What exactly are medicinal mushrooms?
Medicinal mushrooms, also known as functional mushrooms, are unique because of their nutrients, medicinal compounds and immunological activity.
There is overlap with culinary mushrooms as some mushrooms such as shiitake (Lentinula edodes), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and indeed white button (Agaricus sp) are classed as functional mushrooms as well.
What do you mean by medicinal compounds in mushrooms?
All mushrooms contain primary and secondary medicinal active compounds. The most studied primary active compounds are key polysaccharides called beta-d-glucans. These beta-glucans activate key receptors on immune cells and can help regulate the immune system.
The secondary medicinal compounds are specific to each mushroom since all mushrooms have baseline immune modulation activity as well as their own unique medicinal qualities. A good example of this is lion’s mane (which is a delicious edible mushroom as well as a functional mushroom), which contains beta-glucans for immune support as well as hericenones, which are believed to support the nervous system.
What are the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms?
A growing body of research is suggesting that they are many benefits for human health, as medicinal mushrooms are adaptogens and immunomodulators with many therapeutic actions: they are thought to be prebiotics, anti-viral, anti-stress, anti-inflammatory and ntimicrobial – as well as functional foods containing vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, ergosterol, statins and beta-glucans.
The main health areas that medicinal or functional mushrooms and their bioactive compounds can be applied to are gastro-intestinal, immunology, oncology, musculoskeletal and mental-emotional health.
Gastrointestinal health: medicinal mushrooms are prebiotics and can induce beneficial changes to the gut
Immunology: medicinal mushrooms have been shown to help support and regulate the immune system
Oncology: as coadjuvants (i.e. in combination with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy), it has been observed that certain combinations of medicinal mushrooms may improve the quality of life of cancer patients
Musculoskeletal system: it is believed they can play an important role in reducing the inflammation and tissue damage seen in osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis
Mental-emotional health: evidence suggests some medicinal mushrooms have relaxing properties and have been shown to be useful in depression and anxiety, as well as in Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline
Are they safe to take?
Evidence suggests medicinal mushrooms are generally very safe to take as well as being very synergistic with other ingredients, herbs and other foods.
Always check with your GP if you are unsure though.
If we had to choose the top five, they would be:
Reishi: This type of mushroom is popularly known as the ‘mushroom of eternal youth’ or the ‘mushroom of immortality’ in China. It is the best known and most studied of medicinal mushrooms. Today, it is one of the most used mushrooms for medicinal purposes and in fact, certain unique compounds in Reishi make it a valuable anti-inflammatory and one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Its medicinal properties were notably studied in cases of stress, anxiety and depression and effects noted were the capacity to promote emotional balance and a reduction of fatigue.
Lion’s Mane: This is believed to help promote a healthy gut-brain axis connection. Therefore, you could say it has a double action as it promotes both the healing and maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the nervous system and brain. It’s important to note that clinical studies have associates Lion’s Mane intake with a lower risk of cognitive decline too.
Cordyceps: This is a natural energy booster mushroom. It is a rare natural entomopathogenic fungus generally found at high altitudes on the Himalayan plateau. Tibetan shepherds first observed that yaks, goats and sheep that consumed Cordyceps became much stronger and more virile. Subsequently, the fungus became very popular for increasing vitality increasing stamina and as an aphrodisiac.
Royal Sun Agaricus: Although all medicinal mushrooms are considered immunomodulators, this is the immune balance mushroom we turn to in the immunocompromised.
Polyporus: This is considered an important medicinal mushroom due to the presence of bioactive metabolites with properties of interest for human health. Its study stems from applications in oriental medicine, where it has long been used for lymphatic drainage at different levels and as a mucolytic.
What is the best way to take them? Is it via supplementation?
We at Hifas da Terra believe so. Even though you can get the prebiotic benefits of mushrooms by eating them and using dehydrated powders, in order to make the most of their bioactive compounds in a regulated dose, supplements are recommended, especially if you want faster, more powerful results.
In addition, for those who don’t like the flavour of mushroom, supplements deliver the benefits of mushrooms in a palatable and easy to consume way.
Just remember, that not all products are made with the same rigour, so for the desired results it’s essential to know the quality and production processes of any brand are standardised and certified.
Ideally look for 100 percent organic mushrooms – fruiting body or grain-free mycelium- in vegetable capsules.
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification ensure that production is uniform and controlled, meeting pharmaceutical safety and quality standards. Third party controls such as these ensure that companies are living up to any claims they make.
Also look for products that are free from: gluten, preservatives, chemical products, sweeteners, flavourings, starch, wheat, corn, nuts, soy, sugar, and dairy, as well as grain ‘biomass’.
Hifas da Terra is a leading biotechnology company in the development of medicinal mushroom-based products for human health and sells a wide range of mushroom supplements.
