White agaric thallus cut – Polyporus officinalis

The white agaric, also known as the common polypore, is an inedible mushroom, but widely recognized for its traditional uses. It is particularly used in body cleansing treatments and ancient preparations intended to stimulate perspiration.

Description

Cut thallus, light, spongy, and fibrous in texture. Its color is white to cream, sometimes slightly ochre. The odor is sweet, slightly fungal. It becomes slightly viscous when cooked, which is typical of polypores.

Nomenclature

• Common names: White agaric, common polypore, larch mushroom
• Latin name: Polyporus officinalis (syn. Laricifomes officinalis )
• Family: Polyporaceae
• Part used: Thallus (fruiting body)
• Form: Cut, dried
• Origin: Europe, mountainous regions, coniferous forests
• English name: White agaric
• German name: Lärchenporling
• Name in Spanish: Poliporo blanco
• Name in Italian: Agarico bianco
• Name in Arabic: فطر أبيض طبي (Fitr Abyad Tibbī)

Main virtues

The thallus of the white agaric is traditionally used in decoctions to purify the body. It is also incorporated into preparations for steam baths or detoxifying body treatments.

Main constituents

Resins, lactones, organic acids, bitter substances, polysaccharides.

Use and dosage

• Decoction: 2 to 5 g per 250 ml of water, boil for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Steam bath: 10 to 15 g in 1 liter of boiling water, inhale or sweat under a towel.
• Compresses: apply lukewarm to the skin using the filtered decoction.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Inedible mushroom – do not ingest without proper preparation.
• Reserve for external or traditional framed use.
• Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without specialist advice.

History and origin

The white agaric mushroom was once used in monastic hospitals to stimulate sweating in case of a cold. Its use spread in ancient pharmacopoeias as a valuable medicinal mushroom, particularly in Central and Alpine Europe.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: away from humidity and light, in a dry container.
• Packaging: kraft bag, glass jar or airtight box.
• Appearance: pieces of white to cream-colored thallus, fibrous texture.
• Odor: Sweet, slightly woody and fungal.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Traditional European mycological corpus
• Herbaria of ancient pharmacopoeias
• Alpine ethnomycological references

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