Edible saprophytic mushroom that grows in summer and autumn mainly in beech, chestnut and oak woods with a bushy appearance similar to Grifola frondosa.

It is also known by the Chinese name Zhu ling and is a mushroom with a long history of use as a natural remedy especially in the East.

– Polyporus umbellatus shows its therapeutic effects in particular in the urological and lymphatic fields. Its use is very effective in the treatment of urinary tract infections and lymphoproliferative diseases, in post-surgical lymphedema and when there is lymphatic stasis.

– It has an important diuretic action: it stimulates the production of urine and the excretion of sodium and chlorine without there being a concomitant loss of potassium that often occurs with synthetic diuretics. It is a natural diuretic useful in all cases of water retention such as edema and swelling in the joints; it can also help in the treatment of urological stones and in the prevention of kidney stones. It is considered the natural drainage par excellence and can be recommended as a supplement in many treatments to promote the elimination of toxins.

– The antitumor action of Polyporus is expressed in its ability to inhibit the DNA replication of cancer cells. It has also shown an effective cytotoxic activity against gastric cancer and cervical cancer. The use of Polyporus umbellatus has allowed to obtain good results especially in the treatment of leukemia and lung cancer. A study of 146 patients the administration of the fungus has been shown to be useful in reducing the incidence of bladder cancer relapses. A study conducted on laboratory mice, which was given an extract of the mushroom, showed a reduction in the growth of Sarcoma 180 and Erlich’s tumor by 70 and 80%, respectively. Thanks to its specific properties of the lymphatic system, the use of Polyporus umbellatus is indicated in all hemolymphoproliferative forms (lymphomas and leukemias) and in lymphatic metastatic cancers such as mammary, prostatic, pulmonary and uterine ones. In chemotherapy treatments it is important because it strengthens the immunological activity and promotes the elimination of toxins through lymphatic drainage and diuresis.

– Several terpenic compounds with antioxidant and cellular protective activity have been isolated from the fungus. In the presence of cirrhosis with ascites it is very useful because on the one hand it helps detoxify liver cells, while on the other it eliminates excess fluids. In addition, the fungus has proven effective against hepatitis B.

– The active ingredients acetosyringe and polyporusterone A and B contained in the fungus promote hair regrowth.