When you think of mushrooms, you may think of savory culinary dishes or perhaps funky looking growths in the forest. Perhaps your mind travels toward magic mushrooms and ancient sacred rituals or Alice in Wonderland and fairy rings. But chances are that when you mull over mushrooms you don’t think of researchers in white coats and heaps of scientific data. But mushrooms have been the subjects of numerous scientific studies all over the world for decades.

Myriad Benefits of Mycomedicinals

Research has shown that Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are two very potent medicinal mushrooms. They have been studied extensively and found to have impressive health benefits. For example, both are antibacterial and antiviral. Both are immune enhancers and are especially effective for lung/respiratory ailments. Both can help regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides. These fantastic fungi are also effective treatment for CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and several kinds of tumors.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps, also known as caterpillar fungus, inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (a contributing factor in atherosclerosis) and raises beneficial HDL. It is useful for treating liver disorders like cirrhosis and hepatitis B. It is also a central nervous system stimulant, that may help counter stress and depression as well as increase energy production in the mitochondria thereby increasing stamina and athletic performance.

In traditional Chinese medicine cordyceps works on the lung and kidney channels and is a tonic to them. It is supportive and protective to the kidneys and can be effective in nephritis and chronic renal failure. This fabulous fungus is a bronchodilator and may be helpful for treating asthma, bronchitis and chronic cough. Furthermore, cordyceps reinforces chi (life energy) and helps to regulate and support the gonads enhancing both male and female fertility and increasing libido.

Cordyceps’ immune-enhancing benefits include treating lupus erythematosus and colon cancer. It promotes apoptosis (cell death) in leukemia, mouth and testicular cancers while reducing damage to bone marrow and intestines caused by radiation therapy.

Maitake

Maitake is another mushroom that offers incredible immune support. Not only is it helpful against several kinds of cancer (liver, lung, prostate) but it may help alleviate AIDS-related health problems, especially Kaposi’s Sarcoma, and prevent the HIV virus from damaging Helper T-Cells. Maitake is also effective for the treatment of uterine fibroids and has preventive action against hepatitis.

And More

Evergreen Nutrition offers a variety of medicinal mushrooms including several organically grown in Washington by Fungi Perfecti/Host Defense. We also have other mushrooms like reishi and chaga available individually, as well as some formulas.

From Evergreen’s Archives: August 2010

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