Auricula, Jew’s Ear, Hei Mu Er 黑木耳

Wood Ear, Jelly Ear
Hei Mu Er (TCM)
Picture Herbarium Blackwellianum, 1757

Picture Black Auricula on the Chinese Market (Adam, 2017)

Picture Black Wood Ear (Hei Mu Ear)
(Adam, 2024)

Botanical name:


Auricularia auricula-judae (syn. Hirneola auricula-Judae, Auricula judae)
Several species are used including A. polytricha
In China, White and Black varieties of Mu Er are known:
  1. Black Mu Er, Hei Mu Er: Auricularia auricula
  2. White Mu Er, Bai Mu Er, or Yin Er: Tremella fuciformis

Parts used:


Fungal body

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, moist. Sweet

Constituents:


Both varieties are rich in Polysaccharides

Uses:


1. Nourishes Yin, Benefits Qi (TCM):
-regarded as a health food by the Chinese; good for chronic disease, the young and old
-weakness, fatigue, Blood deficiency
-waist, lower back or leg pain
-postpartum weakness
-dysentery, piles, and enteritis

2. Nourishes Lung Yin, Clears Heat, Stops Cough (TCM, West):
-dry Cough, chronic Cough
-Hemoptysis
-Sore Throat (boiled in milk or infused in vinegar)

3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Menorrhagia, Uterine Bleeding
-Hemoptysis
-Diarrhea with Blood, Bleeding Hemorrhoids
-Postpartum Bleeding

4. Nourishes the Yin, Stops Wind, Settles Spasms:
-Hypertension
-Cramps, Numbness, Tetany

5. Moves the Blood:
-Trauma, pains from bruising, obstruction in arteries and veins

6. Cholesterol and Hyperglycemia
-recently used for High Cholesterol and Hyperglycemia

7. Externally:
-‘cures the Eyes, steeped in proper Water’. (Schroder)


Dose:


3–9 grams in decoction. Eaten as food in China.

Comment:


The White Wood Ear (Bai Mu Er) is also used in China. It has similar properties, nourishing Yin and strengthening Qi. and enhancing immunity. Highly regarded as an old age tonic in China, it strengthens Brain and calms the Spirit and enhances Brain function and restores memory.

Main Combinations:


1. To nourish the Skin and prevent premature aging, and for Blood deficiency Auricula with Lycium Gou Qi (Goji).
2. Chronic Cough, Auricula with White Lily bulb
3. Hypertension, decoct Auricula and add Rock Sugar
4. Sore Throat:
i. ‘Take Jews-Ears which grow out of an old Elder and seeth them and Collumbine leaves in milk with honey of Roses, or a few dryed Rose-leaves with a little Sugar, drink of this milk as hot as you can often times in the day and night, and lay of the said Jews-Eares in the Beer or Ale which you use to drink.’ (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
ii. ‘Take of running water and white Wine ana one pint, put to a dosen Figs and half as many Jews Ears, boile it to near the Consumption of half, strain it, and put to it one half ounce of Mel Rosarum, gargle it three spoonfulls one after another as hot as may be suffered, then apply the Figs and Jewes Eares outwardly in a fine cloath to the throat.’ (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)

Cautions:


Generally Safe. Use cautiously in Diarrhea from Spleen deficiency

Main Preparations used:



1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Antioxidant
3. Anti-thrombotic
4. Anti-cholesterol
5. Cardioprotective (Medicinal Mushrooms A Clinical Guide, 2nd Ed., Powell, 2014)