All about Medicinal Mushrooms
/A beginners guide to medicinal mushrooms.
Amongst holistic communities, there is a belief that mother nature always provides what we need. In this modern world filled with a multitude of stimulants and high expectations, we crave space, calm, and peace more than ever before. So many of us are worn out, depleted, over-worked, and over-whelmed. As humans, we were never designed to keep up with this fast-paced life.
The time has come to slow down, reconnect with mother earth, and acknowledge the immense amount of wisdom nature has to offer. We can learn so much from plants - and mushrooms are a fantastic place to start. They provide deep support for those living in this modern world. Stress relief. Balance. Well-being. Immune health. Sleep support. Cognitive enhancement. Anxiety relief. Gut-health. Medicinal mushrooms offer us these qualities - along with so much more.
What are Medicinal Mushrooms?
Medicinal mushrooms are a grouping of mushrooms that provide medicinal, ‘adaptogenic’ qualities. An adaptogen is a plant that aids the whole body by gently bringing each system back into balance - and medicinal mushrooms do just that. Fungi have existed on our earth for billions of years - they are the oldest living terrestrial being! Through those vastly changing eras, mushrooms have learned to adapt to a multitude of circumstances and environmental conditions. When consumed, their deep resiliency and energetic adaptability is passed on to us. These antioxidant-rich fungi have been used for thousands of years amongst traditional cultures to holistically support health and well-being.
While there are more than 14,000(!!!) different species of mushrooms across this planet, researchers have focused on seven specific medicinal mushrooms. The powerful benefits of these mushrooms have been thoroughly studied, providing a scientific backing to ancient wisdom. These seven mushrooms are reishi, chaga, lion’s mane, turkey tail, cordyceps, shiitake, and maitake.
The Seven Medicinal Mushrooms
Reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi)
Calming, soothing, sleep-aid
Known as the “Queen” of medicinal mushrooms, reishi is said to be the elixir of immortality in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I like to think of reishi as the ‘queen of calm’. She helps the body build resiliency to stress, while soothing anxious and busy minds. Soothing both mentally and emotionally, Reishi is a wonderful remedy for anxiousness, insomnia, and excessive worry. I recommend introducing reishi in the evening to quiet your mind and induce relaxation.
Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus)
Digestion, Immunity, Skin
Referred to as the “King” of medicinal mushrooms, Chaga is one of the most common and well-researched medicinal mushrooms. Dating back thousands of years ago, Chaga has been cultivated for it’s potent source of nutrients and digestive-supporting properties. Rich in antioxidants, Chaga builds the immune system, aids the digestive system, and encourages healthy skin.
Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Memory, Concentration, immunity
Known as the ‘mushroom for the mind’, Lion’s Mane has been used for centuries to support cognitive health. Rich in antioxidants and beta glucans, this fungi provides neuroprotection, immune-system regulation, and nerve support. In our modern world, Lion’s Mane is commonly used to enhance memory, clarity, and concentration. It’s an excellent mushroom ally for studying students, creative beings, and aging minds!
Turkey Tail
Immunity, gut-health
Turkey tail is the mushroom for immunity. This fungi is rich in beta-glugans, naturally stimulating and building the immune-system. And because nature always provides at the most kismet of times, Turkey Tail grows abundantly in chilly, wet winter - when colds abound and our immune-system calls for support. Turkey tail is a beautiful winter addition to any medicine cabinet, and I personally feel it’s powder during cold and flu season. This mushroom is also a source of prebiotic fibre, which feeds our good gut bacteria to support optimal gut-health. No wonder, since 80% of our immune system resides in the gut!
Cordyceps (Cordyceps Militaris)
Energy, athletic performance, lung-support
Cordyceps is considered to be the mushroom of energy, performance, and stamina. The Fungii increases our ATP (energy!) production, enhancing endurance and athletic performance. Cordyceps is treasured in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and often used to strengthen the lungs. This fungi is a helpful ally for athletes, active people, and worn out beings.
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
Cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory, immune-support
Crowned the ‘Elixir of Life’ in traditional asian cultures, Shiitake is used to encourage longevity by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. The mushroom is very popular in our modern times, and for food reason! Shiitake mushrooms are readily available in many grocery stores, and have a ‘meaty’ flavour that makes them easy to cook with and a delicious addition to many recipes. Shiitake is known to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and support the immune-system.
Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
Blood pressure, cellular health, immune-support
Traditionally referred to as the "Hen of the Woods’, this fungi is commonly used to support immune and cellular health in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Maitake’s rich betaglucan content stimulates our body’s natural defence cells, thus boosting the immune system and fighting off unwanted threats.
