Top 5 Health Boosting Medicinal Mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years and their impact on our health is mind-blowing.

Mushrooms give us incredible nutrients and they have healing benefits for our mind, body, and soul.

Some of the main advantages mushrooms have on our health, include balancing and boosting the immune system, improving memory, increasing energy levels, helping with sleep, enhancing metabolism, intestinal health and help with regulating healthy functioning of the liver.
Mushrooms have also been shown to help with stress, anxiety, brain health, and studies have shown that certain mushrooms show anti-cancer properties.

Here are some of the top mushrooms to take to boost your overall well-being…

1. Lion’s Mane

Best for Brain Health and Mood

It is also known as the bearded tooth mushroom, bearded hedgehog mushroom, Hericium Erinaceus, or the pom pom mushroom.

Studies (1) have shown that Lion’s Mane can prevent neuronal damage that can be caused by depression, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and strokes.

Lion’s Mane mushroom provides the body with anti-oxidants and acts as a neutralizer to free radicals that can cause inflammation to the body and damage brain cells.

Thirty females took part in an experiment that showed that Lions Mane can reduce depression and anxiety (2).

Another study that was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reported that benefits of the Lions Mane include ‘, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antifatigue, antihypertensive, antihyperlipodemic, antisenescence, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective properties and improvement of anxiety, cognitive function, and depression‘ (3), now that’s a good enough reason to try this type of mushroom (https://www.gbnpharmacy.com/pharmacy.php).

Research which has taken place in China suggests that the compounds within this mushroom possess anti-cancerous and anti-oxidant properties, that support gastro and intestinal health (4).

Benefits of Lion’s Mane:

– Supports Brain Health
– Promotes Positive Mood
– Reduces Depression and Anxiety
– Enhances Memory and Learning
– Heals the body
– Supports A Healthy Heart
– Boosts Immune System
– Improves Sleep
– Anti-Inflammatory
– Anti-Oxidant

How Do I Take Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?
Lion’s Mane can be eaten cooked, raw, or steeped in a tea, however, it has a fishy dirt kind of taste, so it may be best taken in powder, capsule, or extract form.

Which Product Should I Try?
Harmonic Arts Organic Lions Mane Extracted Powder or Four Sigmatic Elixir.

2. Chaga

Best for Anti-Oxidant, Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory

Chaga is also known as Inonotus obliquus, it is found on birch and other trees, particularly in several areas of the Northern Hemisphere. It looks a little like burned charcoal and is part of the Hymenochaetaceae family.

Anti-Cancer Properties:
Research suggests that the Chaga mushroom has been used in folk medicine to treat cancer and results from the same study, showed that compounds in the Chaga mushroom, ‘could be used as natural anticancer ingredients in the food and/or pharmaceutical industry‘ (4).

More recent studies have also supported this, by showing that ‘the continuous intake of the I. obliquus extract can potentially suppress cancer development through the maintenance of the body temperature‘ and this can also help with weight loss(5).

Many other researchers have shown or are continuing to show, that Chaga mushrooms ‘could be a good source for functional food and natural anti-cancer medicine‘ (6).

Anti-oxident:
As well as having positive effects against cancer cells, the Chaga mushroom has many other health benefits. Research was published in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry provided evidence that Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) is an excellent antioxidant against breast cancer and stomach cancer cells (7).

Chaga along with Reishi, Maitake, Lion’s Mane, and Turkey Tail are known to contain good amounts of long-chain polysaccharides, which are turned into carbohydrates then used as a source of fuel, so Chaga mushrooms are a good source of energy for the body. Large amounts of gelatinous found in polysaccharides can help reduce inflammation, particularly in the intestinal area and can help with absorption of nutrients (8).

Chaga mushrooms have their black color because they contain high amounts of melanin which has some great advantages to our health. Melanin is great for the immune system, is an anti-oxidant, has benefits to our nervous system, helps with eyesight, and helps protect the skin from harmful rays.

Help Fight Diabetes
Research was carried out in 2006 that showed that blood sugar levels in rats were lowered after taking Chaga mushrooms for 8 weeks. Although further research in humans is needed, this is a great step to show how chaga mushrooms may help those with diabetes (9).

