Mushrooms: TCM tonics reserved for kings
You’ve probably read about the secret life of fungi and how everything originates from it. Well, there’s more fungi on this earth than all our little cells put together!
Fungi is pretty damn, amazing
Mushrooms are the common fungi we find in our kitchens, roasted for breakfast or cooked into soup but its medicinal mushrooms that have scientists and health enthusiasts excited.
For thousands of years Traditional Chinese medicine has utilized medicinal mushrooms for healing alongside hundreds of other plants and minerals. The earliest use of mushrooms as medicine dates back to around 200 AD in the classic Shen Nong Ben Cao. So it’s safe to say regardless of the wests late arrival to mushrooms, they have been tried and tested for millennia.
Mushrooms are known as “upper herbs” or emperor herbs after being reserved for royalty, they are herbs that can be taken for a long time without toxic side effects.
Let’s dive into a few of my favorites:
Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, Lions Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, Antrodia, Polyporus & Tremella.
REISHI (Ganoderma Lucidum)
Also known as Ling Zhi, Reishi is praised in the west for being the “relaxing mushroom” widely used to help treat Insomnia and other sleep related conditions. Reishi is known for its immunomodulating activity, its ability to regulate the immune response. It is effective in boosting the immune system when you’re run down and bringing it back into balance with an overactive immune response. For this reason, Reishi is of interest in the health community for its potential to benefit overactive immune related disorders like auto immune disease!
I find it so interesting that for millennia this herb has been used to calm the mind (shen), tonify the blood (Yin) and regulate the heart yang (Qi) the same way it is used to treat Insomnia and relaxation in the west.
SHIITAKE (Lentinula Edodes)
My favourite of the medicinal mushrooms to use in cooking, its sweet fragrant nature and meaty texture make it amazing in stir fry’s or as a vegan protein source. Known as the “elixir of life” Shiitake has a rich history dating back to 199 AD as a gift to the Japanese emperor.
Shiitake is also known for its immunomodulating activity, beneficial for the gut flora, controversially used to treat Candidasis, strengthen the digestive organs and support the natural renewal process of the skin.
TURKEY TAIL (Trametes Versicolor)
Known as Yun Zhi turkey tail is a powerful immunity boosting herbs with a range of benefits from cancer support to gut health.
It’s prebiotic nature feeds good bacteria in the gut
In clinical trials Turkey Tail has been shown useful alongside chemotherapy in colorectal and gastric cancers.
Turkey tail has been vastly studied for its antimicrobial, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
That’s a Super Shroooom!
LIONS MANE (Hericium Erinaceus)
Lions Mane which literally translates to “Mountain Monk Mushroom” is known for its ability to support brain health and concentration. It is said to have been taken throughout history in monasteries to improve concentration while mediating/
Lions Mane is useful for gastritis, mucous membrane integrity, brain fog, forgetfulness, focus & concentration.
Lion’s mane is also an amazing culinary mushroom, tasty and sweet to eat, try it in your next stir fry or veggie patty for an added vitality and fatigue fighting kick.
CHAGA (Inonotus Obliquus)
The one mushroom I have actually taken very limited amount of, well you know what I’ll be doing this week.
Chaga is praised for a variety of reasons.
Highest antioxidant activity in any medicinal mushroom
Neutralises free radicals
Anti-inflammatory
The name “Inonotus” translates “to penetrate” and coincides with its ability to reduce arthritic pain
Powerful adaptogen, by supporting your adrenal system Chaga helps you manage oxidative stress better.
Natural source of vitamin D!
CORDYCEPS (Ophiocordyceps Sinensis)
The supplement everyone’s boyfriend seems to suddenly be taking.
Fun fact, Cordyceps is actually a fungus that is a parasite to a caterpillar, yep kind of weird and amazing all at once.
Cordyceps has been used throughout history as a powerful fertility tonic, treating low libido and adrenal fatigue. In Chinese medicine it’s vastly used in kidney deficient Asthma cases, a way to boost life force (Qi), strengthen the adrenals and support longevity.
ANTRODIA (Antrodia Cinnamomea)
You probably have never heard of this mushroom, it originates from Taiwan and is used medicinally for advanced Liver disease.
In the wild this mushroom grows exclusively on the Cinnamomum Kanehirai tree a species of Cinnamon that contributes to the power of this rare mushroom. It grows between altitudes of 400 & 2000m in the mountains, only fruiting once the tree dies, wild harvested Antrodia fetches upwards of $15 000 a kg, luckily families of herbalists have learnt to cultivate this mushroom for medicinal use.
Known for it’s ability to regenerate the Liver:
Treatment for alcohol induced liver damage
Promising results for liver, breast, prostate and bladder cancer by inhibiting cancel cell growth
Mother earth really does provide the gifts that we need.
POLYPORUS (Grifola Umbellatus)
A mushroom I use in the clinic all the time, Polyporus or “Zhu Ling” is commonly used for “draining dampness”, it aids urination providing a gentle diuretic effect.
It’s diuretic action increases urine output by 62% compared to common pharmaceutical diuretics that increased output by 54.5%. Zhu Ling is an ingredient in the TCM formula “Wu Ling San” commonly used for urinary tract issues & edema.
TREMELLA (Snow Fungus)
Known for it’s ability to hydrate the skin from within Tremella mushroom really is a “Yin” tonic, it supports the pure fluids of the body, keeping us feeling supple & young from the inside out, in TCM it clears heat and nourishes the fluids “supporting the brain & enhancing beauty.”
Studied for its use in protecting cells from radiation exposure, slowing brain aging & enhance memory. You will find it in a lot of natural beauty products to enhance skin hydrating, resolve inflammation and promote wound healing.
Mushrooms of all kinds really are pure magic, they’re one of my favourite herbs to use in my clinic and suggest to friends, if you do anything today include more mushrooms in your life.
With love,
