3 Medicinal Mushrooms to Help Boost Your Health

Medicinal mushrooms are macroscopic fungi which are used in the form of extracts or powder for the prevention, mitigation, and healing of particular diseases. In history, medicinal mushrooms were restricted to Asian countries, but nowadays, these “magic mushrooms” are found to have been increasingly consumed in Western countries and other parts of the world.

Presently, medicinal mushrooms are mainly used as dietary supplements or as functional food. But just like any other supplements, medicinal mushrooms undergo preclinical and clinical trials before they’re used for human consumption.

In this article, we’re about to introduce you to three medicinal mushrooms, their short history and health benefits.

1. Reishi Mushroom: What Is It?

Reishi, also known as Lingzhi, with scientific name Ganoderma lingzhi, is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has a reddish brown, varnished kidney-shaped cap with bands, and has a peripherally inserted stem that gives it a distinct fan-like appearance.

Health Benefits of Reishi Mushroom

Reishi mushroom has been used by traditional Chinese medicine for a reason. The following are the known benefits of this coveted medicinal mushroom:

Reishi Mushroom May Boost the Immune System

Reishi mushroom boosts the immune system through its effects on the white blood cells, a part of our immune system that is responsible for fighting certain infections and diseases.As you may have already known, our immune system is basically the one that protects and shields us from viruses and bacterias. With a compromised immune system, our bodies might be vulnerable to immune disorders and disabilities.

Reishi May Have Anti-Cancer Properties

Cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death. It hasn’t got a cure – yet, but for decades patients have been using a variety of alternative ways to beat their way out of it. Reishi mushroom appears to have a promising effect for cancer treatment/prevention, but more information and scientific data are still needed.

Reishi Might Be Good for the Heart

One study has shown that this particular mushroom increases the “good” cholesterol in your blood count and decreases triglycerides, or better known as body fats. Your blood is part of your circulatory system – the system responsible for the pumping of oxygen from your heart to your brain and body.

Reishi May Fight Fatigue and Depression

Depression and chronic anxiety are serious mental illnesses. They negatively affect the way you think, act, and feel. While it’s advisable to seek professional help when one suffers from one, some preliminary studies have shown that Reishi mushroom could have the ability to reduce anxiety and depression in patients.

2. Cordyceps Mushroom: What Do You Need to Know

Cordyceps is a genus of sac fungi that includes about 600 species. This particular fungus has a worldwide distribution, mostly found in the territories of Asia: Nepal, China, Japan, Bhutan, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. Cordyceps species are particularly abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests.

Health Benefits of Cordyceps

The following are the potential health benefits of Cordyceps:

Cordyceps May Boost Exercise Performance

According to a
study, cordyceps fungus helps in increasing the body’s production of adenosine triphosphate, which is essential for delivering energy to the muscles. Especially during exercise, this may improve the way your body uses oxygen. You can think of oxygen as your literal life-support.

Cordyceps May Boost Sex Drive

Believed to be caused by its antioxidant content and has anti-aging qualities. The elderly used this fungus to reduce fatigue and boost libido. It has also been found that this mushroom improves fertility among humans. So the next time you need an aphrodisiac, you know what to find.

Cordyceps May Have Potential Anti-Tumor Effects

Although more research is needed for this claim, this type of fungus may have the potential to treat cancer, as well as some side effects of cancer treatments.

Cordyceps May Help Manage Diabetes

Diabetes is an illness wherein the body either doesn’t produce or respond to insulin, a hormone responsible for the transporting of glucose into your cells for energy. Elevated blood sugar levels are common in people with diabetes. This mushroom contains a type of sugar that may help treat diabetes.

3. Lion’s Mane Mushroom: The Basics

Lion’s Mane mushroom, with scientific name Hericium erinaceus, is an
edible mushroom belonging to the tooth fungus group. Native to North America, Europe and Asia, it can be identified by its long spines, occurrence on hardwoods, and tendency to grow a single clump of dangling spines.

Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Just like the other magic mushrooms mentioned, there are some health benefits of consuming lion’s mane mushroom.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Might Help Prevent Dementia

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Lion’s mane mushrooms contain the two compounds hericenones and erinacines that stimulate the growth of brain cells and protect them from damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Might Help In the Recovery of Nervous System Injuries

Rat
studies have found that lion’s mane extract can speed up recovery time from nervous system injuries, but human research is lacking. It’s a known fact that scientists often use rats as their subjects because a rat’s DNA and a human’s is almost “alike”.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Might Prevent Ulcers

Ulcers are capable of forming anywhere along the digestive tract, including the stomach, small intestine and large intestine. According to a
study, lion’s mane extract has been shown to protect against stomach and intestinal ulcers in rodents, but human research has been conflicting.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Might Help Reduces Stress

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are believed to be at the root of many modern illnesses, including heart disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Research shows that lion’s mane mushrooms contain powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that may help reduce the impact of these illnesses.

How Do I Store Medicinal Mushrooms?

Just like any other vitamins and health and dietary supplements known to mankind, medicinal mushrooms should be stored safely. The following tips and guidelines:

Keep away from moisture, heat, light, air – they may have the capability to damage the mushrooms. You better store them in the coolest and driest place that you can. You can store it in your kitchen cabinet away from the sink or any hot appliances.

• It is important for those who store their medicines in a bathroom cabinet to know that the moisture and heat coming for your shower and bath may damage the mushrooms. Your mushrooms may become less potent or “less effective”, or they may go haywire before they even expire.
• This is important. ALWAYS KEEP THE MUSHROOMS IN ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER. You don’t want to let them be contaminated.
• Lastly, store the mushrooms out of reach and out of sight of your children (if you have any). It’s always advisable to lock your mushrooms and any other medicines.

Medicinal Mushrooms: In Summary

In conclusion, medicinal mushrooms have since been used for the prevention and mitigation of certain illnesses. While it was very clearly stated that more scientific analyses and data are yet to be gathered to back up the claims of these certain mushrooms’ “healing powers”, it’s guaranteed how after reading the article, you can realize how vital it is for us to maintain a healthy body and a sound mind.

After all, no one wants to have cancer and spend their whole life trying to fight one; no one wants to have an uphill battle with chronic anxiety and depression, especially in the contemporary times we are living in. Everybody wants to have a healthy and functioning circulatory and nervous system; everybody wants to achieve that still-glowing skin even when they’re in their 60’s.

To put it into perspective, medicinal mushrooms could be a better alternative for vitamins and supplements. No one wants to compromise their health more than anything. Our health and our body in general are our most expensive investment after all.

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