TRADITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHAGA MUSHROOM

Immune Support, Energy support, Stress Support, Brain & Cognitive support, Heart & Vascular support, Men, Women

WHAT IS Chaga mushroom USED FOR?

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a type of fungus that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in cold climates, such as Northern Europe, Siberia, Russia, Korea, Northern Canada and Alaska.

Chaga is also known by other names, such as black mass, clinker polypore, birch canker polypore, cinder conk and the sterile conk trunk rot (of birch).

For centuries, chaga has been used as a traditional medicine in Russia and other Northern European countries, mainly to boost immunity and overall health.

Inflammation is a natural response of your immune system that can protect against disease. However, long-term inflammation is linked to conditions like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Animal and test-tube studies suggest that chaga extract can positively impact immunity by reducing long-term inflammation and fighting harmful bacteria and viruses.

By promoting the formation of beneficial cytokines — specialized proteins that regulate the immune system — chaga stimulates white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off harmful bacteria or viruses (1)

Chaga extract may also benefit cholesterol levels, reducing your risk of heart disease.

In an eight-week study in rats with high cholesterol, chaga extract reduced “bad” LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing antioxidant levels (2).

Similar studies gave the same results and observed that — in addition to reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol — chaga increases “good” HDL cholesterol (3).

Researchers believe that the antioxidants present in chaga are responsible for its effects on cholesterol.

Chemistry:

The principle chemical constituents consist of:

polysaccharides, triterpenes, and polyphenols

Parts Used

fruiting body, mycelium

Additional Resources

• (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774877/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21820502).
• https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5305591
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18434051, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28954386

Important Precautions

Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.

Disclaimer

This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT USING THIS HERB

TRADITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF CORDYCEPS MUSHROOM

Immune Support, Energy support, Stress Support, Brain & Cognitive support, Heart & Vascular support, Men, Women

WHAT IS Cordyceps mushroom USED FOR?

Sinensisis an annual Ascomycetes fungus closely related to the mushroom. Although not actually a mushroom taxonomically, it has been described as an exotic medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine. The name cordycepscomes from Latin words meaning club and head. The mycological features, related species and vernacular names are given i. The normal harvesting period stretches from April to August. It grows only in high-altitude regions of about 3800 m above sea level, in cold, grassy, alpine meadows of the Himalayan mountains. The fungus is parasitic in nature. The base of the mushroom first originates from an insect larval host (Hepialis armoricanus family Hepialidac) and ends at the club-like cap, including the stipe and stroma. The fruit body is dark brown to black, and the root of organism, the larval body pervaded by the mycelium, is yellowish to brown color.

Traditional healers in Sikkim recommend the fungus/mushroom Cordyceps sinensis for “all illnesses” as a tonic, because they claim that it improves energy, appetite, stamina, libido, endurance, and sleeping patterns. It is a rare combination of a caterpillar and fungus found in Sikkim at altitudes above 3,800 m. The mushroom is most popular in the Lachung and Lachen area of North Sikkim and has the reputation of being a precious longevity-promoting herb.

Various pharmacological and biological studies establishing the curative effect of corydeps involving various experimental models (in vitro and in vivo) and some clinical trials in volunteer athletes. C. Sinensis exhibits very broad biological and pharmacological actions in hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. It has effects on various immunological disorders. Pharmacological actions of cordyceps are primarily due to bioactive polysaccharides, modified nucleosides, and cyclosporine like metabolites.

Also, the fermentable strain of the mycelia causes normal fat mobilization and beta-oxidation, thereby maintaining blood glucose level during prolonged exercise in athletes.(1).

Chemistry:

The principle chemical constituents consist of:

polysaccharides, triterpenes, and polyphenols

Parts Used

fruiting body, mycelium

Additional Resources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3121254/

Important Precautions

Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.

Disclaimer

This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT USING THIS HERB

TRADITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF LION’S MANE MUSHROOM

Immune Support, Energy support, Stress Support, Brain & Cognitive support, Heart & Vascular support, Men, Women

WHAT IS Lion’s mane mushroom USED FOR?

Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal-culinary mushroom widely found in East Asian countries and is commonly known as lion’s mane mushroom, Yamabushitake, or monkey’s head mushroom. Hericium erinaceus has a long history as a medicine and has been found to promote positive nerve and brain health. It has great potential in treating neurological disorders as it contains neurotrophic compounds that can pass through the blood–brain barrier. Bioactive compounds extracted from its fruiting body or mycelium have been demonstrated to possess antioxidative, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties. Moreover, H. erinaceus has been used to treat cognitive impairments, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ischemic stroke, and presbycusis.

