Hoof fungus (Fomes fomentarius)

Hello dear Hive friends, first of all I would like to wish you a nice weekend and hope you had a nice day! Today I would like to introduce you to a mushroom that I photographed and hope you find my post interesting.

The mushroom you can see here is called Hoof fungus and scientifically Fomes fomentarius. This fungus is a perennial fungus that grows mainly on deciduous trees, in most cases on birches and beech.

Fomes fomentarius can reach a diameter of over 30 cm and another characteristic is that this mushroom can be up to 30 years old! This mushroom can be found in Europe as well as in Asia and India.

Some may have already seen this mushroom, but do not know that it is a medicinal mushroom. This is a special feature that is associated with a long history, which dates back to ancient times. This fungus is also used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) against various diseases and an important pigment of this fungus is melanin, which can protect the human DNA and support the regeneration of the body.

Another great benefit for humans is that Fomes fomentarius has been used to ignite fire for thousands of years. And in addition, even in ancient times, this fungus was appreciated for healing properties and was already mentioned by Hippocrates. This fungus is also assigned its own symbolism, it symbolises the cycle between humans and nature.

As always, you should always inform yourself before taking it and if you are not sure, always ask a doctor. Although the mushroom is not poisonous raw, it should always be used when cooked. A common and simple form of application is to let the mushroom dry and then obtain a powder, this powder is great as a tea or garnish for food.

Many thanks for stopping by and I hope you like my new contribution! I captured the pictures with my camera Sony Alpha 6000 plus 55-210 mm lens!