Marvellous Mushrooms
MARVELLOUS MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are nutritional powerhouses. As fungi, rather than a vegetable, mushrooms have a very unique nutritional profile. Their high nutrient density make them a valuable addition to a balanced diet, particularly for individuals seeking plant-based sources of protein and essential vitamins and minerals. Supermarket varieties of mushrooms (e.g. white, brown, and portobello) are excellent sources of many minerals, including selenium, copper, potassium and zinc, are a brilliant source of B vitamins, dietary fibre, and protein.
Different types of mushrooms provide unique tastes and textures to recipes, and provide a distinctive umami flavour. Due to increased demand, the availablity of exotic mushrooms varieties are increasing; enoki, lion’s mane, maitake, oyster, and shiitake mushrooms are becoming easier to find in supermarkets, green grocers, and farmers markets.
What are medicinal mushrooms?
In addition to their culinary uses, several mushroom varieties are revered for their medicinal value and are commonly prescribed by herbalists, naturopaths, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners for their broad ranging health benefits.
In the health food store setting, medicinal mushrooms are most commonly available powdered extracts, tablets or gummies, or as a liquid extracts (typically made using an extraction method that involves both water and alcohol). While liquid, tablets and gummies are an easy convenient way to take medicinal mushrooms when on-the-go, powdered mushroom extracts are very versatile and can be easily added to:
Hot or cold beverages - a medicinal mushroom hot cacao drink is a delicious way to enjoy medicinal mushrooms. Some people even add medicinal mushrooms to their morning coffee or herbal teas. Adding medicinal mushroom powder to a cup of bone broth is another simple serving suggestion.
Soups and stews - add a teaspoon of medicinal mushroom powder to any savoury soup or stew for a flavour-filled nutritional boost.
What are medicinal mushrooms good for?:
Choosing which medicinal mushroom is best suited to your needs can be overwhelming! Importantly, they all have overlapping qualities beneficial to your health and wellbeing.
Medicinal mushrooms are:
Gentle tonics that may assist in balancing your body’s vital energies
Adaptogens that can assist you in responding to stress, may reduce fatigue, and act to support overall physical and mental wellbeing
Immune modulating and strengthening, meaning that they may help balance the body’s immune responses and reduce inflammation as required
Antioxidant and, as such, can help protect against oxidative damage
Beneficial to gut health and have been shown to favourably modulate the gut microbiome and reduce gut inflammation
Introducing some of our favourite medicinal mushrooms:
In addition to these wonderful benefits to health and wellbeing, each medicinal mushroom has its own unique nuances that differentiate it from others. Knowing the personalities of these medicinal mushrooms can help you to select the best mushroom to support you with your specific health concerns.
To provide you with an example of some key differences, here is a brief overview of a few of the many medicinal mushrooms that we have available in-store and the areas that they shine:
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) – Powerhouse Antioxidant
Unique Affinity: Gastrointestinal tract and skin
Siberian shamans considered chaga to be “king of the mushrooms” and, as such, it was traditionally consumed daily as a tonic and used to regenerate deteriorated organs and glands, boost physical stamina, and attain a long life.
Chaga has an affinity to the gastrointestinal tract and the skin. This medicinal mushroom is exceptional for inflammatory bowel disease and colitis. It is a primary consideration for any autoimmune conditions where gastrointestinal issues contribute to symptom severity or cause flares, especially when also involving the skin (e.g. psoriasis).
Research has shown that chaga possesses potent antioxidant activity, acting to protect the organs and tissues of the body from excessive oxidative stress. This makes chaga a valuable medicinal mushroom for people exposed to environmental toxins or have frequent occupational exposure to chemicals that increase oxidative stress.
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) – Recovery from Illness or Infection
Unique Affinity: Kidney and lungs
Cordyceps is a funny looking fungus that grows on caterpillars in nature. However, don’t get too grossed out - the majority of cordyceps found in supplements are cultivated without the use of insects or any living creature.
This vibrant medicinal mushroom is a beautiful supportive medicine mushroom for anyone suffering with a chronic illness associated with fatigue. It is an excellent balancer of the immune system and is particularly useful for recovery from viral infections as well as for people who suffer from post-viral fatigue. If you haven’t felt well since that virus you had last year, cordyceps might be the mushroom you are looking for.
Further to its use as an immune and lung tonic, cordyceps has an affinity for the kidneys and has been used to support individuals with chronic kidney disease.
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) – Brain Booster and Nerve Healer
Unique Affinity: Nervous system
Lion’s mane is recognised as the main medicinal fungi for enhancing cognitive function. Interestingly, even the shape of this white, fluffy mushroom resemble the brain. I often feel like I’m performing a brain dissection when slicing them up to cook a lion’s mane steak!
Research has highlighted lion’s mane’s potential in protecting nerve structure and enhancing function. It can improve memory and concentration and protect against neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, lion’s mane is well indicated for any condition involving neuroinflammation.
As such, lion’s mane is it the primary medicinal mushroom for improving cognition and for alleviating any disease state involving the nervous system. I would recommend lion’s mane if you experience anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, or neuropathy.
In the gut, lion’s mane can support the structure and function of the vagus nerve; possibly the longest nerve in the body that travels all the way from your brainstem, downwards through your neck and passes into your chest and abdomen. As such, is a great option for any gastrointestinal symptoms connected with the poor function of the vagus nerve, such as bloating and altered gut motility.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) – Calms the Spirit and Nourishes the Heart
Unique Affinity: Liver, immune system, nervous system
A revered Shen tonic in TCM, reishi has been referred to as the “mushroom of immortality” and “spirit plant”. Shen tonics calm the mind, ground the spirit, and nourish the heart. As such, reishi can work gently to bring a feeling of peace back to the body. By relaxing the nerves and opening up the heart, we can regain a relaxed focus, achieve more balanced emotions, and experience a restful, restorative sleep.
If you feel burnt-out, tired, forgetful, and feel the burning desire to be more present in your life and reconnect with your heart space or your inner fire, then reishi is your perfect mushroom match!
Apart for calming the nervous system and improving sleep quality, reishi does have an affinity for the liver and is especially useful for protecting the liver from chemical and heavy metal damage or in inflammatory liver conditions. Like all medicinal mushrooms, reishi provides excellent immune support can be useful for allergic inflammatory conditions (e.g. asthma), autoimmune conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), and for boosting the immune response to infection (e.g. respiratory infection).
Need more help deciding what medicinal mushroom could help you with your specific health concerns? Pop in to the Natural Health & Wellness Store and speak to one of our Naturopaths, or make an appointment for a comprehensive assessment and individualised treatment plan.
