March 2008 Ageless herbal newsletter
Most of the time we only think of mushrooms as some delectable vegetable to add to our diet to create a wonderful meal, and do not spare the thought that a variety of mushrooms have been used for centuries in Asia as popular remedies to prevent or treat different diseases. A large number of extracts made from
medicinal mushrooms are used for the treatment of various diseases.
The most popular mushrooms used in China, Korea and Japan, for their medicinal properties, are
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), Lentinus edodes (Shiitake),
Grifola frondosa (Maitake), Hericium erinaceum (Yamabushitake) as well as
Inonotus obliquus (Chaga).
They are rich in vitamins, fiber, and amino acids and low in fat, cholesterol and calories, but most importantly they contain a large selection of biologically active polysaccharides with immuno-stimulatory properties, which shows promise for their
anti-cancer effects.
Apart from this, other bioactive substances, including triterpenes, proteins, lipids, cerebrosides and phenols, have been identified and characterized in these medicinal mushrooms and may in the future play a much larger part in our battle for better health.
Although some of the research must still be subjected to even more studies to determine the full scope of the health benefits, it is safe to say that the inclusion of
medicinal mushrooms may improve our general health, and specifically that of the
immune system, and for that reason we produce a product called “Tri-Mushroom Blend” which includes three of the ancient medicinal mushrooms – these being Maitake, Shiitake and Maitake.
It can be classified as an adaptogen – a herb that helps the body
adapt to stress and fight
infections. Maitake has shown to significantly boost the immune system and
fight the formation of tumors. Furthermore, it has
liver-protecting properties and can lower both blood pressure and
blood-glucose levels.
It has good properties in preventing high blood pressure as well as heart
disease, controlling cholesterol levels and boosting the immune system, and is also useful in
fighting cancers. The lentinan contained in the mushroom is the active ingredient most researched and praised for its
disease fighting capabilities.
It is a tonic, sedative herb that is expectorant, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol
levels, controls coughing, while relieving pain and
stimulating the immune system. It improves heart and liver function and has
anti-allergy, anti-viral and
anti-bacterial properties.
From the onset, let us please be clear about one thing – we are not trying to propose or suggest that mushrooms can be the
cure for cancer or a cure
for HIV/AIDS, yet would like to point out that certain mushrooms, like maitake, shiitake and reishi have yielded good results when taken by
cancer and HIV patients.
Studies are under way in which the effectiveness of maitake mushrooms will be measured for the treatment of advanced
breast and prostate
cancer.
The cancer-fighting compound found in maitake mushrooms is called “maitake D-fraction” which has shown promise in
breast and colorectal cancer, as well as
liver, lung and stomach cancer and
leukemia.
In laboratory tests, maitake have increased the activity of three types of immune cells –
macrophage, natural killer cells
(NK), as well as T-cells. The increases were 140, 186 and 160 percent and in studies with mice it
reduced tumor formation by 86 percent.
In a Chinese study, maitake also showed a reduction in recurrent bladder cancer after surgery when combined with standard
chemotherapy drugs. It also inhibited the growth of breast cancer
cells and prevented the spread of the cells to the liver.
Shiitake mushrooms contain lentinan, which Japanese scientists proved to have
immune stimulating properties, which, although it
does not kill the cancer cells directly, activates the immune system’s
lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) and
natural killer cells (NK) to deal with cancer cells and keep inflammation at bay.
They further found that shiitake’s lentinans promote the formation of immune system chemicals – such as
interleukin and TNF (tumor necrosis
factor), which helps prevent the spread of
cancer.
Reishi mushrooms have also shown promise as they stimulate the production of interleukin-2 and also contain ganoderic acids, which are
active against liver cancer. As a matter of fact, it is also good to use them in mild
cases of cirrhosis of the liver and to help prevent alcohol-induced fatty
liver.
Maitake mushrooms were found to further stimulate and enhance the action of the “T cells” in the body, which is of use to
HIV patients, and have also shown in “in vitro” studies to kill off the
HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus). It has also been used to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma – a
form of cancer that primarily affects people with
AIDS.
Although this mushroom shows tremendous potential to a host of health problems, it must be seen and used as complementary and supportive therapy, and should not replace existing standard treatment.
Although some tests have shown that maitake can increase the production of
interferon, patients with multiple sclerosis should not take therapeutic amounts without medical advice, as maitake mushrooms also stimulate the formation of gamma-interferon, which promotes the
destruction of nerve tissue.
Nutritionally, maitake supports the body by increasing the absorption of micronutrients, especially
copper (and then by implication, zinc), in the intestine.
Shiitake mushrooms have been found to help with both chronic fatigue syndrome as well as
Lyme’s disease, as they stimulate the NK cells.
Bad cholesterol (LDL) levels can be lowered when shiitake mushrooms are taken, as tests on the active principle –
eritadenine – indicated that the LDL accumulated in the liver and was converted to HDL – or good cholesterol.
In animal studies, reishi has shown to lower LDL levels in the blood as well.
Reishi mushrooms are helpful in fighting infections as they stimulate the
maturation of macrophage cells, which can engulf and
neutralize bacteria, which is particularly helpful in preventing secondary infections and
chronic bronchitis.
Using reishi mushrooms can help to reduce stress and to diminish
emotional outbursts during long periods of stress and helps to ease tension.
Reishi stimulates the maturation of macrophages (immune cells), which help digest infectious bacteria, and assists with chronic bronchitis, while also helping with asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and insomnia – and while helping to prevent “fatty liver” also assists the liver and helps with cirrhosis due to
alcohol abuse.
From the above it seems as if mushrooms have a definite role to play in helping us maintain good health, and although a lot of research is still needed to validate some of these initial claims, it would be worth watching the role that medicinal mushrooms will play in the future.
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