Anti-inflammatory:
The properties of chaga mushroom can reduce inflammation, (10) so can be used to help alleviate pain in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Boosts Immune system
Chaga contains Beta-D-Glucans which is why this superfood is a great way to boost the immune system and studies have been carried out to support this (11). There has also been research carried out to show that chaga mushrooms support immune cells that are associated with initiating cancer (12).
Due to the immune-boosting properties, these medicinal mushrooms have been used to help soothe ulcers and gastritis. Chaga is packed with essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin D, potassium, amino acids, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, and copper so it is an all-round powerful immune booster.

Benefits of Chaga:

– Prevents and Fights against Cancer
– Helps with Weight Loss
– Anti-oxidant
– Anti-Inflammatory
– Maintains Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetes
– Lowers Cholesterol
– Lowers Blood Pressure
– Supports Immune System

How Do I Take Chaga Mushrooms?
Chaga mushrooms are available as supplements in capsule or powder form or can be soaked in hot water and drank as a tea.

Which product should I try?
Harmonic Arts 5 Mushroom Chocolate Elixir ,Purica Chaga Antioxidant Support Capsules or Chaga Powder for immune support.

3. Reishi

Best for reducing anxiety, increasing sleep, promoting a positive mood and balancing energies.

The Ganoderma lucidum is well known in Asian countries for its health-promoting properties and is known as the herb of spiritual potency in Chinese medicine. The Ganoderma lucidum is also known as lingzhi in China and in Japan, the name for the Ganodermataceae family is Reishi or Mannentake.

The Reishi mushroom has a shiny brown texture with a spiral ridge-like pattern and is shaped like a kidney, almost resembling an appearance of a fan. In Chinese medicine, the Reishi mushroom symbolizes success, well-being, divine power, and longevity (13).

Good quality sleep is something that we all appreciate and Reishi mushrooms promote healthier sleeping patterns.

A study was carried out with a group of breast cancer survivors that suggested that Reishi mushrooms can reduce fatigue and improve the overall quality of life (14). The participants in the study reported a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Reishi is great for the immune system because it contains polysaccharides, antioxidant properties and beta-glucans. It’s an adaptogenic, making it a non-toxic immunity-boosting superfood. A key aspect of adaptogens is that they support the body’s adrenal functions so in turn, will reduce harm caused by mental and physical stress.

Benefits of Reishi:

– Increases Longevity
– Relieves Stress and Depression
– Relaxes the Nervous System
– Mood Calming
– Promotes Memory and Concentration
– Increases Energy
– Helps with Sleep
– Supports Immune Response
– Supports Glucose Levels
– Boosts Immune System
– Anti-Cancer Properties
– Detoxifies and tones liver and bowel

How Do I Take Reishi Mushrooms?
Reishi doesn’t taste great so it isn’t generally used to cook with, however, it can be eaten raw, in a capsule or tea. If Reishi is consumed dried, it is recommended to have a dose 10 times less than if taken in its raw natural form (13).

Which Product Should I Try?
Four Sigmatic Elixir Mix

4. Maitake

Best for preventing and treating cancer, maintains blood sugar and promotes immune health.

These mushrooms are also known as Hen-of-the-wood, Grifola frondosa, ram’s head or sheep’s head. This medicinal mushroom has been used for centuries in traditional medicine in Asia to treat conditions such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension to name a few.

Maitake means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese and this name was apparently given because people danced with pure joy and happiness when they first found this magical medicine in the forest. It is usually found in late summer to early autumn and grows around Oak, Elm, and Maple trees.

Cancer
A study carried out in 2012 found that Maitake D-Fraction (MDF), which is an extract of the mushroom, was found to be effective in killing human cancer cells (15).

Maitake has shown better results in preventing and treating cancer and other health conditions when compared to other medicinal mushrooms (14).

Blood Sugars
Maintaining blood sugar levels is an important part of our health to prevent symptoms such as headaches, weight loss, blurred vision, and even long term effects such as kidney problems. Maitake mushrooms have been shown to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels when taken alongside a balanced diet.

A study carried out in Japan showed improved glucose tolerance and blood sugar levels in diabetic rats that were administered with Maitake mushrooms (16). Another study also showed that the fruiting body of Maitake lowered blood sugar levels (17).

