A-Z medicinal mushrooms Articles

Although mushrooms have long been used in the kitchen, many mushrooms possess medicinal effects that can have astounding benefits to your overall well-being. Let’s explore the world of mushrooms, and more specifically, the health benefits of Lion’s Mane.

What are Medicinal Mushrooms?

Medicinal, or functional mushrooms, not to be confused with magic mushrooms, offer many health benefits. Magic mushrooms have psychedelic properties due to the presence of psilocybin or psilocin, these properties cause hallucinations and are considered controlled substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, functional mushrooms, on the other hand, can support your immune, respiratory, digestive, and cognitive health. Here are the most common functional mushrooms used in natural health:

• Reishi: supports immune health with anti-viral properties
• Shiitake: promotes healthy cholesterol levels
• Cordyceps: boosts respiratory health & lung function and fights fatigue
• Maitake: promotes healthy cell growth and blood sugar levels
• Lion’s Mane: protects cognitive health, memory, focus and supports symptoms of ADHD
• Chaga: anti-inflammatory benefits, and immune-modulating effects
• Turkey Tail: enhances cognitive functioning, gut health, and possesses antioxidants for skin health

Origins & Plant History of Lion's Mane

Lion’s Mane is a white, edible mushroom that looks similar to a large pom-pom. They have long, dangling spines that look much like a lion’s mane, hence where it got its name from. These mushrooms can be found growing on dead or living hardwood trees during the summer or autumn in the Northern Hemisphere on continents like Asia, Europe and North America.

Traditionally, this mushroom was used in China, Japan and Korea for its medicinal properties to help reduce feelings of stress, and anxiety and enhance brain function. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that this mushroom is beneficial for all five internal organs, such as the gut and spleen. Buddhist monks would use this mushroom to increase focus during meditation. All of these uses were due to the active compounds found in Lion’s Mane including:

• B glucan polysaccharides
• Hericenones
• Erinacines
• Alkaloids
• Steroids
• Terpenoids
• Cerebrosides
• Phenols

Key Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane

This mushroom can be used for its neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits, as well as its ability to promote healthy cell regeneration.

Cognitive Benefits of Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane has long been known to boost brain health, and recent studies are starting to prove these claims. This mushroom can help improve memory and brain cell growth and reduce inflammation to help protect against neurodegeneration.

It can also increase mental performance speed, and one small human study confirmed these claims amongst younger adults who took this mushroom powder.

While limited research is available, there are promising clinical trials that suggest Lion’s Mane can help alleviate symptoms of ADHD.

Although more research is needed, the current findings seem promising. 

Mood Enhancing Benefits

This mushroom also has exceptional mood-enhancing properties to help alleviate feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression due to its hericenones and erinacines compounds.

This functional mushroom helps you feel calm by balancing important neurotransmitters, and its adaptogenic properties help alleviate stress. Animal studies have also found that Lion’s Mane can help regenerate brain cells, which may improve activity in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for processing memories and emotions.

Using Lion’s Mane: Supplement Varieties

This mushroom can come as a stand-alone supplement or in combination with other medicinal mushrooms or adaptogens. Formats vary, and it can be found as a capsule, powder, liquid or coffee blend.

If you’re wondering how much Lion’s Mane to take per day, the general adult dose is 2 capsules, twice a day or 1/4 teaspoon of powder per day. However, you should follow labelling directions on the supplement of your choice or follow your practitioner’s advice.

Since this supplement helps with memory, focus, and concentration it is best to take it in the morning and/or afternoon. Capsules can be taken along with your current morning routine or the powder can be added to your coffee or tea, making it convenient to add to your daily regimen.

Lion’s Mane can be found in most natural health food stores and online.

Important Information

While it is generally safe, some people experience feelings of nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, or a skin rash. If you’re allergic to mushrooms, you should avoid Lion’s Mane. If you experience any of these or other side effects, stop taking it immediately and contact your healthcare provider.

Lion’s Mane may negatively interact with blood-clotting medications such as warfarin or diabetes treatment. If you have had issues with asthma or allergies in the past, speak with your doctor before using this supplement. If you have surgery or dental work scheduled, stop taking this supplement two weeks before and inform your surgeon you’ve been taking Lion’s Mane. If you have emergency surgery, stop taking it immediately and notify your surgeon. Due to a lack of research, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t take mushroom supplements.

