Healing Mushrooms

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Healing Mushrooms

 

March 07, 2004Healing Mushrooms

Two medicinal mushrooms stand out in front as their historical uses are being

proven through research. These outstanding performers may help with allergies

and stress to cardiovascular conditions and cancer therapies.

Reishi

Cordyceps

 

Reishi - Ganoderma Lucidum

Description:

Also known as Ling zhi meaning " herb of spiritual potency " . Reishi has been used

for more than 4000 years in Traditional . It is beleived to be

the oldest mushroom used in medicine and is one of the most respected medicinal

mushrooms today. Reishi had been added to the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and

Therapeutic Compendium. Once rare and expensive, this mushroom is now

effectively cultivated and is readily available.

 

Actions And Properties:

Anti-allergin, antioxidant, analgesic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antitumor,

antiviral, antiparasitic, cardiovascular, antidiabetic, immunomodulating,

hepatoprotective, hypotensive and hypertensive, kidney and nerve tonic, sexual

potentiator.

Inhibits platelett aggregations.

Lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Bronchitis prevention.

 

 

Constituents [1], [2], [3]:

Steroids

Coumarin

Mannitol

Lactones

Alkaloids

Polysaccharides - (antitumor, immunomodulating, immunotherapy)

Triterpenes (ganoderic acids) - (adaptogenic, anti-allergin, antihypertensive)

 

 

Uses:

Tonic, immune booster, allergies, blood pressure stabilizer, altitude sickness,

chemotherapy support, HIV support, fatigue, high blood pressure, high

triglycerides, hepatitis, inhibits platelett aggregations.

 

Safety / Warnings [4]:

Rare or occasional diarrhea and dermatitis. Do not use with anti-coagulation and

cholesterol lowering medications involving the HMG-CoA reductase pathways of the

liver.

 

Status [4]:

Japan - Prescription drug

China - Over the Counter

United States - Dietary supplement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

[1] Cancer Research UK - Medicinal mushrooms and cancer.

[2] Reishi - Holistic-On-Line.

[3] Studies on Bioactive Substances and Medical Effects of REISHI - Takashi

Mizuno, Shizuoka University, Japan.

[4] Mushroom Science - Ganoderma l. by Steven Baily, N.D. from the American

Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium.

 

Research

Biologically Active Compounds - PubMed 2004

Cholesterol-Lowering Properties - Lipids Health Dis. 2004

Hypoglycemic Effect - Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004

cancer Treatment - Integr Cancer Ther. 2003

Aging, Antioxidants - Br J Nutr. 2004

Anti-angiogenic - J Ethnopharmacol. 2004

Human Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells - J. Altern. Complement Med. 2003

Immune Functions in Advanced-stage Cancer Patients - Immunol. Invest. 2003

Inhibit Growth of Hepatoma Cells - Life Sci. 2003

Anti-inflammatory, Cardiovascular and Alzheimers Disease - Status of Ganoderma

Lucidum as an Anti-inflammatory Agent in the U.S. from the University of Texas

Health Science Center San Antonio.

HIV - Clinical study of micronized Reishi Mushroom in Thai HIV patients.

Cordyceps sinensis

 

 

 

Description:

Cordyceps is interesting little fungus which resembles a worm and has been used

for about 2000 years in the Far East. It's life cycle begins as a parasitc

fungus, growing and eventually taking over the body of the host (the worm) and

resembling it in appearance. It was virtually unknown to the Western part of the

world until the Chinese womens track team broke records in 1993 and was found to

be part of their dietary supplements.

 

Actions And Properties:

Anti-oxidant

Anti-viral

Anti-tumor

Immunomodulator

Cardiovascular

Respiratory

Reproductive

 

 

Constituents [1]:

Cordycepic acid

Cordycepin

Vitamin B12

Crude protein

Amino acids

Glutamic acid

Oleic and linoleic acids Polysaccarides

Cyclic peptides

Inorganic elements (P, Mg, Fe, Ca)

 

Uses [1], [2]:

Anti-oxidant, physical performance enhancement, sleep patterns, immune booster,

respiratory conditions, diabetes, hepatits B, energy and stamina, Lupus, sexual

tonic, stress and anxiety, cardiovascular and cholesterol.

 

Safety / Warnings:

None found at the time of this publication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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