Porcini Mushroom

Category: Chinese Herbs

Boletus, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the fruiting bodies of the fungi in the Boletaceae family: Boletus speciosus Frost [Suillus speciosus (Frost) Kuntz.], Boletus queletii Schulz., Boletus regius Krombh., and Boletus satanas Lenz.Boletus speciosus is found in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan; Boletus queletii is found in Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet; Boletus regius is found in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan; and Boletus satanas is found in Sichuan and Yunnan. It has the therapeutic effects of aiding digestion, harmonizing the middle burner, dispelling wind-cold, and relaxing the tendons and meridians. It is commonly used to treat poor appetite, abdominal distension, pain in the lower back and legs, and numbness in the hands and feet.

Chinese Name : 牛肝菌

Latin Name : Boletus speciosus Frost, Boletus queletii Schulz., Boletus regius Krombh., Boletus satanás Lenz

Aliases : See Hand Blue

Authentic Producing Area : Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet

Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Slightly sweet in taste, warm in nature

Benefits & Efficacy

Benefits

Aids digestion, harmonizes the middle burner, dispels wind-cold, and relaxes the tendons and meridians.

Indications

Used for poor appetite, abdominal distension, pain in the lower back and legs, and numbness in the hands and feet.

Usage and Dosage

Internal use: Decoct 6–12 g.

Precautions

Among the boletus mushrooms, the devil’s bolete is poisonous; consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and convulsions, but the toxins can be broken down by high temperatures during boiling.

Pharmacological Actions

1. Inhibits hemoglobin synthesis. 2. Promotes T-lymphocyte mitosis and the release of interleukin-1α and interleukin-2 by monocytes.

Relevant Discussions

1. *Compendium of Natural Medicines from the Qinling and Ba Mountains*: “Dispels wind, dispels cold, relaxes tendons, and activates meridians. Primarily used to treat pain in the lower back and legs, as well as numbness in the hands and feet.”

2. *Illustrated Treatise on the Materia Medica of Southern Yunnan*: “Clears heat, relieves restlessness, nourishes the blood, and harmonizes the middle jiao.”

3. *Medicinal Spore-Bearing Plants of China*: “Aids digestion.”

Applications

Related Compatibility

For indigestion and abdominal distension: 6 g of *Jianshouqing* and 15 g of *Matixiang* (root and stem). Decoct in water and take orally. Take twice daily. (Liu Bo, *Medicinal Fungi of China*)

Notes

Other fungi in the same genus with similar effects include the blood-red bolete (Boletus rubellus Krombh.), also known as “Red Jianshou,” found in Yunnan, Tibet, and other regions; and the fine-spotted bolete (B. pulverulentus Opat.), found in Fujian, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, and other regions.

Processing & Preparation

Crude Drug Identification

Botanical Information

Botanical Classification

Fungi of the Boletaceae family: Hua Mei Boletus, Red-footed Boletus, Peach-red Boletus, and Magic Boletus.

Morphological Characteristics

1. Huamei Porcini: Also known as Small Porcini. The cap is semicircular, becoming flat later, with a width of 8–15 cm. The surface is dry and smooth, dull in appearance, rose-red or wine-red, occasionally mottled with yellow patches. The flesh is pale yellow and turns blue when injured.The gills are adnate, honey-yellow, and turn blue when injured. The stem is uniform in thickness, honey-yellow toward the top, soiled brown at the base, and features a reticulate pattern at the upper end. Spores are narrowly spindle-shaped to long cylindrical, measuring (11–15) μm × (2.5–3.5) μm.

2. Red-stemmed Boletus: Also known as red-stemmed boletus, “pink-handed,” or “trimmed-stemmed boletus.” The cap is slightly convex and spreads out. Cap width: 5–20 cm. Dry, initially with fine pubescence. Yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, or laurel-brown.The flesh is yellow and turns blue when injured. The stem is uniform in thickness, with a non-swollen base; it is 4–15 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter. It is yellow or red with deep red or vermilion spots, without a reticulate pattern; the stem base initially turns blue when injured and later turns brown. Spores are fusiform, measuring (12–16) μm × (4–6) μm.

3. Peach-Red Boletus: Also known as Red Boletus, “Jianshouqing,” or “Purple Jianshou.” The cap is broad and flat, dry, slightly sticky when young, initially velvety, and later smooth, with a width of 9–16 cm. It is purplish-red, rose-red, or blood-red. The flesh is lemon-yellow and turns pale blue when injured.The gills are lemon-yellow or sulfur-yellow, turning greenish-brown when injured; they are curved and depressed near the stem. The stem is club-shaped, with a cup-shaped base; the upper end features longitudinal striations, while the middle and lower parts have a yellow reticulate pattern; the base is rose-red. The spores are nearly spindle-shaped, nearly symmetrical on both sides, measuring (11–15) μm × (4–5) μm.

4. Devil’s Boletus: Also known as the Fine-net Boletus, Calf’s Head, Devil’s Boletus, or Poisonous Boletus. The cap is 7–30 cm wide, semicircular, and later becomes nearly flat. It is dry and sometimes cracked. The color is pale gray or olive-brown, sometimes with a pinkish undertone.The flesh is white or pale yellow, turning blue when injured. The pore surface is red, turning blue initially upon injury and then black. The stem is short and thick, almost cup-shaped, with a diameter of up to 6 cm and a length of about 8 cm. Spores are fusiform or elliptical, measuring (11–15) μm × (4–6) μm.

Distribution Area

1. Splendid Boletus: Found in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other regions. 2. Red-footed Boletus: Found in Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet, and other regions. 3. Peach-red Boletus: Found in Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other regions. 4. Devil’s Boletus: Found in Sichuan, Yunnan, and other regions.