I think I have always disliked mushrooms; I cannot ever remember having enjoyed them, at any stage of my life. They’re slimy, they grow in crap and they make me gag whenever I try to eat them. My relationship with mushrooms is somewhat conflicting though, as my early memories of them are associated with carefree childhood days when we would visit the grandparents on the farm. Our cousins
would be there too and our grandad would pile all of us kids onto his Land Rover (on the bonnet, the roof & hanging off the back too!) and we’d cruise the cow paddocks in search of the almighty shroom, delighting in the excitement of being quick to site one, leaping from the “Landy” to get to it first. So the hunting and gathering was fun, but not so fond of the eating part.
As a vegetarian of the 90’s, throughout the “Mushrooms; Meat for Vegetarians” campaign era, I would invariably be faced with a plate full of the slippery, slimy gross little suckers when invited out to friends houses for dinner. “What the hell do we feed a vegetarian” confusion would be answered with some sort of mushroom-rich dish. Great!
As an Herbalist I have tried to embrace them over the years, learning of their ability to do many wondrous things and listening to other practitioners raving about how much they love prescribing them to clients. But my whole life-long disgust for mushrooms thing was preventing me from developing a relationship with the fungi of the medicinal world. I felt like I was failing my profession and denying myself and my clients of a very powerful family of medicines.
And then things changed...
The Influenza B beast caught me unawares; she really knocked me around. Then I got better, then I got sick again...AND again! I felt so hopeless. I believed I had given my body everything that it needed to get better: rest, hydration, herbs, teas, supplements etc, but I still kept getting sick. In a state of utter despair and helplessness, I took myself off to see another Herbalist, who prescribed and dispensed Reishi to me. I resisted at first, but she fought back with loads of supporting evidence and reasons why I needed this particular medicine at this particular moment; eventually I surrendered and went home with a mushie
brew. Within days I had totally kicked any cough and cold symptoms and after just five days I was feeling stronger and more robust than I’d felt in months!
This saprophytic species of life, the fungi, are considered more closely related to human life than plant-life, and are included within the botanical domain of Eukaryota. These Polypores produce beta glucans, branch-polysaccharides and triterpene acids, among many other potent compounds. Fungi share about
67% of the same DNA that we humans do, and account for 25% of the biomass of the planet. There are still so many species that have yet to be identified, let alone studied. In Herbal Medicine we use many different species, which have their own unique medicinal uses, though all commonly possess strong immune system, adaptogenic and anti-oxidant qualities.
Reishi (Gamoderma lucidum) has documented use of over 2000 years in China. Its list of health benefits are seemingly endless. Considered a Shen tonic in Chinese Herbal Medicine, it possesses ability as an energetic medicine to help one grow and enhance spiritual radiance. As an adaptogen, Reishi helps us to be more coherent and harmonious with the universe and adapt in times of high stress. It is an ideal tonic for chronic illness and convalescence, “turning on” our immune systems and getting our bodies functioning well; developing resilience. Reishi is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-pathogenic, which also makes it a useful tool in helping our bodies fight off invading bacteria and pathogens.
The Reishi mushroom has been studied more than any other medicinal substance in our world, with most of its research being conducted in China and Russia. Some of the clinical trials conducted (on mice and humans) have shown positive provings as an anti-cancer remedy. One tissue sample research on cancer tumours in mice saw an 88% reduction in tumour growth, with one third of the mice experiencing complete regression of the cancer. An olden days name for Reishi is “The Mushroom of Immortality” as it promotes the expression of genes associated with longevity, delivering a healthy, long life.
Chaga mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, another mushroom of the moment, grows commonly in the northern hemisphere on Birch trees, preferring cold forest areas. Looking somewhat like a scab on a tree, Chaga grows symbiotically with the Birch, providing healing to wounds where branches have fallen from the tree. In turn, the tree sustains life for the Chaga, providing it with the nutrients it needs to survive. The trees that have this mushroom on it actually live longer! How’s that for a Doctrine of Signature?! With 500 years of recorded history in medicinal use, some of its benefits include immune-modulation, anti-inflammatory (very soothing to inflamed conditions especially through the digestive tract), and antioxidant qualities; in fact, THE most highest amount of antioxidant levels of ANY plant ever known, due to a chemical compound called Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) – specific to its role as a potent free-radical scavenger in the body. There are also anti-cancer properties found in the middle parts of the mushroom and the black outer parts (containing triterpenes) possess strong anti-viral and cholesterol regulating compounds, helping to reduce LDL’s and increase HDL’s.
Other fungi commonly used in Herbal Medicine include Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) and Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis). Suffice to say, I have now stocked my shelves and dispensary with a variety of medicinal mushrooms and
love prescribing them to people in need.
Blessed Be!