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Polyporus umbellatus - the vital mushroom for the regulation of the water balance
October 7, 2021
Dr. Dorothee Bös et al.
In alternative medicine, Polyporus is highly valued for its diuretic properties. With its help, water retention in the body can be gently drained. It acts especially on the organs kidney and bladder. By stimulating the flow of lymph, polyporus at the same time has a high detoxification potential.
Learn more here about all the wonderful properties of the vital mushroom, which has been relieving the suffering of people for many centuries.
Polyporus umbellatus: Great vital mushroom with great powers
to its growth habit. Its hats appear on small, branching stems that can extend to ten to 50 centimeters in diameter in a tufted arrangement. A single fruiting body of the vital mushroom can thus weigh several kilograms. Some reports even mention 20 kilograms. Besides the above-ground visible as well as edible fruiting body, the underground permanent form of the medicinal mushroom, the sclerotium, is also rich in valuable ingredients. Although it is hard and inedible, the ancient Chinese still liked to make a brew from it. This is said to have similar health-promoting effects as the fruiting body. Traditional areas of application of Polyporus
- Dissolves accumulated moisture.
- Drains and lowers.
- Helps with spleen, kidney and bladder problems such as bladder dysfunction and blood in the urine.
- Provides relief from painful urination thanks to its antibiotic properties.
- Stops diarrhea.
- Helps with fluor albus.
Ingredients of the Polyporus
As an edible and vital mushroom, the squirrel brings a colorful variety of nutrients to the plate. Mushrooms do not have a good reputation among nutritionists for nothing. While they are quite low in fat, they nourish us with lots of long-chain carbohydrates and with protein. In addition to unsaturated fatty acids, they have all eight essential amino acids that our body absolutely needs for basic functions. The high fiber content is a boon for our intestines, which in turn has a positive effect on our overall health. If a vital mushroom is also an edible mushroom, as is the case with Polyporus, it can significantly enhance many a main meal as a healthy ingredient.
Special ingredients with health-promoting effects
In addition to this extremely favorable composition of nutrients, Polyporus also contains other substances, some of which are very specific. They play an essential role in connection with the typical effects of medicinal mushrooms on our health. 
For example, there are polysaccharides, which belong to the dietary fibers and can support the body in various functions. The main areas of action are the intestines and the immune system. Researchers are primarily concerned with the immunomodulatory capabilities of beta-glucans, a particular form of polysaccharide. The oak hare is especially rich in beta-1,3-1,6-glucans.
The most important antioxidant substances are polyporusterones and special enzymes such as superoxide dismutase. They can capture superoxide radicals, so-called “free radicals” and make them harmless. These very aggressive oxygen compounds occur more frequently in the context of inflammations, infections, allergies and chronic diseases such as diabetes and rheumatism. Their formation is also promoted, for example, by an incorrect diet low in vital substances, stress, smoking or lack of sleep. If our body has too few antioxidants, oxidative stress increases. This can damage cells – especially their genetic material (DNA). This accelerates the ageing process and increases the risk of serious illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antioxidants are therefore important guardians of our health.
Other ingredients important for its healing properties are mannitol, various steroids such as ergosterol, ergostane or ergone. It also contains nucleosides and various vitamins. The list is by no means exhaustive, but it clearly shows how many different levels Polyporus can support our health.
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The spectrum of action of the squirrel
As you could already see from the areas of application of Polyporus in TCM, a main competence of the medicinal mushroom lies in drainage and the associated organs. In addition to water, however, it also gets the lymph flowing and can thus promote detoxification processes. Not without reason, the oak hare also has the potential to improve the appearance of the skin and even support hair growth. In recent clinical studies, interest has also focused primarily on the antitumor properties of Polyporus. Read below exciting facts and interesting details about the various applications of Polyporus.
Drainage with the Polyporus
Even the ancient scholars of TCM knew about the diuretic, i.e. draining, effect that the medicinal mushroom has on our body. This is probably due to the substances ergosterol and mannitol, which act as aldosterone antagonists. Aldosterone is a steroid hormone from the adrenal cortex that is responsible for regulating water and electrolyte balance. Basically, its job is to prevent too much water from being excreted through the kidneys. However, if there is water accumulation in the body, as is the case with edema, for example, increased excretion makes perfect sense. The advantage of Polyporus over some dehydrating drugs is that together with the water it does not excrete excessive amounts of potassium. On the contrary, urine is rather rich in sodium and chloride.
The causes of water retention and 
edema can be venous insufficiency, a weak heart or even a burden on the body from waste products. The heart in particular suffers from the relatively high volume of fluid. An elevated lower blood pressure value (diastole) is typical. Thus, taking Polyporus not only drains excess water, but at the same time relieves the heart and lowers blood pressure.
In alternative medicine, the diuretic effect of Polyporus has also proven effective in organically induced urinary retention. Typical reasons for this in men is an enlarged prostate, which presses on the bladder. In women, the cause may be a lowered uterus or bladder. When diabetics suffer from urinary retention, it is often due to neuropathies. All these people are helped by the oak hare, which promotes the excretion of water and strengthens all the organs involved.
