Medicinal Mushrooms and Cancer

by: Nancy - September 20th, 2010   Filed under: Beneficial Mushrooms Add Comment

Mushrooms are not just a tasty addition to a salad or casserole.  They are much, much more. Most, of an estimated 38,000 species of mushrooms, provide a wealth of protein, fiber, B vitamins, and vitamin C, as well as calcium and other minerals. At least three of these species have demonstrated phenomenal healing potential: maitake, shiitake, and reishi. These medicinal mushrooms have been shown to lower the risk of cancer; promote immune function; ward off viruses, bacteria, and fungi; boost heart health; reduce inflammation; combat allergies; help balance blood sugar levels; and support the body’s detoxification mechanisms.

Medicinal mushrooms have several overlapping properties: all support cardiovascular health, all boost immune function, and all show promise in lowering the risk of, or treating, cancer. Maitake is specifically recommended for stomach and intestines, as well as blood sugar levels; shiitake helps with nutritional deficiencies and liver ailments, while reishi promotes respiratory health and spirituality.

http://www.healthcastle.com/herb_mushroom.shtml

Many of the medicinal mushrooms, including chaga mushroom, maitake mushroom, ganoderma (also known as gano) mushroom, and cordyceps mushroom, contain cancer-preventive and cancer-fighting actions. Along with research on polysaccharides with beta 1,3 glucan linkages, other mushroom extracts have been shown to have clinical effectiveness against human cancers, these being D-fraction extracted from the Maitake mushroom, and extracts from the split gill, turkey tail and Reishi mushrooms.

Medicinal mushrooms are sources of antitumor and immunity-modulating polysaccharides (a type of carbohydrate) that have been extensively researched. Cancer patients may also wish to investigate medicinal mushrooms (such types as reishi, shiitake, cordyceps, maitake, agaracus, and coriolus) as immune-boosting companions to chemotherapy.

Shiitake, as with many of the medicinal mushrooms, has been shown to be of benefit as an adjuvant cancer therapy. It has been shown to improve specific immune markers (including natural killer cells, tumor necrosis factor, T-helper cells, and a variety of interleukins), and patient outcomes.

Reishi can be used to treat cancer patients due to its ability to activate NK cells, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and cytokines, all important immune system components. Kee Chang Huang reports that reishi “exerts a synergistic effect with other anticancer chemothera-peutic agents or radiotherapy, to augment the clinical therapeutic effect in the treatment of cancer patients.”

 

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Siberian Chaga

by: Nancy - August 12th, 2010   Filed under: Beneficial Mushrooms 1 Comment

About Chaga

Chaga mushroom is not only referred to in the ancient Chinese medical texts and in the Ming Dynasty as the “King of Herbs“, but it’s amazing healing powers dominates ancient Russian folklore as well.

What makes Chaga very rare is that the best and most effective mushrooms are grown in the most extreme environments, the harshest of winter conditions (below -40 °C), on the trunks of Black Birch trees that are at least 20 years old. Within two to three months of being harvested, they die and, only two to three trees out of every hundred bear mushrooms that receive the designation “Superior Grade and Certification.”

Uses of Siberian Chaga

Chaga has been used for centuries as a cure for cancer, diabetes, stomach ailments, blood disorders, bronchitis, liver damage, hypertension, tumors and other antibacterial or antiviral infections. Containing melanin, which nourishes hair, skin and nails, restoring one’s complexion to a healthy and more youthful appearance, Chaga also combats the visible signs of aging.

Several key clinical and scientific papers on antioxidants and medicinal mushrooms have been published that focus on Chaga’s role in curtailing oncological expressions, cancer cell reproduction, and as a natural defense for many other maladies.

Siberian Chaga’s role in Modern Medicine

Several key clinical and scientific papers on antioxidants and medicinal mushrooms have been published that focus on Chaga’s role in curtailing oncological expressions, cancer cell reproduction, and as a natural defense for many other maladies.

Siberian Chaga Ingredients and Analysis

As represented by Linghzi King Superior Grade Extract, Siberian Chaga contains 215 phytonutrients: 29 polysaccharide or beta glucan (Beta-1,3-D) derivatives that includes: triterpenes, sterols, antioxidants, saponins, amino acids, trace minerals, vitamins and heteroglucans.

Unlike other medicinal mushrooms, Siberian Chaga contains an exceptional amount of Betulinic Acid and SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase). This mushroom extract is water soluble, tasteless, odorless and mixes well in hot and cold beverages, teas, coffees or soups, and is considered a food supplement/additive.

Siberian Chaga offers no side effects and is non-toxic and safe for persons of all ages.

References

http://www.naturesking.com/about_chaga.htm

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Red Reishi

by: Nancy - July 5th, 2010   Filed under: Beneficial Mushrooms Add Comment

Red Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum; Gano), commonly known as Ling Zhi in Chinese, a herbal mushroom known for it’s miraculous health benefits.

Benefits of Red Reishi:

  • Non-toxic – can be taken daily without any side effects.
  • When taken regularly can restore the body to its natural state, enabling all organs to function normally.
  • Immune modulator – regulates and fine tunes the immune system.

According to researchers, water-soluble polysaccharides are the most active element found in Red Reishi that have anti-tumour, immune modulating and blood pressure lowering effects.

Triterpenes, also called ganoderic acids, are another major active ingredient found in Red Reishi.  Preliminary studies indicated that ganoderic acids improve oxygen utilization and  liver functions, as well as helps to alleviate common allergies by inhibiting histamine release. Being as triterpenes are bitter in taste, the level of the triterpene content contained in a product can be determined by the bitterness.

Red Reishi is also used to help treat anxiety, high blood pressure, hepatitis, bronchitis, insomnia, and asthma.  Generally, it is recommended as an adaptogen, immune modulator, and a general tonic.  Regular consumption can enhance our body’s immune system and improve blood circulation, thereby improving better health conditions.

Evidence

Consumption of Red Reishi has been linked to the treatment of a vast range of diseases, common ailments, and conditions, through considerable studies in China, Japan, USA, and the UK over the past 30 years.  Most scientific research that has been conducted appears to strongly support Red Reishi’s role as a normalizing substance – a nutritional supplement that can yield medical benefits through its normalization and regulation of the body’s organs and functions.

References

http://www.reishi.com/index.htm

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