Home » Sunday » Now and Then
TCM Treasures - Bracket fungus
Print Edition
SIMPLIFIED Chinese: 灵芝 Pinyin: líng zhī
The fabled magic mushroom in China is ling zhi, or bracket fungus. It grows on rotting trees and is said to give health, vigor and longevity. Chinese sages and the goddess Guanyin are sometimes pictured holding the auspicious ling zhi mushroom, sometimes called the “mushroom of immortality” or xian cao (fairy grass).
Ling zhi literally means “herb of spiritual potency” and in traditional Chinese medicine it is as famous as ginseng. It’s considered one of the great tonics and energy boosters.
In the “Legend of Madame White Snake,” the benevolent serpent sorceress uses ling zhi to resurrect her husband who died of fright when he saw her as a white snake in their bed.
This mushroom, a tough leathery bracket or shelf fungus known as reishi in Japan, is venerated in Asia for its immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and overall good health properties.
As it often grows on dead and rotting trees, it is said to be the herb of immortality. Some can grow for hundreds of years. It can be yellow, orange, red, purple, green or white.
Ling zhi can be used for many ailments since it works through so many body meridians. It can reinforce all organs, boost and balance energy.
It has been used to treat fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, insomnia, indigestion and other ailments.
The fungus is widely sold in traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies in many forms.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Ling zhi tea
• Pour boiling water on 10-15g chips. Steep.
• Drink often. The chips can be reused about four times.
Ling zhi soup
• Use 10-15g chips and prepare soup by simmering. Several pots of soup can be made from the same chips.
• Save. Drink often.
Ling zhi wine
• Combine 10-15g chips with white distilled spirit. Bottle and seal.
• When it turns dark red after three days, add honey or rock sugar to sweeten.
• Drink 30ml before bed.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
