Around 5000 years ago, a man, who we call Otzi the Iceman, was high up in the Alps between the border of Austria and Italy, when he was killed by an arrow. This may have been ritual sacrifice, or murder, but only 2 hours before his death, he had enjoyed a meal of Ibex meat, herb bread, some roots and fruit. He was quite a cool dude with 61 tattoos over his body, but our interest lies in what he carried in his medicine bag.
There was a strange mushroom which looks like Styrofoam, squeezed out of a decaying Birch log. I wonder what he called this medicine. Today, we name it Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina).
The mushroom is very common in our woodlands, and it has amazing medical benefits to those who know how to use it as, clearly, Otzi did. It would have been an excellent medicine for his wounds. Dried and ground to a powder, it stops bleeding, relieves pain and is anti-biotic. He might also have used it for gastric parasites, as it has anti-parasitic properties.
The medical properties ascribed to this mushroom are wide ranging, including being anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic.
It has anti-cancer actions, is anti-inflammatory and immune modulating. Birch polypore provides strength and resilience, whilst helping the person to feel calm.
The Chinese doctors use it to clear Damp and Phlegm (asthma and bronchitis), resolve masses (tumours), nourish the heart (soothing), calm the spirit and nourish the Chi (strengthen energy). In Russia it is valued for its calming and nourishing properties.
Our history calls it the razor-strop fungus as, dried, it was used to sharpen razors.