Pin Yin: Bai Mu Er
English: Tremella
Latin: Tremella fuciformis
Properties: sweet, bland, neutral
Channels: Lung, Stomach
Key Characteristics: Enriches Lung Yin, treats cough due to Lung Yin deficiency, moistens yin fluids in body.
Indications: Dryness, lung dryness, cough, yin deficiency.
Tremella mushrooms and their unique polysaccharide compounds have water-retaining properties similar to hyaluronic acid which can keep the skin hydrated, helping to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, improving the texture and elasticity of your skin.
Tremella mushrooms have been shown to demonstrate beneficial cholesterol-lowering activity. In a four-week rat study in 1996, researchers found that rats with very high cholesterol who were on the tremella diet experienced a 31% decrease in LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and a 19% decrease in total cholesterol concentration. Additionally, eating Tremella led to a significant decrease in triglyceride levels, which, at high concentrations, can indicate an elevated risk of stroke.