Fruiting bodies and mycelia of H. erinaceus contain a variety of structurally diverse bioactive compounds that can induce the expression of various neurotrophic factors and monoamines, and modulate inflammatory response (1).

Chemistry:

The principle chemical constituents consist of:

polysaccharides, hericenones and erinacines.

Parts Used

fruiting body, mycelium

Additional Resources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6982118/

Important Precautions

Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.

Disclaimer

This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT USING THIS HERB

TRADITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF MAITAKE MUSHROOM

Immune Support, Energy support, Stress Support, Brain & Cognitive support, Heart & Vascular support, Men, Women

WHAT IS Maitake mushroom USED FOR?

Maitake has been used to treat hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and obesity

Maitake is an immune modulator, helping to normalize the immune system. It exerts its action by activating interleukin-1 and increasing T-cells, both of which inhibit the proliferation of cancers (Adachi et al, 1987). Besides activating interleukin-1 and increasing T-cells, maitake also increases cytokine production and boosts the action of macrophages. Antiobesity Action Although its mechanism of action is unclear, maitake is responsible for weight loss when taken over an extended period of time. In one study, 30 overweight clients were given maitake powder for 2 months. The clients lost between 7 and 26 pounds when taking various dosages ranging from 20 to 500 mg daily (Yokota, 1992). Another study using laboratory animals showed weight loss after 41⁄2 months. The amount of weight lost was significant when compared with that of the control group (Ohtsuru, 1992). Other Actions One study has shown that the use of maitake reduces blood pressure and cholesterol and improves diabetes. After hypertensive laboratory animals were fed maitake powder, their blood pressure was evaluated and a small reduction was noted (Kabir et al, 1989). Other researchers found that maitake inhibits lipid metabolism. Rats given maitake showed a reduction in serum lipids, total cholesterol, and very-lowdensity lipoprotein (VLDL) (Fukushima et al, 2001; Kabir et al, 1987; Kubo et al, 1996, 1997). The antidiabetes action of maitake is believed to result from its ability to reduce insulin resistance and possibly increase sensitivity to insulin (Horio et al, 2001; Lo et al, 2008). Other studies (Kodama et al, 2008; Wang et al, 2008) identify the immunity against foreign pathogens without eliciting adverse infl ammatory response. One novel study (Gu et al, 2007) identifi ed an anti-HSV-1 protein from maitake. Therefore maitake may possess antiviral activity. (1)

View Important Precautions

Chemistry:

The principle chemical constituents consist of:

Polysaccharide – Beta-glucan

Parts Used

fruiting body, mycelium

Additional Resources

[1] Skidmore-Roth, L. Mosby’s Handbook of Herbs & Natural Supplements, 4th ed.  2010:411-412.

Important Precautions

Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.

Disclaimer

This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT USING THIS HERB

TRADITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF MURILL MUSHROOM

Immune Support, Energy support, Stress Support, Brain & Cognitive support, Heart & Vascular support, Men, Women

WHAT IS Murill mushroom USED FOR?

 Agaricus blazei Murrill is a mushroom originally native to a small village, name Piedade, in the highland areas of Atlantic forest, near Tauape, in the province of Sao Paolo, Brazil. It was discovered in 1960 by Takatoshi Furumoto a grower and researcher who sent it to Japan in 1965 for investigation. It was identified as ABM by the Belgian botanist Heinemann in 1967 (2). Later it was given the common name of Himematsutake in Japan, while in Brazil it was named Cogumelo Piedade. The mushroom is traditionally believed to fight physical and emotional stress, stimulate immune system, improve the quality of life in diabetics, reduce cholesterol, prevent osteoporosis and peptic ulcer, treat circulatory and digestive problems.

The specific mechanisms that contribute to an enhanced state of immunity remain partially understood. Recent insights in two rapidly expanding fields, the cytokine-mediated homeostasis of mature lymphocytes by cytokines, such as interleukins and autoreactive T cells by CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells, provide the foundation for what might be occurring.

Recent advances in immunology have demonstrated the importance of local interactions between antigen-presenting cells and effector cells such as natural killer cells and T-lymphocytes for an effective immune reaction

However, immunologically active glucans are (1-3)-β-d-linked glucose polymers, which occur as a primary component in the cell walls of bacteria and fungi or are secreted extracellularly by various fungi, and actually seem the most important active substance (1).

Chemistry:

The principle chemical constituents consist of:

polysaccharides, triterpenes, and polyphenols

Parts Used

fruiting body, mycelium

Additional Resources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2249742/

Important Precautions

Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.

Disclaimer

This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT USING THIS HERB