Why the most powerful medicine may already be at your farmers' market

There is something quietly extraordinary happening in the world of natural health, and it has been growing, quite literally, under our feet for millions of years. Mushrooms.

We tend to think of them as a food, perhaps an ingredient we toss into a stir-fry or a risotto, but the more science looks at them, the more it becomes clear that we have been underestimating them enormously.

There are roughly 20,000 known species of mushroom, though researchers believe the total number of extent mushrooms in nature could reach into the millions.

Some are poisonous, some are psychedelic, and some have been quietly healing people for thousands of years. Penicillin, one of the most life-saving discoveries in medical history, comes from a mold fungus.

Mushroomers, the people who spend their lives gathering fungi, are known to have lower rates of cancer than the general population. That is not a coincidence. It is a clue worth paying attention to.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has long recommended eating mushrooms at least once a week to protect against cancer. In Japan, certain mushrooms, like reishi, are given to cancer patients as supplemental treatment. Mushrooms were also used during centuries in European monasteries to treat a wide range of health conditions.

More than 260 species of mushrooms have been identified as medicinal, and their properties are remarkable: they can be cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory, meaning they are capable of both stimulating and suppressing the immune system depending on what the body actually needs.

Australian researchers have found that women who eat as little as one mushroom per day experience a 64 percent reduction in their risk of developing cancer. Even the humble white button mushroom shows measurable anti-cancer activity.

One important note: fresh mushrooms offer roughly twice the benefit of dried ones, so whenever possible, choose fresh, or up the dose if you cook with dried mushrooms.

Let us explore some of the most remarkable mushrooms and what they can do for your health.

Reishi: The Mushroom of Immortality

The Chinese have called Ling Zhi aka Reishi the mushroom of immortality for good reason. Rich in triterpenes and beta-D-glucans, it activates leukocytes, the white blood cells that fight disease and infection. It is believed to help contain cancer by preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells.

The beta-D-glucans in Reishi have a particularly fascinating quality: they are simultaneously pro- and anti-angiogenic, meaning they can encourage the formation of new blood vessels to heal a wound, or suppress that same process to starve a tumor, adapting to exactly what the body requires.

Reishi also supports the cardiovascular system by regulating blood pressure, and its high levels of ergothioneine are associated with heart health.

It fights inflammation, soothes asthma and allergies, supports restful sleep, protects the liver and lungs from fibrosis, and acts as an adaptogen, helping your body navigate stress more effectively.

It is considered an anti-aging agent and it has a quite notable property: it protects against radiation!

Further, if you ever plan to travel at high altitude, whether that means trekking in the Andes or visiting Machu Picchu, take some Reishi with you: it has been shown to help the body acclimatize to lower oxygen levels.

Lion's Mane: Food for the Brain

If there is one mushroom that has captured the attention of neuroscientists, it is Lion's Mane.

This remarkable fungus contains a compound called erinacine, which stimulates nerve growth factor in the brain. Research suggests it may offer protection against strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, as long as you consume it every day.

With regard to Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to realize that Lion’s Mane brings down the amyloid plaque in the brain.

Lion's Mane contains all eight essential amino acids, along with potassium, zinc, iron, selenium, germanium, and a broad range of B vitamins.

Its polysaccharides and polypeptides support the immune system, and it has shown particular efficacy against cancers of the stomach, esophagus, and gut.

It is also calming, promotes sleep, which is great news to many of us, and supports memory and concentration. In addition to all of this, it is also an anti-microbial, antihypertensive, and anti-diabetic fungus. For anyone navigating the demands of a full, busy life, this is a mushroom worth knowing well.

Shiitake: Delicious and Deeply Medicinal

Shiitake has earned its place in kitchens around the world, but its gifts go far beyond flavor. Rich in B vitamins and copper, it has been part of Asian and Russian traditional medicine for thousands of years. It contains vitamin D, provitamins, and compounds that actively lower cholesterol, making it one of the most well-rounded medicinal foods available to us.

It is used against colds and flu, infections, arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, and heart disease. It also helps regulate blood sugar, and supports healthy weight management.

Its lentinan polysaccharides are highly regarded in Japan for their efficacy against tumors.

Shiitake has also been used with documented success in patients with HIV.

Chaga: The King of Antioxidants

Chaga may be less familiar to many of us, but it has been revered for centuries by Siberian, Russian, and Eastern European peoples, and for very compelling reasons.

It contains the highest known levels of superoxide dismutase of any substance on earth, with fifty times the amount found in Reishi. Superoxide dismutase is a potent antioxidant, and patients undergoing radiation therapy have shown better survival outcomes when supplementing with it.

Ojibwa Indians, Russians, and Eastern Europeans all use Chaga against cancer. Russian researchers have noted a striking absence of cancer in communities where Chaga is consumed regularly.

Chaga stimulates key immune responses including interleukin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and macrophages. This mushroom contains high levels of 1,3 beta-glucans, considered the most potent in the fight against cancer.

Chaga is particularly helpful in cases of breast cancer. The University of Chicago found that betulinic acid destroys melanoma cells through apoptosis.

Because of its antioxidant properties, Chaga is used to treat skin inflammation such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as different types of lung diseases. It is also valuable for managing type 2 diabetes because it reduces the risk of blood sugar spikes.

Chaga that grows on birch trees is particularly special, as it absorbs betulin and betulinic acid (plant sterols) from the birch, both exceptional antioxidants and precursor of cholesterol, efficacious both against cancer and to rebuild cell membranes.

For best results, look for wild Chaga aged between 15 and 30 years, ideally sourced from Northern Canada where birch trees reach 200 to 300 years old.

When preparing this mushroom, never let the water exceed 180 degrees Fahrenheit, whether you are brewing it as a tea or making an extract. The healing compounds are fragile and heat-sensitive. You can steep it for several days without any concern about spoiling.

And if you struggle with hair loss or brittle hair, do like the Mongolians who have long applied Chaga directly to the scalp. A 2019 study confirmed it outperforms Minoxidil, one of the most commonly prescribed hair loss treatments, in stimulating hair growth.

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Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general educational and wellness purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

References:

Dai X, et al. Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 2015;34(6):478-87.

Tsai-Teng T, et al. Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium ameliorates Alzheimer's disease-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice. J Biomed Sci. 2016;23(1):49.

Fordjour E, Manful CF, Javed R, Galagedara LW, Cuss CW, Cheema M, Thomas R. Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Dec 5;14:1273786. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1273786. PMID: 38116085; PMCID: PMC10728660.