Mushrooms=Medicine

Know Your Mushrooms, Know Your Medicine

Ancestral Use of Mushrooms

Our ancestors have used mushrooms as medicine for thousands of years. The Greek physician Hippocrates classified the amadou mushroom as an anti-inflammatory and for cauterizing wounds. The alchemist Tao Hongjing described several medicinal mushrooms, including ling zhi and zhu ling, in use for many centuries before. First peoples of North America used puffball mushrooms as wound healers.

Recent Scientific Interest

The recent surge in scientific interest in medicinal mushrooms is due to their cultural history of use and modern methods for tissue culture of mycelium and testing of individual constituents. G lucidum has at least 16,000 genes coding for over 200,000 compounds, with 400 being "active constituents". Over 150 novel enzymes have been identified from mushroom species.

Delay in Modern Science

The lag in modern scientific exploration of mushrooms is likely due to their ephemeral nature and the perception that they are dangerous and poorly understood.

Mushrooms and Microbes

The medicinal properties of mushrooms are likely due to their relationship with microbes. Many of the chemicals that fungi produce to survive are also active in humans, and our bodies have evolved to respond to these chemicals through pattern recognition receptors that bind to b-glucans.

Diverse Human Responses

The literature on human response to mushrooms shows a magnitude and diversity of effects greater than those seen with plants. This is likely due to the closer relationship between the animal kingdom and mushrooms.

Exploiting Medicinal Properties

Modern science is exploring the use of mycelium to find a whole new set of active molecules that interface with modern medicine. Cultivating mushrooms to further exploit their medicinal purposes and using solvents other than water is revealing whole new sets of active constituents.

Emerging Scientific Revolution

We are now fully engaged in a rapidly emerging scientific revolution in medicinal mushrooms, with a growing understanding of their role in ecosystems and potential for use in naturopathic medicine.

Chaga

Lion's Mane

Cordyceps

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

Immune system: contain polysaccharides and beta-glucans which can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Digestive system: beta-glucans help to regulate the digestive system and promote healthy bowel movements.
Cardiovascular system: polysaccharides help to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.
Respiratory system: contain melanin that can help to protect the respiratory system and improve lung function.
Nervous system: contain ergosterols that can help to protect the nervous system and improve brain function.
Anti-cancer properties: polysaccharides, melanin, ergosterols, and beta-glucans have been found to have anti-tumor properties.

Cordyceps

Lion's Mane

Cordyceps

Cordyceps militaris

Respiratory system: Cordyceps can improve lung function and increase oxygen uptake to cells, which can lead to improved athletic performance, increased energy levels and better lung function.
Cardiovascular system: Cordyceps contains compounds such as cordycepin and adenosine, which are known to improve cardiovascular function and help with blood flow.
Nervous system: Cordycepin can help to protect the nervous system and improve brain function.
Immune system: Cordyceps can boost the immune system and its ability to fight off infections.
Kidney and liver: Cordyceps has been used in traditional medicine to protect and support these organs.

Lion's Mane

Hen of the Woods (Maitake)

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Nervous system: Lion's Mane mushroom contains compounds such as hericystin and erinacine, which have been found to have neuroprotective properties. Helps to improve brain function and protect against neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Immune system: Lion's Mane mushroom contains beta-glucans that can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Digestive system: Lion's Mane is rich in dietary fibers which can help to regulate the digestive system and promote healthy bowel movements.
Cardiovascular system: Hericystin and erinacine can help to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.
Anti-cancer properties: Hericystin, erinacine, and beta-glucans have been found to have anti-tumor properties.

Hen of the Woods (Maitake)

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Immune system: Maitake compounds such as beta-glucans that can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Cardiovascular system: beta-glucans can help to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.
Anti-cancer properties: beta-glucans have been found to have anti-tumor properties and anti-inflammatory properties and can help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Vitamin and mineral content: Maitake is a good source of vitamins B and D, and minerals such as copper, potassium, and zinc.

Tree Oysters

Hen of the Woods (Maitake)

Tree Oysters

Tree Oysters (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Immune system: Oyster mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Digestive system: rich in dietary fibers which can help to regulate the digestive system and promote healthy bowel movements.
Cardiovascular system: Oyster mushrooms contain Lovastatin which can help to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.
Respiratory system: contain eritadenine that can help to protect the respiratory system and improve lung function.
Nervous system: Oyster mushrooms are a good source of Vitamin B which is essential for the nervous system function and the formation of red blood cells.
Anti-cancer properties: eritadenine and beta-glucans that have been found to have anti-tumor properties and can help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Reishi

Hen of the Woods (Maitake)

Tree Oysters

Reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi)

Immune system: Reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucans and triterpenoids, which can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Cardiovascular system: triterpenoids can help to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.
Respiratory system: triterpenoids can help to protect the respiratory system and improve lung function.
Nervous system: triterpenoids protect the nervous system and improve brain function.
Anti-cancer properties: beta-glucans, triterpenoids and ganoderic acids have been found to have anti-tumor properties and can help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties: triterpenoids have been found to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which can help to reduce pain and inflammation in the body.

Shiitake

Snow Fungus

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)

Immune system: contain beta-glucans, which can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Cardiovascular system: contain eritadenine that helps to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.
Digestive system: Shiitake mushrooms are rich in dietary fibers which can help to regulate the digestive system and promote healthy bowel movements.
Anti-cancer properties: contain lentinan that has been found to have anti-tumor properties and can help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Nervous system: Shiitake mushrooms are a good source of Vitamin B which is essential for the nervous system function and the formation of red blood cells.
Antioxidant properties: contains ergothioneine which is an antioxidant that can help to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Snow Fungus

Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis)

Immune system: contain beta-glucans, which can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Digestive system: Enoki mushrooms are rich in dietary fibers which can help to regulate the digestive system and promote healthy bowel movements.
Anti-cancer properties: Enoki contain lectins and proteoglucans that have been found to have anti-tumor properties and can help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Nervous system: contain ergothioneine which has been found to have neuroprotective properties and can help to improve brain function and protect against neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Cardiovascular system: ergothioneine can help to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.

