Most modern medicines originate in nature. Although some plants have been used as medicines for thousands of years, new healing properties hidden in them are still being discovered. Larch sponge is an unusual tree fungus with unique properties. This unique plant will be discussed in our article. We will consider the general characteristics of the mushroom, how to prepare medicinal products from it, as well as contraindications.
General Description
Agaricus (this is another name for the fungus) parasitizes coniferous trees, most often larch. The distribution area coincides with the places where this tree grows - North America (Canada, USA), Europe (alpine part of Slovenia) and Russia (Siberia, Far East and European part).
Agaricus (larch sponge) has two commonly found scientific titles. The first - Laricifomes officinalis - refers to those species that live on larch trunks. The second - Fomitopsis officinalis - socalled mushrooms that are found on the trunks of other conifers. These can be fir, spruce and Canadian hemlock.
The mycelium of the fungus penetrates deep into the wood, extracting useful substances from it and accumulating them in the fruiting body. A larch sponge grows up to a diameter of 30 cm. The hat has a rough surface covered with tubercles. The outer crust is hard and often cracks. At the bottom of the cap is a tubular layer that grows by 1 cm per year.
Since conifers live for decades, and sometimes centuries, mushrooms on their trunks are also long-lived. The larch sponge is no exception. A photo taken by American Dusty Yao in Washington state (USA) recorded a specimen of Agaricus about 40 years old. Young mushrooms are harvested for the preparation of medicinal products. Their pulp is soft, crumbling, unlike older specimens, in which it resembles dense wood in structure.
History
Ancient Greek healer Dioscorides described Agaricus as "an elixir of longevity". The ancient explorer mentioned it in his work "On Medicinal Substances" - the first catalog in history, which describes more than 1000 different drugs for various diseases studied at that time. His contemporaries highly valued this fungus and took it out by whole caravans of ships from their colonies located on the Black Sea coast.
In Tsarist Russia, larch sponge was an export item. Through the northern port of Arkhangelsk, up to one hundred thousand tons of this raw material were annually exported to Europe. Russianspeasants used this mushroom not only as a medicine, but also as a soap or a means for dyeing fabrics red. Young mushrooms were also eaten - they made a delicious soup.
Composition
The valuable properties of agaricus are due to the high content of resinous substances, higher fatty acids, polysaccharides and phytosterols in the pulp of the fungus. The main component that determines the therapeutic effect of agaricus is the agaric acid contained in it. It has a sedative and hemostatic effect, and also affects the body as a laxative. Scientists from the University of Illinois at Chicago (USA) have discovered two new types of coumarin in the fungus, an organic substance that is highly active against tubercle bacillus.
How to use
Mushroom start harvesting in the spring months. The collection ends in mid-July. all fruiting bodies must be dried in a well-ventilated area. The basis for the preparation of a remedy is a dried larch sponge, the use of which is most effective in the form of decoctions and infusions. For a decoction, grind the mushroom and put one tablespoon of the raw material in an enamel bowl. After that, pouring 350 ml of water, you need to bring the composition to a boil. Boil the mushroom over low heat for half an hour. After completion, the broth should stand for four hours. Then it needs to be filtered. The decoction must be taken three times a day.one tablespoon a day.
To prepare the infusion, you need to put one tablespoon of Agaricus in a thermos, pour 250 ml of boiling water. When our medicine is ready, it needs to be filtered and cooled. It is necessary to take the infusion in question 1/3 cup three times a day.
You can also prepare an alcohol tincture. To do this, one glass of crushed raw materials should be poured with alcohol (0.5 l) and removed for 14 days in a cool place. As the infusion becomes saturated, periodically shake the container. It is necessary to take the remedy before meals, 30 drops three times a day.
To soften the bitter taste of agaricus infusions and decoctions, you can add mint, honey or lemon to them. This will not spoil the medicine, but will only enrich it with useful components.
Healing properties
Larch sponge is not only an effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. Its extracts can be used as an antiviral agent.
Studies have shown that agaricus has a particularly strong effect against smallpox viruses, swine and bird flu, herpes. This makes it a very valuable plant.
A solution prepared from an alcoholic extract of the mushroom is ten times more effective against influenza viruses than the strong antiviral drug Ribaverin. At the same time, Agaricus does not have a toxic effect on the human body.
An important property of the fungus in question, used in traditional medicine, is the abilityadsorb toxins and remove them from the body. This is especially important for people with cancer. After a course of chemotherapy, larch sponge helped many patients. Reviews of people who managed to cleanse the body with its help speak best of the unique properties of this remedy.
Contraindications and side effects
Agaricus should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. It is not recommended to drink decoctions and infusions from the plant in question for problems with the liver and intestines. If allergic reactions occur, treatment should be stopped. Side effects when using Agaricus can be the appearance of a rash, diarrhea, vomiting reactions. These effects are caused by violating the recommended dosage of the drug.
Conclusion
Agaricus (larch sponge) is a good alternative to conventional medicines, in which the active substances are artificially synthesized chemical compounds. Applications, reviews, healing properties - all this interests adherents of traditional methods of treatment when they are looking for information about this unique mushroom. Therefore, Agaricus is exactly what will help in the fight against diseases in our time. After all, now viruses and bacteria are mutating, ceasing to respond to drugs and therapies of traditional medicine.
