Tremella (Tremella fuciformis)

• Mushroom for Skin Health
• Mushroom for Immunity

Mushrooms are all around us, they are the true communicators in nature. Medicinal mushrooms have been used globally for thousands of years for their health benefits and can provide the missing link to support our health and well-being. Each medicinal mushroom has its own unique set of compounds to support health, let’s learn more about tremella:

Meet the Mushroom

Tremella grows in tropical and sub-tropical climates on fallen and decaying logs and tree trunks, but it can also be cultivated. The fruiting body has an unusual but pretty appearance, being both translucent and gelatinous. This has led to various nicknames such as ‘silver ear mushroom’ and ‘white jelly fungus’.

History

Tremella is a popular culinary and therapeutic mushroom that has been used in Asian cuisine and Traditional Chinese Medicine for two thousand years. It has long been prized for its medicinal properties and was included in one of the oldest books on traditional medicine called the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (c. 200AD). Both Chinese and Japanese women used it for various beauty purposes, including to reduce freckles and promote a glowing, youthful complexion. This is the reason tremella is sometimes called the ‘beauty mushroom’. 

Benefits: Why you should use it?

• Skin Health: Tremella attracts and hold water (more effectively than hyaluronic acid), this helps with hydration and elasticity, and slows down production of melanin which is useful for skin pigmentation, uneven skin tone, and scarring.
• Anti-inflammatory: Notable anti-inflammatory properties, rich in antioxidants and a potential therapeutic agent for oxidative-stress associated skin diseases and ageing (1). 
• Cardiovascular health: Rich in polysaccharides known for anti-coagulant action. Has been linked to lowering triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels (2).
• Cognitive Health: Studies suggest tremella may improve memory, and enhance cognition in those with subjective cognitive impairment. 
• Immunity: Stimulates key white blood cells for improved immune function.

Key Actives

• Polysaccharides:  High amounts of beta-glucans and other polysaccharides which are its main bioactive component. 
• Antioxidants: Tremella is also rich in antioxidants and stimulates production of superoxide dismutase which protects cells from free radical damage.

Product Info

Our Organic Tremella is a 100% fruiting body extract grown in Fujian province, under nature-identical conditions on wood chips and organic rice.

It is hot-water extracted (Up to 12:1 extract ratio) to release and concentrate its polysaccharides including beta-glucans. It has a minimum of 30% beta-glucans to support immunity and skin health.

Our Pure Grade range of extracts are regarded as practitioner quality and contain the highest levels of active compounds. It is common for mushroom capsules and powders to use ‘drinks grade’ extracts that contain a high level of maltodextrin to help encapsulation, and to taste sweeter to the palate. Pure Grade is the hallmark of the highest quality mushroom supplements. 

How to use

Capsules: Adults take 2 capsules, 1-3 times a day with or without food, or try adding the powder from the capsules into a smoothie. 

Powder: Take 1g 1-4 times a day. Tremella has a mild flavour. Add it to your hot drinks, smoothies, and breakfast bowls.

FAQs

When is the best time to take it? : Unlike some other mushrooms tremella can be taken at any time of day. Regular consumption of tremella can help you take advantage of its health benefits.

Are there any side effects? : No side effects are reported, but it can interact with certain medications like anti-coagulants.

Are there any interactions? : We would advise anyone on any medication, or those who are pregnant/breastfeeding to check with their healthcare practitioner.

Do you test the product? : Yes, it is third party tested, COA are available on request.

Why do you source from China? : The use of medicinal mushrooms was a cornerstone in Traditional Chinese Medicine and this practice dates back thousands of years. No country has more extensive knowledge than China in the growing and extraction of mushrooms. China is also home to some of the vastest and most pristine forests in the world, which provide the ideal environment for mushrooms to grow. It is universally agreed, through ongoing DNA analysis, that China continue to grow the best quality mushrooms in the world.

Combine with

Tremella can be taken on its own or combined with other supplements and functional foods for synergistic effects. Combine with chaga or collagen for skin support or lion’s mane for cognitive function. 

Fungi Fact

The first official reference using the tremella mushroom is in 200 AD, found in the writings of Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, one of the fathers of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditionally it was regarded as so valuable that only royals and high-ranking officials could use it.

References:

1:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5561887/

2: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0271531796001911