EXPERIENCE REPORTS
"Despite water tablets, my legs were constantly swollen when I stood for long periods of time and my lower blood pressure was always very high. It was only through the mushroom Polyporus that I got my problem under control."
Bladder health
The medicinal mushroom even provides relief from bladder dysfunction and cramps by supporting the physiological function of the bladder. The increased urine production also has a positive effect on the general condition of the urinary tract. Regular as well as intensive rinsing makes it much more difficult for pathogenic germs to colonize. In addition, the fungus develops an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory effect in the area of the bladder, which significantly supports the reduction of bladder symptoms. Therefore, your risk of urinary tract diseases decreases significantly if you take the vital mushroom regularly.
Kidney health
In addition to the bladder, the medicinal mushroom significantly supports kidney function. In studies, for example, the polysaccharides from the oak hare showed an anti-inflammatory effect in the area of the kidneys. 
They are even said to be able to prevent kidney fibrosis. TCM healers also like to administer Polyporus for the prevention of kidney and bladder stones. For this application, the combination of polyporus and shiitake has proven to be particularly effective, as shiitake has a uric acid-lowering effect. This reduces the risk of deposits of uric acid crystals in the kidneys and bladder.
The polyporus in cancer therapy
Most of Western medicine’s experience with the squirrel and its effect on cancer cellscan be traced back to laboratory experiments. 
In the course of these experiments, researchers discovered a clear anti-tumor effect of steroids (ergon), polyporus sterones and beta-glucans from the medicinal mushroom. Their cytotoxic properties inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. In the test tube, the researchers also observed the death of breast, liver cancer and leukemia cells when polyporus sterones were added.
In a live experiment on mice with breast cancer, the vital mushroom managed to reduce the volume of the tumor. More detailed analysis showed that it both suppressed cancer cell proliferation and induced apoptosis (natural cell death). In the case of surgical removal of bladder carcinoma, polyporus measurably reduced the risk of recurrence. Doctors attributed this to increased formation of glutathione S-transferase, stimulated by the medicinal mushroom. Glutathione S-transferase performs a detoxifying function in the organism, in this case particularly in the bladder mucosa, and thus seems to minimize recidivism.
Vital mushroom for a strong immune system
A strong immune system is not only important for preventing infectious diseases. The immune system can also take some action against cancer cells itself. Therefore, polysaccharides from Polyporus contribute greatly to our overall health when they support the body’s defense mechanisms.
For example, the immunomodulatory effect of Polyporus brings higher performance of macrophages (“scavenger cells”). This occurs through increased production of nitric oxide (NO) as well as cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL 1beta. Finally, antioxidant substances such as polyporusterone A and B are also an additional support for the immune system, as they prevent the degeneration of cells.
Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial effects
The vital mushroom for beautiful skin and thick hair
Clear skin is by no means just an ideal of beauty. Rather, it is the distinguishing feature of a healthy body. For example, acne is usually the result of bacteria settling on the skin and feeding on the oil from the skin pores. Together with fat, our body sometimes also excretes toxins if it cannot get rid of them otherwise (for example, via the liver). The toxin causes additional stress to the skin. The combined administration of the vital mushrooms Reishi and Polyporus has proven to be an effective natural remedy against acne. They form the perfect combination of antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effect, which ultimately proves to be very positive in acne treatment.
Basically, the skin 
always benefits from a purification and detoxification of the organism, as the oak hare promotes. At the same time, the antioxidant abilities of the medicinal mushroom prevent premature signs of aging of the skin and hair. The causes of increased loss of head hair can be quite different. In this context, the central ingredients of Polyporus are polyporusterones A and B, acetosyringone and the micronutrients zinc, iron, copper and biotin. By the way, a combined administration of the two vital mushrooms Cordyceps and Reishi has proven to be effective for hormonally induced hair loss. In fact, they can compensate for a dysbalance of the hormonal system.
Small vital mushroom lesson
but on closer inspection it quickly becomes obvious that in the case of Polyporus, the stems attach centrally to the cap. In the case of maitake, on the other hand, the stalk emerges from the side of the cap. The color of the hats varies from yellow to ocher to yellow-brown, while the underside, covered with pores, is white. Because the Polyporus likes it warm, it forms its fruiting body in the months from July to September.
The individual stems converge to form increasingly thicker stalks, which originate from the subterranean sclerotium. This black and brown permanent form of the vital fungus grows around the thin roots of the host tree. It has a rough surface and appears bulbous, which may remind some of truffles. However, only the fruiting body that appears above ground is suitable for consumption. How do I take Polyporus?
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Scientific studies / sources
- Jianzhe Y., Mao X.: “Icons of Medicinal Fungi from China”; CRC Press; 1989.
- Hempen C., Fischer T.: “Leitfaden Chinesische Phytotherapie”; Urban & Fischer; 2001.
- Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Bianchi: “Modern Mycotherapy”; Hinckel Druck, 2008