You’ve probably heard of medicinal herbs before, but what are medicinal mushrooms? Despite the fact that many people still haven’t heard about medicinal mushrooms, they have been used for thousands of years. Did you know that about 60 percent of pharmaceuticals are either derived from plants or are copies of ingredients found in plants? Fungi have also had a role to play. Penicillin, though not a mushroom, was first discovered when Dr Alexander Fleming noticed that mould contaminating a petri-dish seemed to stop the bacterial culture in it from growing. With this in mind, the idea that medicinal ingredients might be found in certain mushrooms isn’t a stretch. Today, we’ll explore the history of medicinal mushrooms, and possible medicinal mushrooms benefits that are supported by science. In our discussion, we’ll steer clear of the psychoactive ‘magic’ mushrooms that contain Psilocybin. Although these are being researched for possible medical applications, we do not recommend their use. Instead, we’ll focus on mushrooms that are generally safe for all to consume. What Are Medicinal Mushrooms? You may be surprised to find that many medicinal mushrooms have Chinese and Japanese names. That’s because they have an important role in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. Other cultures are also likely to have used them, but the earliest written records of their use date back to China in around 770 BC, and medicinal mushrooms remain important in traditional Far Eastern medicine to this day. Today, many people in the West are beginning to use medicinal mushrooms, although they are referred to as nutritional supplements rather than medicines. Principles of Traditional Medicine in the Far East To understand the powerful reputation that certain mushrooms gained in traditional medicine, we require a basic understanding of the principles of traditional Eastern medicine. One of these is holism: an approach that says the body’s health is the product of its reaction to its environment including nutrition, social factors, and more. As a result, practitioners work to keep people healthy. In the treatment of disease, enhancing the body’s resistance - its ability to take care of itself - is a guiding principle. To this end, various “treatments” have been used in Eastern traditional medicine to rebalance the body’s resilience, and medicinal mushrooms have been among the tools used for thousands of years. Medicinal Properties of Mushrooms Historically, most people didn’t know why certain natural products seemed to help people to recover from illnesses. Today, we want to know the “why” and the “what” in order to separate science from folk tales. Although a great many medicinal properties are attributed to medicinal mushrooms, and researchers are working on certain of their ingredients to determine their usefulness, we should be cautious about accepting unsupported claims that mushrooms are a “cure” of any sort. Only recently has this ancient knowledge been delved into from a modern scientific approach.So far, clinical data and research has shown some of the varying medicinal mechanisms for mushrooms including anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, antioxidant, immunoregulatory effects, amongst many other benefits (3). Mushrooms contain a wide array of key vitamins and minerals, polysaccharides peptides, glycosides, alkaloids, proteins, terpenoids and nucleotides. One key part of the fungi are beta-glucans present in their cell wall (3). Mushrooms like Maitake, Shiitake, Chaga, Reishi, and Lion’s Mane are rich sources of nutrients, some of which cannot be found in any other type of food or supplement. What are Medicinal Mushroom Benefits? As a person with an inquiring mind, you probably wouldn’t want to use mushroom supplements without knowing what they might do for you and why they might help you to achieve your health goals. Broadly speaking, “medicinal” mushrooms contain complex sugars, amino acids, triterpenoids, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre. There’s a wide range of antioxidants that may help to fight inflammation, and many of the ingredients could help to enhance the body’s natural resistance. Besides this, specific mushrooms contain nutrients with different effects. For example, while some may help you to feel more energised, others may help with better sleep, improve mental focus, or boost gut health. How to Incorporate Mushrooms Into Your Healthy Lifestyle Most people enjoy edible mushrooms, and some of the mushrooms we’ve mentioned here are highly prized by gourmets. However, when using mushrooms to achieve health benefits, like all health supplements, sustained use is required. That means choosing a supplement from a reputable source and using it daily for three weeks or more. Before you begin, decide which effects would be most helpful to you, choose a mushroom supplement that may support your goals, and use it as directed. For example, many people are intrigued by the possibility of mushrooms helping to enhance mental clarity. If that’s your goal, try Grass & Co’s FOCUS supplement which contains Lion’s Mane mushroom with added Ginseng and Omega 3. If you’re hoping to combat fatigue and sleep better, DREAM capsules with Reishi, Magnesium and Sage would be the best choice. Grass & Co. and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. The information and products presented on this site are not intended for medical use nor do they make any medical claims. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programmes. (3) Valverde, M. E., Hernández-Pérez, T., & Paredes-López, O. (2015). Edible mushrooms: improving human health and promoting quality life. International journal of microbiology, 2015, 376387. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/376387 Scientific review of medicinal properties and nutritional content in a range of edible mushroom species worldwide. More about functional mushrooms
