1. Description:
Calvatia gigantea (also known as giant puffball, Chinese Pinyin: Ma Bo, Simplified Chinese: 马勃, 马批, 马譬, 灰菰, 牛屎菰), is a species of puffball mushroom commonly found in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests usually in late summer and autumn. It is found in temperate areas throughout the world, the plant can grow up to 70 cm tall. Dried Calvatia gigantea is used as hemostatic and antitussive in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as sore throat.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
Dried Calvatia gigantea is considered to have pungent, neutral and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the lung meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Calvatia Gigantea & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Sore Throat
Pill made with Calvatia gigantea and snake slough is kept in mouth to treat sore throat.
3.2 Reducing Inflammation, Swelling And Relieving Pain
Pills made with Calvatia gigantea, mirabilite and granulated sugar is kept in mouth to treat aphonia.
3.3 Chronic Coughing
Pills made with Calvatia gigantea powder and honey is taken with soup to treat chronic coughing.
3.4 Hematemesis
Pills made with Calvatia gigantea and granulated sugar is taken with normal water to treat hematemesis related to accumulated lung heat.
Powdered Calvatia gigantea is taken with rice soup to treat hematemesis during pregnancy.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.