Puff ball
Puff ball

People use this for...

Orally, puff ball is used for nosebleeds and skin disorders.
For food uses, young puff ball mushrooms are edible.

Likely Safe ...when young puff ball mushrooms are consumed as food (18). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of the oral use of puff ball for medicinal purposes.

Pregnancy And Lactation: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of puff ball.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

    Adverse effects

    General: Inhaling the spores can cause respiratory illness, pneumonia-like symptoms, and widespread lung densities (3846,3847).

    Interactions with pharmaceuticals

    None known.

    Interactions with herbs & supplements

    None known.

    Interactions with foods

    None known.

    Interactions with lab tests

    None known.

    Interactions with diseases

    None known.

    Mechanism of action

    The applicable parts of puff ball are the aerial parts and spores. Puff ball contains amino acids, glucosamine, sterol, enzymes, and approximately 3% urea (18).

    References

    18Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    3846Tapiainen T, Luotonen L, Kontiokari T, et al. Xylitol administered only during respiratory infections failed to prevent acute otitis media. Pediatrics 2002;109:E19. View abstract.
    3847Respiratory illness associated with inhalation of mushroom spores - Wisconsin 1994. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1994;43:525-6. View abstract.
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    This monograph was last reviewed on 18/11/2021 01:06:07 and last updated on 20/12/2012 22:29:46. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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