5 Medicinal Mushrooms To Support Immune Health
Mushrooms are incredibly magical and powerful medicines. They can lift your mood, improve your sleep, and promote gut health. Although they’re meant to serve different purposes, they all contain one vital compound: beta-glucans.
Beta-glucans are soluble fibers found in the cell walls of certain fungi. They help enhance your immune, digestive, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. These compounds don’t directly fight disease, but they regulate your immune system so your body is better able to fight infections by activating your white blood cells to defend your body against illnesses.
Most beneficial compounds are sealed inside the mushroom’s cell walls, which need to be pulled out via hot water or alcohol extraction. But you can also incorporate them into your meals because they have a chewy, meaty texture, making them delicious to cook with.
Whether you’re looking to achieve optimal cognitive function, restore digestive health, or support your overall well-being, carry on reading about 5 of the best medicinal mushrooms and how they can help you do just that.
5 Best Medicinal Mushrooms To Support Immune Health
1. Turkey Tail
Turkey tail is a visually appealing mushroom. It comes in numerous colors — red, brown, or gray, and is sometimes called coriolus versicolor because it forms semi-circular caps around tree trunks.
It’s one of the most studied mushrooms and is considered a powerhouse because it contains a myriad of beneficial compounds.
Here are some benefits of turkey tail.
- Improves gut health and digestion: Turkey tail reduces inflammation in the gut.
- It contains complex polysaccharide proteins, polysaccharide krestin (PSK), and polysaccharide peptide (PSP). PSP helps maintain a healthier gut environment by increasing beneficial microbes in the gut. A study of 24 participants showed that PSP has prebiotic effects and can restore gut integrity.
- Reduce cancer cells: When white blood cells are fueled, they can travel through the lymphatic system and attach themselves to cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct.
- Relieve fatigue: People who experience fatigue have been found to possess lower natural killer cell counts and lower t-cell activation. Research shows that taking turkey tail increases natural killer cells and activates t-cell activation, potentially reducing chronic fatigue.
2. Lion’s Mane
Also referred to as pom pom or bearded hedgehog, lion’s mane is a genuinely versatile mushroom. It improves your mood and restores gut health. But it’s revered for its efficacy in enhancing cognitive health.
It contains a myriad of compounds, but two functional ones are aromatic hericenones and diterpenoids. This powerful duo has been found to repair and heal nerve tissue and promote the synthesis of the nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF regulates nerve cell growth and prevents cell decline. It’s mainly beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.
Lion’s mane also helps you perceive information and thought patterns better. A 2020 study on adults with mild cognitive impairment showed individuals on lion’s mane supplements performed better on cognitive tests over a period of 49 weeks.
3. Reishi
Commonly known as the mushroom of immortality, reishi is often used to enhance vitality, support immune function and strengthen cardiovascular health. Not only does it contain beta-glucans, but it’s packed with triterpenes and sterols. At its core, reishi is an immunomodulator. A few other benefits include:
- Immune support: It increases white blood cell production. It also increases T-cell and B-cell counts to strengthen immunity and improve antibody response.
- Reduce inflammation: An animal study found a specific protein from reishi helps modulate the immune system’s response by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and regulating T-cell production. Reishi is also rich in terpenes, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Supports cardiovascular health: Reishi can lower blood pressure and protect the heart from damage caused by chronic disease.
- Reduces stress: It has an adaptogenic function because it helps you respond and cope better with stress. It also has antidepressant properties. A study on breast cancer patients showed regular intake of reishi powder leads to less anxiety and depression, and a better quality of life.
4. Maitake
Also known as the hen of the woods, maitake is one of the most commonly used medicinal mushrooms because of its immunomodulatory properties. It contains d-fraction, a compound with anticancer and antitumor properties. It’s especially recommended for cancer patients because it alleviates the side effects associated with chemotherapy.
Maitake can also treat polycystic ovarian syndrome. A study of 20–26 women showed that 6 of the women who expressed an interest in falling pregnant successfully conceived after taking the supplement.
5. Chaga
Chaga is a hardened mass of chaga mycelium (sterile canker) that grows on birch wood. Although it’s not necessarily a mushroom, chaga has gained its spot as the “king of medicinal mushrooms”.
It’s packed with antioxidants and could be considered a superfood. The viscosity of these antioxidants means they have a high oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), making them highly effective at fighting free radicals and easing cancer.
Because it’s high in phytosterols, it has been found to enhance the liver’s ability to eliminate LDL (bad) cholesterol while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. The result is improved heart health.
Chaga is mainly consumed in tea form. It has a rugged exterior so it can take anything from 3–4 hours to extract the water-soluble active ingredient — beta-glucans. You can also purchase the powder that’s been properly extracted and add it to your smoothie.
Conclusion
Medicinal mushrooms have been used for over a hundred years. They not only boost the immune system but also support overall health. A few of these beneficial species include reishi, turkey tail, lion’s mane, maitake, and chaga. They contain beta-glucans, antioxidants, and polysaccharides that work together to support the body’s natural defense mechanism.
Medicinal mushrooms are also versatile. You can take them in powder, tincture, or capsule form, or incorporate the fruiting body into your meals. The potency and quality of these mushrooms vary, so it’s always best to consult your doctor or natural healthcare provider before incorporating them into your diet.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. It’s not meant to treat any medical conditions. Consult with your doctor or natural practitioner before you incorporate any of these supplements into your diet.
