Historically, in China, Snow Fungus mushroom is considered the “Fountain of Youth,” and in Chinese medicine, it is known for its many health benefits. During the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century, legend shows that Yang Guifei – one of the Four Beauties of ancient China – turned to this white, jelly-like fungus for her youthful, radiant complexion. It has been said that she was so beautiful, her “face that would put flowers to shame.”

Snow fungus is often called the beauty mushroom, and for good reason. It has been used for centuries for its youthful, beauty-enhancing benefits, and is now becoming a popular addition in skin products. In fact, it is one of the most beneficial ingredients for maintaining a radiant and youthful complexion. 

After years of research, Snow fungus has not only been seen to support the integumentary system (skin, hair, nails, sweat and oil glands), but is also clinically used to support and replenish fluids in the body, support decongestion, asthma, constipation, balance cholesterol, and lower redness and swelling. It is incredibly rich in fiber, which helps support healthy blood sugar levels and healthy digestive health.

 Active Constituents in Snow Fungus

According to the 16th century theory the “Doctrine of Signatures”, a plants appearance indicated the conditions it can treat. The gelatinous structure of the Snow Fungus is surprisingly similar to that of the brain and it does indeed contain compounds that can protect this important organ. 

A 2007 study published in “Mycobiology” found that Snow Fungus has neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects. It promotes neurite outgrowth and helps prevent b-amyloid toxicity, making it a potential precautionary agent in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

With a gelatinous structure and high amounts of polysaccharides, Snow Fungus has been hitting the headlines in cutting edge skincare due to its extraordinary ability to boost skin hydration. The scientific reason for this is explained by Dermatologist Dendy Engelman, the director of dermatologic surgery at the Metropolitan Hospital in New York City. He says that the fungus acts in a similar way to hyaluronic acid – a powerful skin hydrator that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

Snow Fungus acts as a “humectant” by holding over 500 times its weight in water. An extra advantage of Snow Fungus is that its particles are smaller than those of hyaluronic acid, allowing them to penetrate the skin more easily. In other words, Snow Fungus holds less water than hyaluronic acid, but it actually delivers more moisture to the skin due to the smaller particle size.

The Snow Mushroom also has the ability to generate a flexible hydration film that helps to restore dry skin to its optimally hydrated state. This helps to restore elasticity, and with over 18 amino acids, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Snow Fungus helps to accelerate wound healing, aids in collagen production for plumper skin and boosts overall skin health.

Immunity Booster:

Snow Fungus has the ability to improve and enhance the action of NK (natural killer) cells, a type of white blood cell that safeguards the body from viruses and bacteria. It also improves the effectiveness of antibodies which are also used by the immune system to fight bacteria and viruses. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Snow Fungus is considered to be especially effective for old people with a weakened respiratory system, and for dry coughs.

Snow Fungus is also rich in polysaccharides, compounds which have potent immune boosting qualities. The particular polysaccharides contained in this fungus improve the secretion of interferon and interleukin, vital immune system components which provoke the manufacture of germ consuming macrophages.

Anti-inflammatory: 

Snow mushroom has been shown to naturally break down harmful free radicals in the skin and decrease inflammation, by inhibiting the expression of miR-155, one of the key small RNAs which regulate NFκB and inflammation in macrophages. This implied that snow fungus not only reduced the initiation of the inflammatory response but also inhibited the activation and augmentation of NFκB signal pathway. In layman's terms, this fungi can help recover your overall complexion! 

Help Maintain Cholesterol Levels:

In Japan, snow fungus is used to prevent cholesterol from gathering into plaques within the arteries. It does this by lowering total blood cholesterol levels. Recent research has determined Snow Fungus to be beneficial in healing atherosclerosis by stimulating DNA synthesis in vascular endothelial cells - cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels. View the image below for a presentation of a normal human artery vs an artery narrowed by plaque buildup. The less plaque you have, the better the blood flow throughout the body!