A birch tinder fungus parasitizing on a deciduous tree rarely becomes a victim of a mushroom picker. Little is known about this variety, although its healing potential is significant. The edibility of the fetus and ways to remove the bitterness still do not subside.
The healing properties of tinder birch
Description
Tinder fungus birch, according to various sources, edible or inedible mushroom. The bitter taste, which is less pronounced in young individuals, speaks in favor of inedibility. They are offered to eat them.
The variety is considered an example of parasitism. Tinder fungus on a birch gradually destroys the tree. Mycelium affects only dry or rotten specimens, performs a cleansing function in the forest.
Birch is the only tree on which the species parasitizes.
The birch variety looks like this:
- missing fruit leg;
- in young individuals, the body is in the shape of an egg; in adults, it is flat, hoof-shaped, reaches 25 cm in diameter, and up to 5 cm in thickness;
- the color of the mushroom is white or cream, covered with a film; with age becomes brown or brown, tough;
- the smell is pleasant.
Variety - one year old. By winter, the mycelium is destroyed, and in spring spores grow in the cortex. The species is distributed throughout Russia. Often lives in places with high humidity.
The attitude to the fetus is ambiguous. Mycologists refer to its inedibility and parasitic nature, and the people use the fetus as a means of traditional medicine. The pulp is not dangerous for humans, but unsuitable for food due to unbreakable bitterness.
Species and subspecies
The fungus of the birch tinder fungus has subspecies:
- foxes;
- present;
- false.
Fox is smaller and reddish in color (externally and internally). The present subspecies is pleated. It is thicker, hoof-shaped in shape. False subspecies of black color, brown flesh inside.
Confused birch tinder with Chaga. Chaga is a separate sort of kingdom. Her fruit body is crumpled, resembles a black growth. It also parasitizes on a birch, the nomenclature name is Mowed Piper or Birch Mushroom.
Beneficial features
The properties of the fetus are limited only by practical use. Despite the pleasant smell and taste, the bitter aftertaste does not allow the fruit to be eaten. Useful vitamins and minerals in the pulp have not been studied.
In everyday life, a tinder is obtained from a mushroom - a fiber that is highly flammable from a spark.
Contraindications
Be sure to consult a specialist
Contraindications to the use of the variety externally - the presence of allergies or individual intolerance to the components of the drugs. Folk recipes using birch tinder are not recommended for testing on children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases of the skin, joints.
Before using tinctures inside, a consultation with a specialist is mandatory.
Application
The use of birch tinder in everyday life is wide. Its medicinal properties formed the basis of traditional medicine recipes.
Cookery
The birch tinder is not widely used in cooking. But some mushroom pickers suggest eating young spring specimens. There is less bitterness in them, but it only increases with heat treatment. The taste of the fruit is low, so it makes no sense to cook it.
The medicine
The healing properties found in antiquity. The whole horny skin was removed and disinfected.
The beneficial substances that pulp contains help with weight loss:
- weaken appetite;
- have a diuretic effect;
- treat constipation and cleanse the intestines.
A general stimulating effect on the body is also noted. In the season of colds, tincture will strengthen immunity, increase the general mood and emotional background.
Medical tinctures and rubbing from birch tinder are used for joint diseases and wound healing. The pulp contains natural anti-inflammatory substances. Sliced stripes of the fetus are used as a patch for small open wounds.
In medicine, from the fetal body receive:
- Polysaccharides, which serve as the basis for experimental oncology drugs.
- An extract (or extract) that has an anti-inflammatory effect and works as an anesthetic.
- Chitin and pectin, which are used to make intestinal cleansing drugs and food additives.
- Polyporenic acid obtained in the laboratory. It is part of drugs against ulcers and inflammation of the digestive tract.
- Some substances. They are useful for the liver and kidneys, help cope with infiltrates.
- Powder from ground pulp. It is a good antiseptic for wounds, promotes healing.
All preparations and tinctures are obtained only from safe tinderpipers on a birch. False subspecies and chaga are not used for medicinal purposes. Not used and copies collected in places of pollution.
To prepare the infusion, 1 part of the raw material is infused in warm water, then passed through a meat grinder and insisted again in a dark place. At this stage, the ratio of warm water to raw materials is 1: 5.
The powder is used after treating the wound with peroxide or alcohol, sprinkling it under a sterile dressing. Based on a powder or dried fruit, an alcohol tincture is prepared to rub the joints. 5 g insist on 150 ml of vodka or alcohol for 14 days. The same tincture is diluted with honey and taken orally at 5 ml to strengthen the immune system. The course lasts 3 weeks.
Conclusion
The birch tinder has long been used as a cosmetic and medical product. Today, alcohol tinctures and powder grindings are popular. In academic medicine, chemical compounds and extracts that have medicinal properties for the human body are obtained from the pulp.
