Willow Bracket Mushroom - Phellinus ignarius
Willow Bracket, Phellinus ignarius, is a hoof shaped bracket mushroom that is very hard, has a blackened top, and grows on rotting stumps and infected trees. I usually find it on birch or poplar trees in the Adirondack Mountains.
It is neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antioxidative, antitumor, antidiabetic, and antihyperlipidemic. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is being investigated for use against cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart attack, stroke, injury recovery, liver damage, and diabetes. It is gaining popularity as a treatment for multiple sclerosis in conjunction with other mushrooms.
It has been studied for use in stroke patients with success.1
Studies show that it can lower uric acid in gout patients.2
It is cytotoxic and can induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death which studies show may help fight cancer cell proliferation.3
Studies and patient testimony show that the immunomodulatory effect may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis. 4
Suggested Tincture Dosing is 1 ml 3 times per day. Start slowly as allergies and intolerances are always possible.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness.
1 Kim JH, Choi BY, Kim HJ, Kim IY, Lee BE, Sohn M, Park HJ, Suh SW. A Water-Ethanol Extract from the Willow Bracket Mushroom, Phellinus igniarius (Higher Basidiomycetes), Reduces Transient Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Death. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(9):879-89. doi: 10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.v17.i9.80. PMID: 26756300.
2 Li X, Chu FJ, Jiang SL, Jin XB. [Preliminary study on effect of Phellinus igniarius ethanol extract on serum uric acid metabolism and gut microbiome in rats]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2021 Jan;46(1) 177-182. doi:10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20200915.403. PMID: 33645068.
3 Wang_2017, Fei-Fei Wang and Feng Liu and Chao Shi and Wei Ma and Kai-Jin Wang and Ning Li,Cytotoxic Activities of Fractions of the Willow Bracket Medicinal Mushroom, phellinus igniarius, Agaricomycetes and the Induction of Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in MGC-803 Cells, International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms}, 1521-9437},2017, 19, 6, pages 561-570.
4 1.Zapora E, Wolkowycki M, Bakier S, Zjawiony JK. Phellinus igniarius: A Pharmacologically Active Polypore Mushroom. Natural Product Communications. 2016;11(7). doi:10.1177/1934578X1601100741