Mushroom species such as the Ganoderma species (reishi), grifola (shiitake), cordyceps and lentinula (maitake) have been used and studied for their powerful medicinal properties and effectiveness against the treatment of a variety of diseases. Perhaps most well-known and best studied for their use in healthy cell growth, many fungi or medicinal mushrooms are also powerful immune tonics, possessing anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic properties. Many are anti-inflammatory, as well as possessing specific action to support cardiovascular health. Lastly, some medicinal mushrooms are known to be hepatoprotective, as well as glycemic herbs, helping to regulate blood sugar. No wonder they have such a long history of medicinal use!

Discover A Variety of Medicinal Mushrooms & How They Support Your Health

Reishi Mushroom Health Benefits

Reishi mushroom has several medicinal properties, perhaps none as well known or well studied as its immune-enhancing properties. The polysaccharide content of reishi mushroom is responsible for its immune-stimulatory effects and why it has potent anti-viral benefits, protecting against and treating flu viruses. It has been used to reduce symptoms such as sweating, insomnia, nausea and vomiting. Reishi has also been shown to slow blood clotting or inhibit the formation of blood platelets, as well as lowering blood pressure and possessing effective hepato-protective qualities. Reishi mushroom is to be used in short sessions, no longer than 6 months, as it could cause upset stomach, dry mouth, dizziness and nose bleeds.

Shiitake Medicinal Mushroom

Shiitake is also very well known for its effectiveness as an immune tonic. Again, a polysaccharide extract known as LEM has been deemed responsible for its action against various viral infections. There is also evidence to suggest that shiitake extract can help to lower cholesterol. A compound called eritadenine has been shown to possess these cholesterol-lowering properties. People taking blood thinners should only use Shiitake under medical supervision.

Cordyceps & Their Health Advantages

Cordyceps has an affinity for the lung and protecting/repairing lung function. This is why it is primarily indicated in cases of cough and phlegm, shortness of breath, COPD and asthma. It has also been used widely as an aphrodisiac for both men and women. Cordyceps also has an affinity for the kidney, which according to Traditional Chinese Medicine gets depleted as we age. For this reason, cordyceps is widely used in the older population to combat fatigue, low back pain and reduced kidney function. Again, as with most medicinal mushrooms, there is promising research dedicated to the use of Cordyceps for the inhibition and even reversal of unhealthy cell growth. It has also been used to effectively treat high cholesterol, as well as Hepatitis B. Be cautious when taking anti-diabetic or anti-retroviral medications in combination with cordyceps.

Maitake Mushrooms

In Japanese, maitake means "dancing mushroom". Another well-loved mushroom with a long history of use, maitake is also getting a lot of attention for its healthy cell growth properties. Maitake is also considered to have properties similar to alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which impact how we digest carbohydrates and can help to lower blood sugar levels. It has also been shown to inhibit pro-inflammatory markers in the body.

Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom Benefits

Lion's mane or Hericium erinaceus is well known to both regulate blood sugar levels, as well as blood lipid levels. It is also a potent antioxidant. Animal studies have shown that it may also help to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, implicating it can offer neuroprotective support; however, further research is needed.

Chaga Mushroom

Unlike many of the other mushrooms mentioned to this point, Chaga seems to have its origins in Eastern Europe, as opposed to Asia. It has been found to grow, similar to a parasite, on the bark of birch trees. Chaga is high in both beta-glucan, as well as betulinic acid. It is extremely high in antioxidants thanks, in part to its high content of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Again, it has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. It has been studied for its effectiveness in fighting some autoimmune conditions, including psoriasis. Chaga has been studied for its use in unhealthy cell growth in the breast, uterus, liver and intestines. It has also been shown to lower cholesterol and improve insulin resistance. Use with caution in young children, pregnant or nursing women, and those with severe liver or kidney disease. This can lead to hypoglycemia in individuals already taking diabetic medications. Speak with your healthcare professional before taking it.

Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail, scientifically known as Trametes versicolor, is most known for enhancing cognitive function. Studies have shown that it has the potential to improve memory and enhance concentration and focus. Additionally, Turkey Tail is rich in potent antioxidants that protect the body and skin from oxidative stress. It's these antioxidants that provide Turkey Tail with its skin enhancing benefits, including glowing skin.

Aside from its brain and skin support, Turkey Tail can also provide anti-inflammatory benefits which also improve gut health and immune health.

Shopping For Quality Medicinal Mushrooms

These mushrooms can all be found in supplement form at your local health food store. They are available in convenient capsule, powder or in loose, dried form to be made into tea or added to soups and other dishes. You can purchase these supplements as individual mushrooms or mushroom combination supplements which incorporate the various medicinal properties of each fungus into one combination.