A powerful fungus that is both anti-viral and active against tumours

A Healing Fungi Guide

Candlesnuff is the second fungi to feature in my Healing Fungi Guide. 

Candlesnuff Fungi is said to look like a snuffed-out candle wick due to its black base, grey downy mid-section and white tips. It is a saprophytic fungus which means it feeds off other organisms such as dead wood and helps to progress the decaying process. It is also known as Stag's Horn because of its erect and shapely fruits that resemble antlers.

This is different from mycorrhizal fungi which form a relationship with the roots of trees to not only exchange nutrients and help the trees absorb water more efficiently, but also to warn each other of potential threats such as insect attacks or the onset of disease. This triage of trees, plants and fungi helps each to defend themselves and collectively support any neighbours who might be in need.

When the Candlesnuff Fungi has grown, the wood around it becomes soft enough for the Candlesnuff to feed on chemicals called polysaccharides which bind the wood together. In this way, the Candlesnuff becomes instrumental in breaking the wood down into a soft mushy meal that tiny insects and other small creatures can feed on.

Candlesnuff Fungi is bioluminescent which means it produces and emits light in the darkness. This is very faint and hardly visible to the human eye. It grows throughout the year and can be found in ancient woodlands and forests across the British Isles, mainland Europe and North America.

Candlesnuff Fungi are not poisonous but are considered inedible due to being tough, woody and unpalatable. It is not not recommended for consumption although I should imagine, lighly battered and gently fried in butter (or Ghee) with fresh Garlic, Celtic Sea Salt and cracked Black Pepper, they would be very tasty. I will certainly try this following my next forage.

I hope you enjoy discovering the poweful medicial, cleansing and healing benefits of Candlesnuff - an edible and powerful healing remedy as a herbal tea for your general good health, wellness and wellbeing.

Folklore

You need to be in a dark, damp forest at night where you know you might find Candlesnuff Fungi growing on decaying wood. The glow is a natural phenomenon caused by a chemical reaction called foxfire or fairy fire which can sometimes be strong enough to see in the dark.

This is the best time to carefully open up a piece of the decaying wood to see the light produced by the mycellium where it is brighter. This magical phenomenum may explain why Candlesnuff Fungi - and the Fungi Kingdom in general - has long been associated with spiritual beliefs, fairy tales and the deep mysteries of the Fae.

The faint, ghostly greenish glow produced by the mycelium in the inky-black darkness has been the stuff of myths in the mysterious, unseen, underworld Fungi Kingdom, and has been explicitly connected to sprites in folklore.

Nutrition

Candlesnuff is a too tough and not recommended to eat, however, it represents a prize find due to it being a powerful tumour-fighter.

Candlesnuff Fungi may be small but it's a medical force to be reckoned with. These pale and petite, antler-shaped creations contain both anti-viral properties and anti-inflammatory compounds that work actively against some human carcinomas.

Candlesnuff Fungi contains a variety of chemical compounds, some of which exhibit cytotoxic and anti-tumour properties. This includes xylarial A and B to pyrone derivatives and cytochalasins which means it presents a wealth of chemical complexity with potential medicinal implications.

SOURCE: Candlesnuff Fungus - Totally Wild UK

Remedies

While I have not (so far) been able to find any published recipes for Candlesnuff Herbal Tea, I would suggest that as it is non-poisonous and non-toxic, the best way to benefit would be to make a brew in the same way you would make my Turkey Tail Herbal Tea.

A small handful of Candlesnuff Fungi goes a long way and I would start by gently simmering a small amount (similar size and weight to my freshly dried Turkey Tail pieces - see link above) for 1-2 hours in a medium pan of filered water.

Pour out a cup (adding honey and fresh Lemon juice to taste) and top the pan back up with the same amount of water so that you can re-simmer and drink over a period of days.

You can drink 1-2 cups (8 oz) a day of this powerful cleansing and healing herbal tea daily (am and pm) for general wellness and to benefit from its anti-cancer properties, anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant properties.

As with any natural remedies you make yourself, be cautious, do your research and start with small amounts to make sure your system can handle it. It will get to work quickly, so if you have a lot of stored toxins and waste to clear from your body after years of neglect, it's always advisable to seek the right help - ideally someone who is a qualified natural healer, homeopath or nutritionalist.