Medicinal Mushrooms a.k.a. Fungi

If you think I’m going to discuss psychotropic mushrooms, then you’ve landed on the wrong page.

I’m actually going to tell you about fungi or medicinal mushrooms and their health benefits.

Medicinal mushrooms have been used for various healing modalities in the Ancient East since 2900 B.C.

There are many different kinds with a multitude of names.  In this article, I will briefly go through the ones that are most commonly used to treat certain ailments.

I first learned about these while speaking with family and friends about natural cures for cancer.  Although, I can’t say there is a cure for cancer. There are many cases where people have improved their immune systems significantly while supplementing with beta-glucans which is a component of certain mushrooms.

Powerful Nutrients

Beta-glucans are polysaccharides that make up the cell walls of yeast, fungi, mushrooms and seaweed.

A friend of mine, who shall remain anonymous at this time, was diagnosed with cancer.  He underwent two rounds of chemotherapy treatment.  The chemotherapy did not rid his body of cancer.

But then, a colleague of his recommended taking AHCC, a rich source of alpha glucan from the shiitake mushroom.

He began taking 12 pills a day for about six weeks.  He then went in for a check-up with his doctor.  During the visit he wanted to ‘make light’ of his situation by jokingly asking his doctor, “How much did my tumor shrink?”  The doctor said, “Well, it didn’t shrink….it’s gone.”

I’m not saying that this particular supplement ‘cured’ his cancer.  I’m simply telling you a story from my personal life and there are many other wonderful stories that can be found just like this one.

(For more research on AHCC click HERE .)

Echinacea vs. Beta-Glucans

The difference between supplementing with beta-glucans for improving your immune system with other popular immune boosters like antibiotics, colostrum and herbal remedies such as echinacea and goldenseal is that your body responds even better with long term use.

Echinacea, for example, is not meant to be used ongoing.  It will actually stop working for you at some point.  Medicinal mushrooms are the opposite.  Beta-glucans found in medicinal mushrooms improve your immune system even more with long-term use.

Watch:  How Medicinal Mushrooms Boost Immunity with Dr. Isaac Eliaz.

Health Benefits

Here is a list of a few common mushrooms and their medicinal properties:

1) Agarikon –  Antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial

2) Chaga – Improves respiratory health and acts as an antioxidant

3) Cordyceps – Enhances libido, improves metabolism and respiratory health

4) Lion’s Mane – Enhances nerve growth, therefore improving brain health and memory

5) Maitake – Promotes normal blood sugar and boosts immune system and cellular health

6) Reishi – Helps the heart, reduces stress and is an adaptogen

7) Shiitake – Improves metabolism, cardiovascular health, brain health and is anti-inflammatory

8) Turkey Tail – Supports immune system, cellular health, digestion and cancer treatment

8) Zhu Ling – Chemotherapy aid, improves respiratory health and overall immune system

Continued Research

Those are just a list to start with….there are actually over 10,000 different types of medicinal mushrooms that scientists are aware of at this time.

It is also even believed and proven that mushrooms may help our planet’s eco-system by cleaning toxins in our earth and air which is fully described by mycologist, Paul Stamets during his Ted Talk: 6 Ways MUSHROOMS Can SAVE the WORLD – Paul Stamets

I’m happy to know that medicinal mushrooms will continue to be researched by scientists all over the world and has even recently gained attention by the pharmaceutical companies.  I’m not sure if this is good or bad!?  What are your thoughts on this?

Meanwhile, if you’d like to try my favorite mushroom supplements, get them HERE 🙂

Cynthia Moon