Long before Alexander Fleming endowed us with the gift of his discovery and exploitation of penicillin from mold he discovered on a petri dish in 1928, mold and fungi had been the source of practical medicine for many people.  The use of medicinal mushrooms as supplements and medicines go back to ancient Chinese and Egyptian times, but not until recently has scientific research on these earthly elixirs been done finally proving medical mushrooms to be a modern natural medicine to be taken seriously, very seriously.

It isn’t too surprising when you consider us, as humans, are in some ways a fungus ourselves.  Humans and fungi share much of the same pathogens, and many scientists believe that we stem from the same rouge genetic characteristics that apparently branched away from photosynthesis and found their way into the genetic makeup found only in animals and fungi, two of these discovered components being called sterols and lanosterol.

Based on these recent scientific discoveries some researchers explain that these genetic similarities very well solidify the reason why targeting and destroying fungal diseases in humans is so difficult.  This is because, some say, that the metabolisms in the fungi are so similar to our own that isolating the diseased fungi sufficiently is almost impossible without risk of severely affecting the human host as well.  But being that these types of diseases particularly effect those with suppressed immune systems offers more evidence in the prophylactic qualities that some scientists claim medicinal mushrooms are so abundant in.

The immune system defenses found in medicinal mushrooms is staggering.  The studies performed suggest that medicinal mushrooms are probiotic, meaning they assist our bodies’ regenerative ability to strengthen, heal, and fight off illness through sustaining physiological homeostasis.  Medicinal mushrooms have compounds that restore balance to our bodies, and when there is balance, or at-ease, our bodies are resistant to dis-ease.  These immune system enhancing super-compounds have been classified as Host Defense Potentatiors (HDP).

Here is a list of some of the more popular medicinal mushrooms used in health supplements:

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Cordyceps

One of these preventative compounds is found in the parasydic cordycep mushroom and is being used as in cancer treatments as a tumor reducer. Studies also found cordyceps to contain potent anti-inflammatory characteristics causing smooth muscle relaxation which has extended the use of cordyceps way beyond cancer treatments and into treatment plans for those with arthritis, renal failure, asthma and even chronic cough. Furthermore, studies showed that cordyceps promote increase of blood flow and oxygen carrying capacity of the blood making it an especially useful remedy for high cholesterol, impotence, arrhythmia, lung cancer, and chronic kidney failure.

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Chaga

Another medical mushroom type is the Chaga mushroom and along with supporting our immune systems, it as a high concentration of antioxidants aiding our bodies in the elimination of toxins. This high level of antioxidants also protect our cells from free radicals in which a buildup of can cause cancer. Chaga also stimulates our nervous system and promotes cellular health, making it a popular natural anti-aging remedy.

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Reishi

The Reishi mushroom is perhaps the longest used and most popular medicinal mushroom used in ancient China and has been branded many titles such as “Spirit Plant” and “Mushroom of Immortality”.  Reishi has a variety of health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, and has also shown to reduce tumor size.  Reishi has several antibacterial properties as well.  It is commonly used to treat Herpes, HIV, high blood pressure, and because it contains ganoderic acid, reishi is being used to treat leukemia, lung and other cancers.  Reishi is nutrient dense in calcium, phosphorus, pantothenic acid, iron, and vitamins C, D, and B.

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Shiitake

The Shiitake is also used to treat different types of cancers. However, shiitake has earned its official license as an anti-cancer drug by the Japanese FDA. The extract known as lentinan, from the shiitake mushroom, has shown to have a positive effect in research done on the treatment of bowel cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer. Shiitake mushrooms also demonstrate antiviral effects making them useful in treating and possibly preventing viruses as significant as HIV and hepatitis, all the way down to your common cold. Shiitake also contains strong cholesterol-lowering properties.

There are so many benefits that these fungi possess, and this only names four out of the six that are actively being researched and used for their tremendous immune system boost in the medical community. Medicinal mushrooms are over abundant in their natural health benefits and multiple super-food characteristics, and one can only assume that because they grew and evolved with the rest of the life on this planet, that they are here for a reason.

The most convenient way to consume and reap the benefits of these truly “magic mushrooms,” is usually by taking them in herbal extract capsule form as most other natural remedies. It has also been shown that they have an amazing synergy effect and work best with each other, as opposed to taking them alone. Prices are reasonable, but compared to the price of treating an illness once it has been established, far outweigh the monetary price of preventative alternative medicine that can be achieved with these marvelous fungal miracles.