Turkey Tail

Snow Fungus

Turkey Tail

Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor)

Immune system: contain beta-glucans and polysaccharides, which can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Digestive system: Turkey tail mushrooms are rich in dietary fibers which can help to regulate the digestive system and promote healthy bowel movements.
Anti-cancer properties: Turkey tail mushrooms contain compounds such as polysaccharides, PSK and PSP, that have been found to have anti-tumor properties and can help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Nervous system: contain ergothioneine which has been found to have neuroprotective properties and can help to improve brain function and protect against neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Cardiovascular system: ergothioneine can help to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.

Velvet Foot

"Magic" Mushrooms

Turkey Tail

Velvet Foot or Enoki (Flammulina velutipes)

Immune system: Enoki mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which can help to activate immune cells, increase production of antibodies, and reduce inflammation.
Digestive system: Enoki are rich in dietary fibers which can help to regulate the digestive system and promote healthy bowel movements.
Cardiovascular system: Enoki contain eritadenine that helps to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may help to protect against heart disease.
Respiratory system: Enoki contains ergothioneine that can help to protect the respiratory system and improve lung function.
Nervous system: Enoki mushrooms are a good source of Vitamin B which is essential for the nervous system function and the formation of red blood cells.

"Magic" Mushrooms

Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis)

Central Nervous System: Psilocybin acts on serotonin receptors in the brain, which leads to changes in perception, thought processes, and mood. It can produce hallucinations, changes in the sense of time, and an altered state of consciousness.
Endocrine System: Psilocybin may affect the release of certain hormones, such as cortisol and melatonin, which can impact mood, energy levels, and sleep.
Cardiovascular System: Psilocybin can cause changes in heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to temporary discomfort or anxiety.
Gastrointestinal System: Psilocybin can cause nausea and stomach discomfort in some individuals.

Fly Agaric

"Magic" Mushrooms

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Central Nervous System: Amanita muscaria contains the psychoactive compounds muscimol and ibotenic acid. These can cause changes in perception, thought processes, and mood, including hallucinations, confusion, and an altered state of consciousness.
Gastrointestinal System: Amanita muscaria can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.
Cardiovascular System: Amanita muscaria can cause changes in heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to temporary discomfort or anxiety.

Lion's Mane

Lion's Mane - The Nerve-Growth Guru

Lion's mane mushrooms, also known as Hericium erinaceus, have been used in traditional medicine for centuries and are gaining popularity for their potential health benefits. They contain a variety of medicinal compounds, including hericystin and erinacines, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They also contain beta-glucans, which have been shown to have immune-boosting effects.

One of the most significant benefits of Lion's mane mushrooms is their ability to promote nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a protein that helps to support the growth and survival of nerve cells, which can be beneficial for cognitive function and nerve repair. Studies have shown that consuming Lion's mane mushrooms can increase NGF levels in the body, which may help to improve memory, focus, and overall cognitive function.

Lion's mane mushrooms also show promise in helping to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Studies have found that consuming Lion's mane mushrooms daily can lead to reductions in symptoms such as anxiety, depression and fatigue.

Chaga

Chaga - The King of Mushrooms

Chaga, also known as Inonotus obliquus, are a type of medicinal mushroom that have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

Chaga's melanin concentration is higher than any other known organism, this is the reason why it is considered as the king of mushrooms. Chaga is also a rich source of polysaccharides, betulin, betulinic acid, and triterpenoids.

These compounds have been known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune-boosting properties and help to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. They also contain compounds called lanostanoids, which have been shown to have anti-tumor effects.

Chaga mushrooms have also been found to have potential benefits for the skin, it has been shown to help with a variety of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Amanita

Amanita muscaria - The Misunderstood Mycorrhizal Marvel

Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria is a widely recognized mushroom that has been used in traditional healing practices for centuries. Indigenous tribes across Central and South America, Northern Europe, and Siberia have used Amanita Muscaria for its restorative properties for thousands of years. Today, Amanita Muscaria is used as a sleep aid and is considered to have a therapeutic potential. Amanita Muscaria is not considered a drug in North America and has undergone preclinical trials and research leading to the legalization of its extract.

Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin - Nature's antidepressant

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance found in certain types of mushrooms. It is a member of the tryptamine family of compounds, which also includes serotonin and other neurotransmitters. When ingested, psilocybin is converted into psilocin, which is believed to be responsible for its psychoactive effects.

Psilocybin is known for its ability to produce altered states of consciousness, including feelings of euphoria, spiritual enlightenment, and altered perceptions of time and space. The intensity and duration of these effects depend on a variety of factors, including the dose, the individual's sensitivity to psilocybin, and the environment in which it is taken.

In addition to its psychoactive properties, psilocybin has also been studied for its potential therapeutic benefits. Some research suggests that it may be useful in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and addiction. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential therapeutic uses of psilocybin and to determine the appropriate dosages and administration methods.

Overall, psilocybin is a complex and multifaceted substance that has a long history of use in various cultural and spiritual practices. While it has the potential to produce powerful and transformative experiences, it is also important to be aware of the potential risks and to use it responsibly.

Mushrooms=Medicine

Know Your Mushrooms, Know Your Medicine