where is the origin of this kind of medicine?
Compendium of Materia Medica and Huangdi Neijing.
Traditional Chinese medicine
TCM is said to be based on Compendium of Materia Medica and Huangdi Neijing. 
what is astraeus hygrometricus? A species of fungus where is it found? Temperate and tropical regions; Africa, Asia, Australia, etc. where did its name originate from? Greek words ὑγρός ("hygros") and μέτρον ("metron"). what are some similar species? G. arenarium, G. corollinum, G. floriforme, to name a few. what are the traditional beliefs regarding this? Used in traditional Chinese medicine as a hemostatic agent
wiki:1589383
Traditional Chinese medicine [SEP] Introduction
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a branch of traditional medicine in China. It has been described as "fraught with pseudoscience", and the majority of its treatments as having no logical mechanism of action. TCM is said to be based on Compendium of Materia Medica and Huangdi Neijing. The practice includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, gua sha, massage (tui na), bonesetter (die-da), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy. TCM is widely used in the Sinosphere, where it has a long history; subsequently it is now also practiced outside of China. One of the basic tenets of TCM is that the body's vital energy ("ch'i" or "qi") is circulating through channels called meridians having branches connected to bodily organs and functions.