) to a boil. Add the Tremella and thicken with starch slurry. Mix well, transfer to the plate, and sprinkle with shredded ham. Action: Nourish and promote fluid production; moisten the lung and benefit the stomach. Suitable for consumptive cough, blood‑streaked sputum, and thirst due to insufficient fluids. 3. Tremella and Zhushen Soup (from Guizhou Folk Prescriptions Collection) Ingredients: 10 g Tremella, 10 g Zhushen (a local herb), 5 g Yinyanghuo (Epimedium). Preparation: First, soak Tremella and Zhushen in cold water until rehydrated, then rinse. Add 1 small bowl of water, an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and a little lard. Lightly crush Yinyanghuo, place all ingredients in a bowl, and steam. Before serving, remove the Yinyanghuo residue. Drink the soup and eat the Tremella and Zhushen. Action: Moisten the lung, stop cough, and nourish.
Medicinal Parts
fruiting body (or sporocarp)
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry, airtight container in a cool, dry place. Protect from mold and insects.