Mushroom adaptogens are powerful naturally-occurring compounds that can increase our resistance to illness and diseases. In this article, we take a look at mushroom adaptogens and mushroom supplements to help bolster your immune function.
As the western world’s bearing in healthcare settles into more curative approaches, eastern cultures have found the use of an ecosystem existing beneath our feet that has incredible benefits in preventive medicine. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine have looked toward adaptogenic mushrooms for centuries.
Adaptogens are active ingredients in certain plants and mushrooms that help the body “adapt” to physical, chemical, and biological stressors; they regulate bodily processes, helping return the body to a state of balance. With the tools of the 21st century, the pharmaceutical age dawns a look backward to the survival of people who subsisted on these natural substances alone. Modern methods for tissue culture of mycelium have ushered a new chapter of investigation on the active molecules that interface and potentiate modern medicine in novel and surprising ways.
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The elusive reactions contrived by adaptogenic mushrooms, and their ephemeral nature, may have been proper deterrents for human survival in the past. Now, with the proper tools, they can finally be studied for their immense chemical benefits. Today, more than 150 novel enzymes have been discovered in mushroom adaptogens. We will discuss a few species, as well as their benefits, here.
Mushroom Adaptogens For Immune Support And Wellness is an original (MushroomsMaestro) article.
Mushroom adaptogen:
1. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Reishi is known to grow in hot, humid areas of Asian countries. Also known as the “Elixir of Immortality,” this fungus is best utilized for its maintenance of healthy immunity and assistance in protecting and detoxifying the body. Scientists have found that this mushroom carries at least 16,000 genes that code for more than 200,000 compounds, 400 of those being considered active compounds.
Studies reveal that some forms of these mushroom adaptogens may modulate inflammation and immune response pathways in white blood cells. Other research shows that some of the molecules in Reishi can increase activity in certain white blood cells called natural killer cells – cells that fight cancer and infections in the body.
Mushroom adaptogen:
2. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
Although often grouped with the other mushroom adaptogens, Chaga is not technically a mushroom but a hardened mass of mycelium. This adaptogen, high in antioxidants – one of the highest sources in the world – is often consumed as a tea or supplement. Usually found growing on birch trees in colder climates of the northern hemisphere, Chaga takes 15-20 years to mature as it absorbs vitamins and minerals from the trees they reside on.
Chaga is also a potent source of beta-glucans and triterpenes, which helps deter colds and infections. Studies reveal Chaga may assist in regulating the production of cytokines; this aids in the communication of cells, allowing for a healthier immune system that can prevent illnesses from minor colds to more life-threatening diseases. Another study reveals that Chaga’s potent anti-inflammatory properties may help alleviate inflammation-related symptoms in conditions such as arthritis and depression.
Mushroom adaptogen:
3. Turkey Tail (Trametes vesicolor)
Turkey Tail, with its vibrant colors and pattern, contains a wide array of antioxidants, including phenols and flavonoids, that promote your immune system’s health by reducing inflammation and stimulating the release of protective compounds. In addition, Turkey Tail contains Krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP), promoting a healthy immune response by activating and inhibiting certain immune cells alongside inflammation suppression.
Mushroom adaptogens applications
Above are just a few of the vast array of mushroom adaptogens worldwide. Their health benefits are evident, yet studies using modern constructs are relatively recent. The chemical roulette of mushroom ingestion, whether that be a health increase, illness, a spiritual awakening, or even death, may leave you concerned about where to safely gain these immune benefits. Fortunately, many companies today are dedicated to creating mushroom adaptogen products that provide benefits while leaving the danger behind. One such company is Troop Mushrooms, which has sourced the best methods and ingredients to create a daily adaptogenic mushroom supplement for your preventative health.
Troop Mushrooms was created by two cousins on a mission to demystify mushrooms and make them approachable to the masses. They see the benefit of preventative over curative healthcare; therefore, they have created organically and sustainably harvested, dual-extracted mushroom adaptogen daily supplements in the form of a fruit-tasting gummy.
The company’s name is inspired by the underground root structure of mushroom ecosystems, called a troop. They take the imagery of this ecosystem, of how it transmits nutrients underground through mycelial fibers to other trees which need it, as a motif for how they desire to approach helping their customers. Troop Mushrooms has created an array of daily gummies with mushroom adaptogens, including Reishi, Chaga, and Turkey Tail. These gummies come in various flavors and provide different benefits such as improving gut health, cognitive function, and giving an energy boost.
The pride of our ancestors
Until recently, mushroom adaptogens were often dismissed due to their stigmatized abstruseness in scientific circles. Now, they are being taken from their root systems and into modern labs to be researched for their health benefits. As a result, the mushrooms that have long granted diversity of wellness to our ancestors are becoming more common health additives.
As stated in the study Medicinal Mushrooms: Ancient Remedies Meet Modern Science, “Modern science now recognizes that we are an ecosystem, that we live in an ecosystem, and we are born from an ecosystem. Understanding the role of mushrooms and their mycelia in ecosystems empowers their use in naturopathic medicine in ways that bolster conventional medical practices. We are now fully engaged in a rapidly emerging scientific revolution in medicinal mushrooms. Our ancestors would be proud.”
Further Reading for Additional Reference:
Google Books: Medicinal Mushrooms: An Exploration of Tradition, Healing, and Culture
U.S. Pharmacist: Adaptogenic or Medicinal Mushrooms
Byrdie: Adaptogenic Mushrooms: Benefits and How to Use
Important Note: The information contained in this article (Mushroom Adaptogens For Immune Support And Wellness)is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
