and MS in Agricultural Science. He is currently a doctoral researcher of mushroom botany at the University of Arizona. His latest book, “Magic Mushrooms” provides outstanding tips and insight into the intriguing benefits of psilocybin mushrooms.
He is an incurable optimist who sees the good in everyone and thrives by helping them become a better version of themselves.
Healing Power of
Mushrooms
Improve Your Health With The 10 Best Medical Mushrooms Richard Korman
DISCLAIMER
Copyright 2020 by Richard Korman – All rights reserved.
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This extends to creating a secondary or tertiary copy of the work or a recorded copy and, is only allowed with an expressed written consent from the Publisher. All additional rights reserved.
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The author is not in any way accountable for any results or outcomes that emanate from using this material. Constructive attempts have been made to provide information that is both accurate and effective, but the author is not bound for the accuracy or use/misuse of this information.
INTRODUCTION
Over time it has been determined that the fungus is a vegetable that is considered "Magical." Different cultures in all corners of the world have consumed or used medicinal mushrooms for many centuries, with Egypt being their mainland of origin. What does this mean? Well, we are in the presence of an extremely ancient vegetable or food as well as the first existing civilizations in the world.
This plant fungus has been characterized by being immortal and has proven that it has a lot of health benefits, mainly for presenting a protein, vitamin, and other components of great quality. People who consider themselves mushroom lovers, that is who have spent their entire lives eating mushrooms, emphasize that. In addition to being an exquisite food, it has different flavors that vary according to their species; this is a food that contains great benefits.
At present, about 140,000 species of fungi have been detected, of which only 10% of them are studied by different scientists worldwide, according to the renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, who has written different books on this subject.
Nearly 100 different species of plant fungi have been identified and studied that offer health-promoting benefits and about half a dozen of those studied have an exceptional characteristic that significantly strengthens the immune system.
It is of utmost importance to consume only fungi that have been organically grown, this mainly because they absorb everything around them, be they good or bad organisms. This is what generates and intensifies the potency of fungi. They are also known to absorb heavy metals, such as contaminated water and air, so strictly healthy growth conditions are considered a critical element. Although it may sound strange, we humans are much more related to the fungal family than with any other species, this is because we share the same bacteria and viruses.
As a defense mechanism against the invasion of bacteria, fungi developed different antibiotics that are also highly effective for humans. Penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline are medications that come from the fungus extract.
In a study published in 2010 by the Experimental Biology and Medicine, five different types of fungi (maitake, cremini, oyster, and white button) were examined where they were found to "Significantly Eliminate" the growth and reproduction of cells that produce breast cancer, which makes us think that they can work as a kind of natural protectors against this type of cancer.
In addition, Shiitake-type fungi contain the compound "Lentinan," which according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; can help extend the life of patients with certain cancers in particular when used in chemotherapy. It is known that since 1985 it has been used as a kind of
“Helper” for patients suffering from stomach cancer in Japan because it has anti-tumor effects. According to the Cancer Center in Japan, “The lentinan compound does not kill cancer cells directly. Instead, it improves the immune system, which can help slow the growth of tumors. The compound also kills viruses and microbes directly.”
Furthermore, it is proven that lentinan stimulates the immune system like beta-glucan, which is a type of sugar that is located in the cells that are inside the walls of different fungi, one of them the best known, such as the mushrooms.
The consumption of fungi helps reduce cholesterol in our body. In general, they do not contain cholesterol in their composition, but they are an excellent source of chitin and beta-glucan, which are famous fibers that help reduce cholesterol. In a study conducted by the International Journal of Medicinal
Mushrooms in 2012, it was found that pink oyster mushrooms reduce total cholesterol and bad cholesterol. On the other hand, shiitake mushrooms contain in their composition a component that helps the liver perform the functions of total elimination of cholesterol from the bloodstream, according to the doctor Andrew Weil, who is the founder of the Center for Integrative
Medicine of Arizona.
Other scientists and doctors worldwide point out that fungi contain a lot of phytonutrients that are extremely potent to prevent cells from adhering to the walls of blood vessels, so it keeps blood pressure very healthy.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Langone
Medical Center of the University of New York examined and analyzed the properties of fungi in 80 people suffering from cancer and were prone to a
crisis of anxiety, depression, or fear of death. Patients received a dose of psilocybin (the psychedelic component that possesses different types of fungi), which approximately 80% of them experienced what was known as an
"Increase in optimism, a feeling of connection with other people and mystical and spiritual experiences. The effects persisted during the 6-month follow-up period.” This research was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology
and suggests that the component called psilocybin may be beneficial for people with depression or posttraumatic stress disorders.
In the following book, we will detail the medical benefits that exist for the consumption of 10 plant fungi as well as how to use them in the kitchen of your home.
CHAPTER ONE: MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS
Medicinal mushrooms have been used for several centuries, especially in the countries of the Asian continent to treat numerous infections. The most recent application includes the treatment of different respiratory diseases, lung diseases, and cancer. Specifically, in Japan and China, the implementation of medicinal mushrooms to complement treatments for cancer patients was approved more than 30 years ago.
They have a high safety clinical history as single supplements or combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In the Asian continent, more than 100
species of medicinal mushrooms are used regularly. Some of the most common are Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), Trametes Versicolor or Coriolus Versicolor (Turkey Tail), Lentinus edodes (Shiitake), and Grifola frondosa (Maitake).
Food And Medicine Since Ancient Times
China was the cradle of mycotherapy in the world. Although medicinal mushrooms were used for a long time, they were described, analyzed, examined, and ordered in the first physiotherapy treatise "Pen Tsao King"
