Tremella

   Tremella: Product Description

Tremella is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a tonic for overall immune health. It has enjoyed popularity for centuries by women who value it for its ability to help improve the complexion and overall appearance of the skin.*

Tremella may help maintain the appearance and texture of the skin by helping the body maintain the production of hyaluronic acid.  The production of hyaluronic acid normally declines with age.

The function of hyaluronic acid in the body is, amongst other things, to bind water and to lubricate moveable parts in the body such as joints and muscles.  Its consistency and tissue friendliness also allows it to be used in skin care products, and it is said to be an excellent moisturizer.

   The Science of Tremella fuciformis

The scientific name for Tremella is Tremella fuciformis.  Tremella has long been used in Chinese and Japanese herbalism as a "tonic" herb, as an immuno-modulator.*  Like all medicinal mushrooms Tremella contains beta glucans and other polysaccharides within the indigestable cell walls.  When properly extracted with hot water these polysaccharides are used in supplemental form to maintain, protect or support immune health.

However, maybe just as interesting to many is how Tremella seems to support and improve the health of the skin.  This health benefit is attributed to the fact that some of the polysaccharides in Tremella can help the body maintain the production of hyaluronic acid, the production of which normally declines as the body ages.*

Hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate, more specifically a mucopolysaccharide occurring naturally throughout the body.  It can be several thousands of sugars (carbohydrates) long.  When not bound to other molecules, it binds to water, giving it a stiff viscous quality similar to “jello”.  This viscous gel is one of the most heavily researched substances in medicine today with thousands of clinical trials; mostly in the fields of orthopedics. 

The function of hyaluronic acid in the body is, amongst other things, to bind water and to lubricate moveable parts in the body such as joints and muscles.  Its consistency and tissue friendliness also allows it to be used in skin care products, and it is said to be an excellent moisturizer.  Hyaluronic acid is one of the most hydrophilic (water loving) molecules in nature and can be described as “nature’s moisturizer”.

Through extensive research over the years, hyaluronic acid has yielded amazing results in various applications and locations throughout the body.  Joint cushioning and support, connective tissues, scalp tissue, hair follicles, eyes, gum tissues and skin have all been known to benefit by hyaluronic acid supplementation.*

However, Tremella, by supporting the body’s ability to naturally produce hyaluronic acid from within, is a much better option than trying to add it later through supplementation as the body’s production of hyaluronic declines with age.

   The Tradition of Tremella: The "White Fungus"

Tremella, called the “white fungus” in Chinese, is mild in nature and has a licorice taste.  Tremella nourishes the lungs, stomach and kidneys, strengthens the bone and helps maintain ideal weight.*

The Chinese texts also state that Tremella is “beauty-securing”.  Traditionally, Chinese women have used Tremella, both the cooked whole mushroom and the mushroom extract (tea), to help moisten the skin from the inside out, helping to keep the skin soft and pliable even as the body ages.  

The modern research attributes this benefit to the fact that Tremella helps the body maintain the production of halayuronic acid, the production of which normally declines as the body ages.  

As described in the section on Science, maintaining the production of halayuronic acid may help to maintain and improve the health of the skin during the aging process.*