6 medicinal mushrooms with unexpected properties

6 medicinal mushrooms with unexpected properties

Mushrooms are one of the most amazing medicines that nature offers us. For millennia their therapeutic properties have been used for numerous ailments, thanks to their curative and preventive potential. The reishi mushroom has even earned the nickname of "mushroom of immortality"!


The mushrooms they are one of the most amazing medicines that nature offers us. For millennia their therapeutic properties have been used for numerous ailments, thanks to their curative and preventive potential. The reishi mushroom it even deserved the nickname of "mushroom of immortality"!




Today the list of diseases against which they prove effective is getting longer and longer: they help to keep the symptoms of Alzheimer's under control and they strengthen the immune system against viral and bacterial diseases (cold, flu, sore throat, bronchitis, but also serious autoimmune diseases).

They can be used to support therapies or treatments in progress thanks to their immunomodulating properties, which are free of side effects. In addition, they support the vital functions of the organism, detoxify the liver, relieve symptoms related to stress, regulate cholesterol metabolism (in particular, they keep bad cholesterol at bay) and have interesting anticancer properties (they inhibit angiogenesis, i.e. the formation of new blood vessels that fuel tumor growth).

Here then 6 mushrooms that have demonstrated extraordinary medicinal properties.

Index

Reishi

Among all the mushrooms used in medicine, especially in the oriental one, the best known, but also the most interesting from a pharmacological and scientific point of view, is undoubtedly the reishi o Ganoderma Lucidum. Analgesic, performs antiallergic functions, has expectorant and toxic properties, prevents bronchitis by inducing the regeneration of the bronchial epithelium. And then anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant. It performs anticancer activity by stimulating the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and increasing the production of interleukin 1 and 2. It has an antiviral and immunopotentiating effect, which helps in case of flu and colds.

Maitake

Il maitake or Grifola frondosa it is an excellent edible mushroom, but it is also appreciated for its medicinal properties. Traditionally, in Japan it was used as a tonic to strengthen the immune system and increase energy. It helps to control diabetes, helps lose weight, lowers LDL cholesterol levels (the so-called "bad" cholesterol), helps control blood pressure, counteracts the onset of prostate and bladder tumors, protects the liver, is an immunoregulatory agent.



Shiitake

In the XNUMXs, Japanese researchers conducted a series of epidemiological studies to learn as much as possible about the incidence of diseases in their country. During one of these studies, they discovered two remote mountain districts where cancer was almost unknown. The government sent teams of scientists to figure out why the cancer rate was so low. Thus it became known that the cultivation of fungo shiitake it was the main activity in both districts and that locals ate large quantities of it, evidently convinced that it helped prevent cancer. An important anticancer agent widely used in Japan is obtained from shiitake. Shiitake is also antiviral (HBV, HIV) and antibacterial (effective against sore throat and tooth decay); protects the liver, lowers cholesterol levels and helps control blood pressure.

Read also: Shiitake: properties, uses and contraindications

Cordyceps sinensis

The wonders of Cordyceps sinensis they have been known for at least a thousand years in China, where the mushroom is considered a national medicinal treasure, a precious and virtually sacred tonic. How supplement, is known to increase energy and vitality. Effective against asthma and bronchitis, controls atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disease), lowers cholesterol levels, effectively mitigates arrhythmia without side effects, helps keep diabetes at acceptable levels, is antiviral (HIV, HBV), prevents cirrhosis hepatic (post-hepatitis), increases endurance and fights fatigue, increases libido and sperm count.

agaricus blazei

One of the medicinal mushrooms most surprising is a relatively new discovery, theAgaricus blazei. Many scientists believe that its active components are more potent than those of other mushrooms. The mushroom has shown real promise as an immunoregulator and defense agent against cancer. In fact, it increases the production of interferon and interleukins, fights tumor metastases, especially to the uterus, reduces hypertension and high blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as the effects of atherosclerosis. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic.



Versicolor trametes

Il Versicolor trametes it has the distinctive characteristic of being the fungus from which one of the main antineoplastic drugs, the crestin, derives. After all, the Japanese have long used Trametes versicolor as a folk remedy for cancer, especially of the lungs, stomach, esophagus. It reduces "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and is also immunostimulating and antiviral (HIV, cytomegalovirus). It is able to control septic shock.

To know more:

Georges M. Halpern, Mushrooms that heal, Il Punto d'Incontro Editions, 2013

Frank Daniel Schulten, Reishi, the mushroom of immortality, Il Punto d'Incontro Editions, 2007

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