Emma Wilson
Medicinal mushrooms are fungi used in the form of extracts or powder to prevent, alleviate, or heal multiple diseases, and/or in balancing a healthy diet. They have been used to treat infections for hundreds of years, mostly in Asia. They are also used to treat lung diseases and cancer. Evidence has emerged that medicinal mushrooms can extend lifespan in multiple model organisms. They are used as dietary food, dietary supplements, and a new class of drugs called 'mushroom pharmaceuticals'. They are also used by cosmetic companies for their film-forming capability, activation of epidermal growth factor, antioxidative, antiallergic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, stimulation of collagen activity, and treating acne.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Macroscopic fungi used in the form of extracts or powder to prevent, alleviate, or heal multiple diseases |
| Uses | Medicine, dietary supplements, functional foods, cosmetics, cancer treatments, immune support, liver protection, promoting a balanced inflammatory response, culinary |
| Benefits | Antiallergic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, antidepressive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, hypotensive, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, prebiotic, anti-invasive, antimetastatic, antiangiogenic, anti-acne |
| Species | Ganoderma lucidum (reishi), Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor (turkey tail), Lentinus edodes (shiitake), Grifola frondosa (maitake), Lion's Mane, Hericium erinaceus, Cordyceps |
| Traditional Medicine | Used in ancient Greece, China, Egypt, North America, Mesoamerica, East Asia, Japan, pre-colonial US, Canada, Australia |
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What You'll Learn
- Medicinal mushrooms are used to treat infections and have anti-inflammatory properties
- They are used in traditional medicine to support vitality and overall health
- They are used as dietary supplements and in cosmetics
- They are used to treat cancer and reduce the side effects of cancer treatments
- They are used to treat diabetes and liver problems
Medicinal mushrooms are used to treat infections and have anti-inflammatory properties
Medicinal mushrooms are defined as macroscopic fungi used in the form of extracts or powder to prevent, alleviate, or heal multiple diseases, or to balance a healthy diet. They have been shown to have a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.
The anti-inflammatory properties of medicinal mushrooms are attributed to their ability to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators through the downregulation of the gene expression of these mediators. Mushrooms are rich in many bioactive metabolites with medicinal value, such as lectins, polysaccharides, phenolics, polyphenolics, terpenoids, ergosterols, and volatile organic compounds. These compounds have been isolated and purified from different types of mushrooms and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities.
Medicinal mushrooms have also been used to treat cancer. Turkey tail, for example, contains a compound called polysaccharide-K (PSK) that stimulates the immune system and has been shown to improve the survival rate of people with leukemia. PSK is an approved anticancer prescription drug in Japan and has been used safely for a long time with few side effects.
It is important to note that while medicinal mushrooms have many potential health benefits, they are not a cure-all. Solid evidence for their effectiveness in humans is still lacking, and further research and clinical trials are needed to verify their benefits and assess their safety. It is always recommended to consult a doctor or healthcare professional before consuming medicinal mushrooms, especially if taking certain medications or if pregnant.
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They are used in traditional medicine to support vitality and overall health
Medicinal mushrooms are used in traditional medicine to support vitality and overall health. They have been used for centuries to treat infections and combat inflammation in ancient Greece, China, Egypt, North America, and Mesoamerica. In traditional Chinese medicine, the Lion's Mane mushroom, also known as Hou Tou Gu or Yamabushitake, is used to treat the spleen and its association with digestion, energy, and water regulation. It is also used as a tonic for stress-related disorders and to increase concentration during meditation.
Reishi mushrooms, also known as Ganoderma lucidum or Ling Zhi, have a 2000-year-old written record in medicinal texts. Chinese Taoist monks wrote of using it to promote calmness and enhance their meditative practices. Chinese royalty used Reishi to promote longevity, boost qi, and make the body light. In Japan, Reishi has been used safely as an approved mushroom product to treat cancer. Turkey tail, or Trametes versicolor, is another type of mushroom that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lung diseases and strengthen the immune system.
Medicinal mushrooms are also used as dietary supplements and functional foods due to their high nutrient profile of proteins, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds. They are known to have pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, and prebiotic properties. The research into the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms is still in its infancy, but the preliminary results are promising. Modern research is pointing to the potential benefits of medicinal mushrooms in immune support, liver protection, and promoting a balanced inflammatory response.
Mushrooms are also being studied for their potential benefits in cognitive function. Lion's Mane mushrooms, in particular, have been shown to be beneficial for healthy brain function and may even support neurogenesis. Medicinal mushrooms are typically used in the form of extracts or powder, and they can be incorporated into meals and beverages for a flavorful and healthy twist.
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They are used as dietary supplements and in cosmetics
Medicinal mushrooms are used as dietary supplements and in cosmetics due to their pharmacological activities and health benefits. They are used in the form of extracts or powder to prevent, alleviate, or heal multiple diseases, and to balance a healthy diet. They are also used to treat lung diseases and cancer. For example, turkey tail mushrooms, also known as Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lung diseases and strengthen the immune system. Polysaccharide K (PSK), the best-known active compound in turkey tail mushrooms, has been used as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment in Japan since the mid-1970s.
