Lasiosphaera fenzlii

BotanicalMedicinal mushroomBest taken away from food

What is it

Lasiosphaera fenzlii is a puffball fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine (called ma bo). Its mature spore-bearing material is used topically and orally for sore throat, cough, and bleeding.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Sore throat / bleeding (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional Chinese medicine use; limited modern clinical evidence.

How it works

Ma bo contains polysaccharides, amino acids, urea, and various proteins. Traditional Chinese medicine uses it as a hemostat and anti-inflammatory, especially for sore throat with bleeding. Topical application provides absorbent and mild hemostatic action. Modern clinical evidence is limited; most preparations have small clinical trial support in Chinese literature.

Dosage

Topical use: applied directly. Oral traditional Chinese medicine: 1.5-6 g of dried fruit body per day.

When and how to take it

Topical: as needed. Oral: between meals.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried fruit body / spores (ma bo)

Traditional preparation.

Topical or decoction.

Safety

Generally well tolerated. Spore inhalation may cause respiratory irritation. Limited modern safety data.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to lack of data. Avoid spore inhalation.

Interactions

No significant interactions reported.

Frequently asked questions

Is ma bo safe?⌄

Short-term traditional use appears well tolerated; spore inhalation should be avoided.

References

Lasiosphaera fenzlii on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Lasiosphaera fenzlii on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Lasiosphaera fenzlii (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.