Benefits of Maitake:

– Fights Tumors
– Boosts Immune system
– Lowers Blood Pressure
– Improves Cholesterol Levels
– Helps Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
– Supports Cellular Health

How do I take Maitake Mushrooms?
Maitake mushrooms can be bought in the produce section of most large supermarkets and some local markets too. This super mushroom has a strong earthy taste, so it can be enjoyed on its own or you can chop it up and add it to a soup, stir-fry, curry, pizza, or salad. You can also take it in a capsule form but if you do, try and go for the maitake D-Fraction, as it is an extract of the mushroom.

Which product should I try?
If you want a capsule form, try Mushroom Wisdom, Maitake D-Fraction veggie tabs.

5. Turkey Tail

Best for boosting the immune system, antioxidant, fight cancer cells and to reduce inflammation.

Turkey tail is plentiful and can be found just about everywhere in the world. They are multi-colored and have a distinctive disc-like shape so they can be easily spotted, usually on hardwood stumps. To make sure it is a turkey tail, check the underside for tiny spores.

Trametes Versicolor, the cloud mushroom, Yun Zhi (China), and Kawaritake (Japan) are other names used for turkey tail, which has been used for centuries to treat different health conditions.

Antioxidant
Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body against free-radicals that can damage cells and lead to long term issues. Turkey tail mushrooms are packed with powerful antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenols. These antioxidants support the immune system by releasing protective compounds and this also helps reduce inflammation.

Immune Booster
Mushrooms are important for nutrition and medicinal use and have more of a positive impact on our health than we imagine. One of the main medicinal benefits of Turkey Tail is that it has been shown to boost the immune system.

Turkey tail is packed with polysaccharide K (PSK) which is a type of polysaccharopeptide, making it is an excellent source to boost our immune system. This mushroom also contains Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP) which can help lower inflammation at a cellular level.

Supports Cancer Treatment
Studies have shown that the medicinal properties in turkey tail can benefit those who are currently receiving cancer treatment by boosting their immune system.

Turkey Tail was shown to have an enhanced effect on patients receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy. There’s been an improved survival rate for people with gastrointestinal cancers due to the immune-boosting effects of turkey tail (18) and findings of another study showed that there was an increased survival rate in cancer patients who took turkey tail compared to those who did not.

Improved Digestive Health
It helps to keep our gut health in good shape in order to positively support our immune system. Turkey Tail contains prebiotics that helps to increase beneficial bacteria and suppresses anything harmful to the gut.

Taking turkey tail can, therefore, help to keep our digestion process in good balance allowing better absorption of nutrients and increased energy levels.

Benefits of Turkey Tail:

– Boosts the Immune System
– Anti-Oxidant
– Anti-Cancer Properties
– Improves Gut Health
– Reduces Inflammation

How Do I Take Turkey Tail Mushrooms?
You can easily make your own turkey tail tea because it is so plentiful and convenient to pick yourself. To do this, chop up 1 cup of turkey tail into small pieces and add to a pot of 5 cups of water, bring the water to a steady boil and simmer for around 1 hour.
Strain the mixture into a colander and add a squeeze of lemon. You can even add a few pieces of fresh turmeric for an extra immune boost if you wish.

Which Product Should I Try?
If you have no access to turkey tail in the wild and prefer to take a capsule, go for something like the Host Defense Turkey tail capsule.

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Note: All of the plants and products mentioned above are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure a disease, all information is based on relevant research that has been carried out to show the incredible benefits of medicinal mushrooms on our health.

If you’re looking at ways to improve your health, check out ‘Cannabinoids in Diseases and Health – Important Highlights Discussed.’

Sources
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5987239/
(2) https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biomedres/31/4/31_4_231/_article
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26244378
(4) https://synapse.koreamed.org/search.php?where=aview&id=10.4162/nrp.2010.4.3.177&code=0161NRP&vmode=FULL
(5) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844016301773
(6) https://www.jkom.org/upload/30-4%2001%2001-12.pdf
(7) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1226086X1400570X
(8) https://medicinalherbals.net/polysaccharides/
(9) http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=KR2007000481
(10) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19577624
(11) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22484608
(12) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18203281
(13) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14756912
(14) https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/maitake-mushroom#benefits
(15) https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/72/8_Supplement/3515
(16) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11349892
(17) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7820117
(18) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7910230/