Characteristics
Umbrella like fungi composed of pileu and stipe. Pileu flat semicircular, circular of reniform. Dorsal surface yellow-brown, with annular ridges and radial veins; ventral surface nearly white to brownish, with many small pores in which there are numerous basidiospores. Stipe mostly laterally located curved in zigzag way, yellow-brown. Corky in texture, light in weight. G. japonicum similar to the former, but deep purple in colour, stipe laterally or mesially located. Both are bland in taste, warm in nature, and attributive to heart, spleen, lung, liver and kidney channels.

Indication
1. Tranquilize the mind, enrich vital energy and blood: For deficiency of heart energy or heart-blood manifested as insomnia, dreaminess, amnesia, dullness, frightening and severe palpitation; also used for all types of vital energy deficiency syndrome and blood-deficiency syndrome.

2. Eliminate phlegm, relieve cough and dyspnea: For deficiency-syndrome with cough and dyspnea. Recently also used for hyperlipemia, hypertension, coronary heart diseases, arrhythmia, leukocytopenia and hepatitis.

Pharmacological Action
1. Sedative and analgesic.

2. Increasing the tolerance of cold and anoxia in experimental mice.

3. Exerting mild and prolonged hypotensive effect in rabbits.

4. Protecting the liver of mouse from impairment and decreasing the level of SGPT (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase).

5. Decreasing the level of blood sugar.

6. Antitussive and expectorant.