MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS Reishi, Maitake and Shiitake All Medicinal Mushrooms Help to Nourish, Strengthen and Balance the Immune System
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MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS Reishi, Maitake and Shiitake All medicinal mushrooms help to nourish, strengthen and balance the immune system. COMMON NAME: reishi, maitake and shiitake LATIN NAME: Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Lentinula edodes PART OF PLANT USED: Fruiting body & mycelium PLANT FAMILY: Fungi Key points glucans. Pukka’s shiitake, maitake and reishi a choice supplement in the treatment of 1. Contain beta-glucans, powerful are all sourced from the USA. chronic long-term allergic conditions such polysaccharides renowned for their as asthma and bronchitis, but also shorter- profound effect on the immune system Mushrooms are made up of the fruiting body term afflictions such as hay-fever.4 It has also and on inflammation (the part seen sitting on top of the soil) and the been clinically proven to provide essential 2. Full spectrum extract which contains mycelium (the part sitting under the soil, like protection in breast health. both the fruiting body and the mycelium roots). A mushroom extract that is described to deliver the best concentration of as a ‘full spectrum’ extract contains both Shiitake: A common culinary mushroom, beta-glucans the fruiting body and the mycelium. Beta valued for its nutritious qualities. However, it 3. Provide both short- and long-term glucans, the primary active constituents in has been used medicinally for many years to adaptogenic support for the immune mushrooms, are found in both the fruiting address diseases where the immune system system and chronic conditions body and mycelium of the mushroom; with is chronically depressed and underactive.5 around 75% from the fruiting body and 25% This means shitake can have application What conditions would you from the mycelium. Full spectrum extracts in both long-term conditions and recurrent recommend it for? are preferable because there are valuable short-term conditions such as frequent • Daily, long-term immune-building support: constituents, aside from beta glucans, found in coughs and colds.6 It also has a use in reduced immune function, allergies, both parts of the mushroom.1 The mycelium is treating inflammation within the respiratory autoimmune conditions, frequent colds and often favoured, but it’s important to remember and urinary tract, in addition to reducing high infections that the mycelium alone is not a mushroom, cholesterol.7,8 Shiitake contains a constituent • Follow-on support from immune suppressant just like the roots of a tree alone are not a tree. known as lentinan found in the cell walls of treatments such as chemotherapy and The beneficial compounds in these mushroom the mushroom. Lentinan may be responsible radiotherapy. species are all studied with relation to their for the immunomodulatory effects of this • Use short-term to deal with acute allergies function as a whole unit. mushroom.9 and to aid recovery from illness How medicinal mushrooms work Maiitake: This mushroom supports Identifying the mushrooms All medicinal mushrooms are rich in beta- recovery from long-term chronic conditions glucans, powerful polysaccharides renowned affecting immunity or where individuals have for their profound effect on the immune system undergone extreme treatments such as and on inflammation.2 Beta-glucans can radiotherapy or chemotherapy.4 Specifically, stimulate the production of cells that support it has demonstrated actions in supporting immune function, such as natural killer cells, liver, lung and breast tissue.10 Maiitake has T-lymphocytes and T-helper cells.2 They are also been shown to balance blood sugar best used long-term to gradually improve the levels and support conditions such as Reishi Maitake Shiitake overall health and balance of the immune PCOS that are associated with a blood sugar system, but can be used short-term during imbalance.11,12 Sourcing organic allergic responses or in recovery from acute practitioner-grade mushrooms infections such as colds and ‘flu.2 Constituents of medicinal There is often controversy regarding how mushrooms mushrooms should be grown. Pukka The three medicinal mushrooms Polysaccharides – including the mushrooms are grown in custom-made Reishi: Although its activity is centred within 1,3-1,6-β-glucans , triterpenoids, essential growing chambers with strictly defined growth the immune system, reishi has different amino acids, ergosterol (pro-Vitamin D), B substrates and carefully controlled growth specialist areas of activity. It displays anti- Vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 parameters such as temperature, light and air histaminic and anti-inflammatory actions (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), iron, fibre, quality. Some mushrooms are grown on grain and therefore is