Sourcing Mushrooms
As our western world opens to new modalities of holistic healing, medical mushrooms continue to grow in popularity. A quick google search yields an overwhelming amount of different products to choose from! But learning how to source potent, sustainably grown, trustworthy fungi is essential - because not all mushroom products are created equal.
A lack of regulations within the realm of mushroom supplements means companies are able to make claims or list ingredients which may be deceptive or untrue. Many products on the market today use primarily mycelium (the root system of the mushroom) instead of the actual fruiting body of the mushroom. This poses as a problem, since many of the wonderful benefits mushrooms offer are found within the fruiting body.
This is where a little education and research should be done, so we as consumers can invest in quality products that truly work, and transparent companies who embody proper growing practices. Below, I've compiled a small list of my most loved mushroom companies. I am honoured to share them with you, because I truly believe in their products and what they do. This list is by no means all-encompassing - and if you have a favourite product or fungi brand, please share it with us in the comments!
Real Mushrooms - local to the Sunshine coast of British Columbia, Real Mushrooms offers a diverse array of organic mushroom products that are pure, potent, and accessible. The founders are so so so knowledgable, with 40+ years of mushroom-growing experience. They also serve as an incredible educational resource, working hard to provide fungi education, tools, and resources to the global population.
Rainbo Mushrooms - Rainbo Mushrooms is a sustainable Canadian female-founded mushroom company offering some of the most magical (and beautifully packaged!) mushroom products I’ve tried. They offer mesmorizing tinctures that open the mind, raise consciousness, and make you feel like a vibrational rainbow.
Harmonic Arts - Based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Harmonic arts is my beloved go-to herbal apothecary. Aside from their vast selection of herbal products, they offer potent mushroom tinctures, powders, and pre-formulated latte blends. Their pricing is also quite accessible, which is deeply important to me.
Om Mushrooms - Om Mushrooms is a US based company that offers powders, capsules, and medicinal mushroom mixes. I love their plant-based mushroom broth, fungi-infused bone broth, and hot chocolate blend for simple morning potion making.
In the world of herbalism, it is believed that the plants we need most often grow in our own backyards. I encourage you to do some research, and discover what mushrooms grow local in your area! Foraging our own mushrooms can be deeply rewarding, and provide an opportunity to build a special relationship with the fungi. Correct identification, respectful harvesting practice, and proper preparation methods are all incredibly important when it comes to mushroom foraging and supplementation. Seek the advice of experts, attend a workshop, read books, respect nature, follow good practice, and always ensure safety comes first.
How to take Medicinal Mushrooms
The best way to consume medicinal mushrooms will depend on the individual person and specific fungi. While some mushrooms can be freshly harvested and eaten cooked, others need to be ground into powder, boiled into tea, or infused into a tincture.
While specific dosing will very from person to person, it’s generally recommended to take medicinal mushrooms consistently over an extended period of time, as opposed to simply on occasion. Unlike pharmaceuticals, plants often work their magic at a slower pace. This is because mushrooms aren’t a “quick fix” to mask symptoms, but rather, they do the deep inner work and rebalance at the root. That being said, I do notice the affects of certain mushrooms (such as reishi’s ability to soothe anxiousness), shortly after taking.
Tinctures - Tinctures are made from fungi dissolved in an alcohol solvent. By soaking mushroom material in alcohol, beneficial compounds are naturally extracted. Tinctures are more concentrated and potent than teas or decoctions. They can be mixed into hot or cold beverages, a glass of water, or simply taken under the tongue - although, the taste might come with a little shock!
Powders - Powders are made from dried mushrooms that have been ground down into a powder. Mushroom powders are versatile and easy to incorporate. I like to blend them into my daily potions and smoothies, add them to broths, or stir them into tea.
Capsules - Capsules consist of dried mushroom powder placed into a vegetable-based coating for easy ingesting. Capsules come in handy when travelling, or for pickier beings who might not tolerate a tincture or powder.
Teas - Mushroom teas, also known as a decoction or infusion, are made by steeping mushrooms in freshly boiled water. They can be made with either freshly harvested or dried mushrooms. The length that you choose to steep your mushrooms will determine the potency of the tea.
Medicinal mushrooms can be taken both individually, or blended together to create synergy*. When introducing medicinal mushrooms for the first time, I recommend starting slow. Choose one to integrate into your daily routine, and really get to know the mushroom on a personal level. Learn it’s visual appearance, smell, taste, and how it feels in your body. Every experience is unique and individual. Combine your personal knowledge and research with intuition when choosing a mushroom to work with. Creating your own mushroom blends is generally safe, but I recommend looking for pre-reformulated blends to meet your every-changing needs.
*Synergy is defined as “the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.”
Do you incorporate medicinal mushrooms? Are you feeling called to introduce them? Have they had a profound impact on your life?
Share your experiences, thoughts, recommendations, and recipes in the comments below!