Medicinal mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, dating back to ancient Greece, China, Egypt, North America, and Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya and the Aztecs. They were also found on the well-preserved body of Ötzi, a man frozen in ice around 3300 BC. In traditional Chinese medicine, reishi mushrooms, or Ganoderma lucidum, have been used to promote calmness and enhance meditative practices, while Lion's Mane mushrooms, or Hericium erinaceus, have been used for digestion, energy, and water regulation.
Modern research has revealed that medicinal mushrooms have a high nutrient profile of proteins, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds, which contribute to their pharmacological activities. These activities include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antiallergic, antihyperlipidemic, and prebiotic properties. The bioactive compounds in medicinal mushrooms can target signaling molecules and pathways involved in cancer progression, metastasis, and angiogenesis. They also modulate the immune system, resulting in the secretion of cytokines and stimulation of natural killer cells, which are responsible for their anticancer activities.
Due to their unique properties, medicinal mushrooms are increasingly being used in cosmetics. Their film-forming capability, activation of epidermal growth factor, antioxidative, antiallergic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, stimulation of collagen activity, inhibition of autoimmune vitiligo, and treatment of acne are all of interest to cosmetic companies. However, it is important to note that the FDA does not regularly review the way supplements are made, so consumers should be cautious when purchasing mushroom supplements.
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They are used to treat cancer and reduce the side effects of cancer treatments
Medicinal mushrooms have been used to treat infections for hundreds of years, especially in Asia. They are also known as mycomedicinals and have been studied for their immune-boosting and anti-cancer properties. They are used in cancer treatments as biological response modifiers (BRMs) to treat cancer and reduce the side effects of therapies, improving the quality of the patient's life.
Mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides in their fruit bodies or mycelia. Hot water extraction or alcohol extraction can be used to release these polysaccharides. The polysaccharide extract active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) of the Lentinula edodes mushroom has been tested in several human trials. Eleven advanced cancer patients who were given 3 grams per day of AHCC for 1 month showed a 2.5 times increase in natural killer cell activity, and over half had a tumor response.
In Japan, Polysaccharide K (PSK) derived from turkey tail mushrooms is an approved mushroom product used to treat cancer. PSK has been used as adjuvant therapy in thousands of cancer patients with gastric (stomach), breast, colorectal, and lung cancer since the mid-1970s. It has been shown to repair immune cell damage caused by chemotherapy and strengthen the immune system. Maitake mushrooms, also known as Grifola frondosa, are used in Japan and China to treat diabetes and hypertension. They contain beta-glucan, a complex sugar, and studies have shown that maitake extract can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and make it more effective.
Reishi mushrooms, also known as Ganoderma lucidum or Ganoderma sinense, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. They have been studied for their potential anti-cancer effects on skin, lung, and prostate cancer cells. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that reishi mushrooms can be used as a cancer treatment.
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They are used to treat diabetes and liver problems
Medicinal mushrooms are defined as macroscopic fungi used in extract or powder form to prevent, alleviate, or heal several diseases, or to balance a healthy diet. They have been used for thousands of years as food and medicine, especially in Asian and South Asian countries.
Medicinal mushrooms have been shown to have antidiabetic properties, which can help in the treatment of diabetes. They contain bioactive compounds that can target signalling molecules and pathways involved in the progression of diabetes. These compounds exhibit anti-diabetic activity through various mechanisms, including insulin-dependent and insulin-independent methods. For example, they can inhibit glucose absorption, increase insulin release, protect from beta-cell damage, improve antioxidant defences, modulate carbohydrate pathways, and reduce inflammation.
The anti-diabetic activity of medicinal mushrooms is generally dependent on their polysaccharide (ß-D-glucan) and vitamin D contents. Out of 23 edible mushrooms studied, 13 varieties demonstrated anti-diabetic properties. The most widely studied variations are Pleurotus, Grifola, and Ganoderma species.
Medicinal mushrooms have also been shown to have hepatoprotective effects, which means they can protect the liver from injury and disease. The most studied mushroom in this regard is Ganoderma lucidum, which has been proposed to have protective activities against toxin-induced liver injury. Other mushrooms that have been investigated for their hepatoprotective activities include Volvariella volvacea, Lentinula edodes, Flammulina velutipes, Auricularia auricular, Tremella fuciformis, Grifola frondosa, and Tricholoma lobayense.
Some specific medicinal mushrooms that are useful for liver cirrhosis include Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, Sun, and Chaga mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Medicinal mushrooms are macroscopic fungi that are used in the form of extracts or powder to prevent, alleviate, or heal multiple diseases, and/or in balancing a healthy diet. They have been used for their health benefits for thousands of years, especially in Asia.
Medicinal mushrooms have a wide range of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties. They are also used to support immune function, liver protection, and promote a balanced inflammatory response.
Some common medicinal mushrooms include Reishi (or Ling Zhi in traditional Chinese medicine), Turkey Tail, Lion's Mane, and Cordyceps. These mushrooms are used for a variety of purposes, including immune support, improving cognitive function, and promoting calmness and longevity.
