Mushrooms have incredible potential to provide humankind with so many solutions to our needs... from bio-remediation to cancer fighting to consciousness expansion and diseases of the mind they are truly a gift that needs more acceptance and research.


Mushrooms fight cancer

Medicinal mushrooms and mushroom extracts are used worldwide to fight cancer and enhance and modulate immune response. Lentinula edodes (shiitake), Grifola frondosa (maitake), Ganoderma lucidum (mannentake), and Cordyceps have a history of medicinal use for millennia in parts of Asia. Research has indicated mushrooms have possible anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and liver protective activities. Here are six of the most well-researched anti-cancer mushrooms rich in polysaccharides and beta glucans, the primary active immune-enhancing constituents.

Ganoderma Reishi Mushroom Ling Zhi, Mannentake, "The Mushroom of Immortality"

This is one of the great longevity tonics of Chinese Medicine used in cancer treatment in Traditional and Modern Chinese Medicine to improve vitality, strength and stamina and to prolong life. Reishi enhances immune response, alleviates chemotherapy side effects such as nausea and kidney damage and protects cellular DNA by raising antioxidant capacity.

Shitake (Lentinula edodes) Black Forest Tree Mushroom or Xiang Gu (Fragrant Mushroom)

This is a tender and tasty mushroom found in many Asian cuisines. It is considered both a delicacy and a medicinal mushroom. Shitake contains a glucan called AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) and is widely used in alternative and complementary treatment of cancer in Japan due to its immune-enhancing functions. Lentinan, a compound found in Shitake, is used as an intravenous anti-cancer drug with antitumor properties. Clinical studies have associated lentinan with a higher survival rate, higher quality of life and lower recurrence of cancer.

Coriolus versicolor (Trametes versicolor) "Turkey tail Mushroom" Yun Zhi

This is one of the most well-researched medicinal mushrooms in the world. It is a biological response modifier. Turkey Tail has been used in Chinese Medicine as a tonic for centuries. Studies show that it improves survival rates and acts an immune modulator with immune stimulating and anti-tumor properties. Some studies show that it can enhance the effects of chemotherapy cancer treatment and reduce the side effects of radiation therapy.

Cordyceps sinensis Chinese Caterpillar Fungus Dong Chong Xia Cao

Cordyceps acts an immune stimulator by raising cancer- and virus-fighting T Cells and Natural Killer Cells and prolongs the life of white blood cells, improving resolution of infections. It has demonstrated anti-tumor properties and also protects the kidneys from chemotherapy side effects. It is one of the most widely used tonics in anti-cancer formulas in Chinese Medicine.

Maitake Grifola frondosa Cloud Mushroom Hui Shu Hua

This is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to enhance the immune system. It is one of the major mushrooms in Japanese cooking. Studies have shown that it can enhance both the innate immune response to fight infections as well as adaptive immune response conferring long-term immune enhancement. Maitake also protects cells with its antioxidant properties and decreases the inflammatory factor COX2 enzyme so common in cancer physiology. Studies have also shown that Maitake has potential anti-metastatic properties inhibiting the proliferation and spread of cancer.

Chaga Inonotus obliquus Black Tree Fungus

This has been used as a medicinal mushroom in Russian and Eastern European Traditional Medicine. Chaga has been studied as a potential anti-cancer agent. Chaga contains betulin, a precursor to betulinic acid, which has been shown to inhibit the cancer-promoting enzyme topoisomerase. Betulinic acid has been found to be active against skin, brain, ovarian and head and neck cancers by promoting apoptosis, or the natural progression of programmed cell death. Cancer cells do not go through this natural life cycle and become immortalized and do not die.

Hi all, I just want to askl if someone ever tried using shrooms or truffles for medical purposes? I was reading some articles about this magic truffles and shrooms before engaging my self for the first time. Like this one from:https://www.trufflemagic.com/blog/psilocybin-psilocin-effects-magic-truffles-shrooms/ .They say that it has a very potent effect on the brain and hallucination. Unlike marijuana does it have any medical use? In one article that I've read magic truffles or shrooms are use on reducing the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. It can also help people to quit smoking and alcohol addiction. Some studies also suggest the property of magic shrooms/truffles can be useful for cancer patients. I would really want to hear other insights regarding this new possible alternative meds. Thanks

Mushrooms come in many different sorts, and each has its own nutritional and medicinal value. Some mushrooms are high in polysachharides and/or beta glucans, which are both good for boosting the immune system. You might look into cordyceps and coriolus, as well as others. I also like 1,3-1,6 beta glucan capsules. Known as "the Russian antibiotic", beta glucan is actually not an antibiotic but rather an immunity enhancer. So it doesn't attack the system like an antibiotic but rather supports the immune system in a healthy and holistic way. It works particularly well if taken in a 500mg daily dose along with vitamin D and a rather large dose of vitamin C (3,000-5,000 mg). This is not intended to be a sustained daily supplement but rather a big boost when you need it. Beta glucan is highly effective when taken this way to combat any viral, yeast or bacterial infection, and it usually works in 2 to 7 days, after which it can be discontinued. With extreme infections, such as chronic bronchitis or an infection that underlies cancer (usually advanced candida), it may be necessary to continue beyond a week of dosing. In that case, it can be a highly effective part of a holistic cure, but you should talk to a doctor about sustained use. Anything else--from the common cold to a major ear infection--will get knocked out faster and much safer than with antibiotics.