The gelatinous rubbery texture in "hot and sour soup" is Auricularia. The fungus doesn't have much flavor on its own, but it soaks up the flavor of whatever it's cooked with. Besides its culinary value, Auricularia also has significant medicinal properties and has been used for many centuries in traditional herbal remedies.

Traditional Use

According to the Doctrine of Signatures, a theory popular in Europe in the 1800's, plants and fungi resembling certain parts of the body could be used to treat ailment of that part of the body.

Since the fungus resembles the folds of the throat, Auricularia boiled in beer, milk, or vinegar was used to treat throat ailments.

Auricularia auricula-judae have been used as medicines for many centuries in China, particularly to cure hemorrhoids and strengthen the body. It was also sometimes used to treat hemoptysis, angina, diarrhea, and warding against gastrointestinal upset. 1

Pharmacological and Clinical Research


"Modern" medicine has yielded other secrets from Auricularia. It has been shown to block blood clotting by obstructing the platelets. There have actually been cases of internal bleeding from particularly sensitive people who accidentally ate too much sweet and sour soup combined with stir-fry containing this fungus. There is some evidence that regular ingestion of Auricularia in small doses can be therapeutic in preventing strokes and heart attacks.

Other therapeutic uses of Auricularia from modern medicine include lowering blood cholesterol and triglycerides. There is even some evidence it can play a role in treating diabetes and cancer, and some studies claim it can reverse ageing by increasing SOD activity for DNA repair. However, due to the possibility of anti-fertility effects, this fungus is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women, as well as those intending to conceive. 2