Puff Ball

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Bejines, Bovista, Cuescos, Deer Balls, Espèces du Genre Lycoperdon, Hart's Truffle, Lycoperdon, Lycoperdon species, Pet-de-Loup, Vesse-de-Loup.

Overview

Puff ball is a type of mushroom. The mushroom cap and spores are used as medicine.

People take puff ball for nosebleeds and skin disorders.

Young puff ball mushrooms are edible.

How does it work?

There isn't enough information to know how puff ball might work.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of puff ball for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Puff ball mushrooms seem to be safe when eaten in food amounts. There isn't enough information to know if puff ball is safe to take by mouth in the larger amounts typically used as medicine. Inhaling puff ball spores can cause side effects including breathing problems, pneumonia-like symptoms, and chest X-ray changes.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of puff ball during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

SLIDESHOW

Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See Slideshow

Dosing

The appropriate dose of puff ball depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for puff ball. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

Respiratory illness associated with inhalation of mushroom spores - Wisconsin 1994. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1994;43:525-6. View abstract.

Tapiainen 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.