☯ TCM Properties
Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
Traditional Chinese Uses
Hei Mu Er is the dried fruiting body of the wood-ear fungus Auricularia auricula-judae (the related A. polytricha/heimuer is used interchangeably). Sweet and neutral, entering the Lung, Stomach, Liver, Spleen and Kidney channels, it is valued in TCM to cool the Blood and stop bleeding, and as a moistening tonic that nourishes Yin, invigorates the Blood and moistens the Intestines. It is taken for reckless bleeding from Heat in the Blood, including bloody stool, hemorrhoidal bleeding, bloody dysentery, uterine bleeding and blood in the urine, and for Yin-Blood deficiency with dry constipation.
Being a food-grade substance, it is commonly cooked in congee, soups and stews as much as decocted, and pairs with other Blood-cooling or moistening herbs. Traditionally used with caution in Blood deficiency without Heat.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Auricularia auricula-judae (and the closely related A. polytricha) is a saprotrophic jelly fungus of the Auriculariaceae family, widely distributed across temperate and subtropical forests of Asia, Europe, and the Americas, where it grows on dead or dying broadleaf wood, particularly elder, elm, and various Chinese hardwoods. The fruiting body is gelatinous when fresh and dries to a hard, brittle, dark form that rehydrates readily; individual basidiocarps are cup- to ear-shaped, two to ten centimeters across, with a smooth, finely veined or slightly wrinkled upper hymenial surface that is dark reddish-brown to nearly black, and a slightly paler, finely hairy lower surface (A. polytricha is more densely tomentose). Multiple fruit bodies often cluster together along host wood, attached by a small lateral or off-center point.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Hei Mu Er.
No notes yet.