Individual Herbs Notebook

Hui Shu Hua

Translation: Grey Tree Flower

Pharmaceutical: Grifolae sclerotum
Taxonomy: Grifola frondosa

Other names: Hen-of-the-Woods Mushroom / Maitake (舞茸)

Category: Herbs that Drain Dampness



Properties: Sweet, bland, neutral

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidney, and Bladder


Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Tonifies the Middle Jiao
    Diabetes (消渴 Xiao Ke), high cholesterol, hypertension
    Cold and flu viruses, poor immunity due to lack of Ying Qi supporting the Wei
  2. Drains Dampness, clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
    Cancer (especially the D-Fraction) Side effects from chemotherapy

Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-12g in decoction. Mushrooms should ideally be decocoted for at least 40 minutes and preferably 1-2 hours to fully extract the polysaccharides from within the chitin cell walls.


Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
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