Mushrooms are Nature’s Ancient Medicine

Mushrooms are accepted as culinary delights that are mixed in certain dishes or used as toppings on pizzas. But their tonic and healing qualities are unknown to most in the West. For centuries, Asian, especially Chinese, and Eastern European cultures have used various mushrooms as tonics for improving health and medicinally for curing a wide variety of diseases. The comprehensive guide by Robert Rogers, The Fungal Pharmacy, lists over 270 species of fungi with known medicinal properties, including antioxidant, blood pressure lowering, cholesterol reducing, liver protection, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune modulating properties. Some have anti-cancer properties sufficient for healing with other natural modalities or ameliorating the adverse effects of harsh orthodox oncology treatments. Although some medicinal mushrooms can be eaten fresh, their medicinal qualities are unleashed fully by hot water (teas) or alcohol (food grade) tincture extractions. Mushrooms tend to be adaptogenic, meaning they adjust the necessary immune responses according to what is needed. They are intelligent and work with the body’s innate intelligence. It doesn’t get any more natural than that.

The Health Benefits of Mushrooms

There is, perhaps, no other food source surrounded by such mystery and magic as mushrooms. Mushrooms are actually the fruit of mycelium, which is a "filamentous, cobweb-like cellular network." The cobwebby mycelium exudes enormous suites of enzymes, antimicrobial agents, antiviral compounds, as it grows in the ground beneath our feet and in the forests around us. Mycelium is the cellular foundation of our food webs, creating the rich soils so necessary for life. Mycelium is a digestive membrane that also destroys many environmental toxic wastes, and has spawned a new science -- called "Mycoremediation" … Partnering with mycelium improves environmental health -- outside and inside our body. About 100 species of mushrooms are being studied for their health-promoting benefits. Of those 100, about a half dozen really stand out for their ability to deliver a tremendous boost to your immune system, which might, in turn, help fight or prevent cancer.

The Health Benefits of Mushroom Consumption

Mushrooms contain some of the most potent natural medicines on the planet. Of the 140,000 species of mushroom-forming fungi, science is familiar with only 10 percent. About 100 species of mushrooms are being studied for their health-promoting benefits. Of those hundred, about a half dozen really stand out for their ability to deliver a tremendous boost to your immune system.