strongly indicated for polyunsaturated fats. and without the ability to develop their fruiting support of chronic allergic conditions.3 This body; this can lead to a lower bioavailability interesting combination of actions (including Research highlights of the mushroom’s active constituents, beta immunomodulatory activity) has made reishi Reishi, shiitake and maitake have all Pukka Life Academy online herbal course (CPD accredited) www.pukkaherbs.com email [email protected] to find out more demonstrated anti-tumour activity. The including all three mushrooms in Mushroom • There is no data on the safety of medicinal β-glucans found in all three mushrooms have Gold (with a total of 300mg of β-glucans), mushrooms in pregnancy, however, due to immune-modulating effects via induction benefits can be maximised. their long-established use as food, no issues of cytokines, enhancement of T- and B-cell are expected. proliferation, activation of IL1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, Ayurvedic energetics • Medicinal mushrooms tend to have and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene Taste: Sweet and bitter hypoglycaemic effects, so diabetics should expression. 13,14,15 Temperature: Neutral monitor blood sugar levels. Constitutional effect: Equalises all The β-glucans in medicinal mushrooms have three doshas Dosage been found to boost the activity of immune Energetic actions: Rejuvenating, Dried concentrated extracts: 1g daily cells and shift immune system balance balancing, protective Pukka Mushroom Gold: Two capsules towards Th1 to decrease inflammation. Cell twice daily and animal studies have found antioxidant and Safety & contraindications liver protective effects.16 • Reishi, maitake and shiitake are popular Where to find medicinal Clinical trials of all three mushrooms have mushrooms in oriental cooking and come mushrooms at Pukka found hypoglycaemic effects, improved under the category of functional foods, Supplements family survival time in cancer patients and reductions indicating their safety. Mushroom Gold in serum cholesterol.5 • Multiple small-sized clinical trials in healthy Womankind premenstrual One study looking at the effects of these individuals have determined no adverse Vitalise three mushrooms on human macrophages effects of reishi. Those taking anticoagulants has confirmed that combined therapy is best. should avoid very high doses of reishi It showed the immuno-stimulating effect of (3g and higher), due to observed antiplatelet all three mushrooms was greater than for effects at high doses.1 Pukka Mushroom individual mushrooms suggesting a potential Gold provides levels of reishi well below this. synergistic effect of the combined mushroom • Shiitake dermatitis can occur in some formula. 17 individuals consuming raw shiitake, but The specific effects vary depending on the this does not occur with cooked or dried β-glucans present in the mushroom, so by mushrooms. Medicinal quinoa) rosemary, thyme 2 chopped beetroot and turmeric mushrooms 4 chopped carrots at home 4 chopped potatoes Method 2 chopped leeks Simmer the Shiitake Make your own 3 chopped onions mushrooms in 3 pints immune boosting soup 4 cloves chopped garlic of water for half an hour. 2 heads chopped kale Then to the mushroom Ingredients mound of chopped spinach water, add the rest of the Handful of shiitake mushrooms 1 large stick ginger ingredients and simmer 250g organic pearl barley (or Additional fresh herbs such as for 45 minutes. 1 Sharma C, et al. 2019. Bioactive metabolites of Ganoderma lucidum: Factors, mechanism and broad spectrum therapeutic potential. J Her Med [In Press]. Doi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2019.100268 2 Jesenak M, et al. 2017. Respiratory tract infections and the role of biologically active polysaccharides in their management and prevention. Nutrients. 9: 779. 3 Bhardwaj N, et al. 2014. Suppression of inflammatory and allergic responses by pharmacologically potent fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 8: 104-117. 4 Chen, H.S., Tsai, Y.F., Lin, S., editors. et al. 2004. Studies on the immuno-modulating and anti-tumor activities of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) polysaccharides. Bioorg Med Chem.12:5595.601. 5 Vetvicka, V., Vetvickova, J. 2014. Immune-enhancing effects of maitake (Grifola frondosa) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes) extracts. Ann Transl Med. 2(2): 14. 6 Dai X, et al. 2015. Consuming Lentinula edodes (shiitake) mushrooms daily improves human immunity: A randomized dietary intervention in healthy young adults. J Am Coll Nutr 34: 478-487. 7 Rop O, et al. 2009. Beta-glucans in higher fungi and their health effects. Nutr Rev. 67: 624-631. 8 Hobbs, C. Medicinal value of Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. A literature review. Int. J. Med. Mushr., 2000, 2, 287-02. 9 Hamuro J.; Chihara, G. In Immune Modulation Agents and Their Mechanisms; Lentinan, a cell-oriented immunopotentiator: its