List of all medicinal mushrooms and their benefits
Mushrooms: the (not so) secret medicines pharma doesn’t want you to know about
Mushrooms are a marvel of nature
Their medicinal use dates back to 4000 years ago
The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese and Aztecs all describe consuming them for their unique healing properties.
Mushrooms aren’t only healing tools
They’ve become a favorite of chefs worldwide for their ability to elevate flavors
From earthy to umami
They are a staple in many kitchens
Now
You might be wondering: “What makes a mushroom medicinal?”
Certain mushrooms have special compounds that enhance your biology in many ways including:
Cognition
Focus
Energy
Immunity
Vitality
They are powerful superfoods that deserve more attention
Back in the day
Healers tested & observed different healing properties of mushrooms
They were aware of their benefits
& unfortunately, their dangers
But they didn’t understand HOW they worked
Today
Scientific research has brought to light the powers behind these organisms
We’ve isolated & extracted the medicinal compounds to be used in different experiments
The results are impressive
Medicinal mushrooms contain 3 types of healing compounds:
Beta-Glucans
Triterpenes
Sterols
Each has their own benefits to your wellbeing
Beta-glucans are polysaccharides (chains of carbohydrates)
These sugars interact with the microbiome in your gut to modulate
& prime your immune system to protect you from foreign invaders
Triterpenes are fat precursors to steroid hormones
These compounds have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and hallucinogenic (psilocybin) properties of mushrooms
Ganoderic acids found in reishi and Betulinic acid in Chaga are the most widely studied.
Lastly
Mushrooms contain sterols (ergosterol)
Which is a precursor to Vitamin D
Research shows that leaving mushrooms out in the sun increased Vitamin D levels due to these sterols
There are quite a few medicinal mushrooms
But I will be discussing the 7 most popular ones
And how each of their superpowers can benefit your health
List of all medicinal mushrooms and their benefits
1–Lions mane
This is the most popular one
And also my favorite
Its cognitive benefits are outstanding
More focus
Enhanced mental clarity
Research shows it supports the growth of the hippocampus
The part of your brain responsible for memory
2-Cordyceps
Also known as the athletes mushroom
It improves your energy and endurance by increasing the efficiency of how your body uses oxygen
It contains cordycepin which is similar to adenosine
Which dilates your blood vessels
3-Shiitake
Known for heart health benefits
Shiitake can help lower your LDL cholesterol & blood pressure
4-Reishi
Known as the mushroom of immortality
Its benefits are numerous:
Sleep
Relaxation
Immnuity
Vitality
The Chinese have used it for thousands of years as a healing tonic.
5-Turkey tail
This mushroom is renowned for its immunity benefits
It’s loaded with beta d glucans which prime your immune system
Research shows that it can boost Natural Killer cells to fight off cancer cells
And also boost the good bacteria in your microbiome.
6-Chaga
Chaga is the king of medicinal mushrooms
It only grows on birchwood and is packed with beta-glucans and triterpenes
It has the highest potency of antioxidants and supports digestive health.
7-Psilocybe
You may know this one as “magic mushrooms”
It has made a comeback after being listed as an illicit drug due to its hallucinogenic property (psilocybin)
Many considered it too dangerous to study
But it has made many recent breakthroughs
Particularly in psychiatry.
Psilocybe was used in many shamanic practices as a healing tool
And to communicate with the gods
It’s psychedelic properties are used recreationally today
But more recently medicinally as well
Psilocybin research is extremely promising
Particularly in depression and addiction
It’s been shown to increase neuronal connections in your brain to allow better communications between your brain cells.
A lot more research needs to be done
Consuming this mushroom isn’t for the light-hearted
And should be done under the supervision of a sitter
Especially for novice psychonauts.
Now
You might be wondering: “How the hell do I take medicinal mushrooms?”
I wouldn’t recommend you cook them (except maybe lions mane)
You need to take extracts which are often sold in capsules/tincture/powder forms.
You can also take raw or dried mushrooms and boil them in hot water to make teas
Each mushroom will have its own way to be consumed
Supplement form is the simplest & quickest way
Two brands I recommend are Om or Real Mushrooms
They have the fruiting bodies = potent
Thanks for reading!
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