Powerful medicinal mushrooms — nature is full of wonders
When we hear mushrooms, we generally think of culinary delights: many mushrooms taste superb. In addition to aroma, so-called medicinal mushrooms offer a wealth of health benefits: their enormous density of nutrients makes them turbo-charged food supplements. Learn more about the power of medicinal mushrooms!
The almost magical world of mushrooms
Most people consider mushrooms a plant-based food. In fact mushrooms are a special form of life — neither animals nor plants. In contrast to plants, fungi build the biopolymer chitin into their cell walls. The discoverer of chitin, the French scientist Henri Branconnot, first called chitin fungins when he isolated this substance in 1811 (1). The French Antoine Odie introduced the name chitin when he found this polymer in the exoskeleton of the arthropods. The arthropods include all insects, crabs and spiders.
Fungi can do without photosynthesis in their diet. Instead, they get their food — similar to animals — by breaking down substances and ingesting the dissolved molecules. To do this, they use a variety of enzymes that even wood cannot withstand.
Some medicinal mushrooms have developed amazing strategies, for example the caterpillar mushroom. It converts moth larvae into food. All mushrooms, not just medicinal mushrooms, are characterised by an enormous density of nutrients. At the same time, they are low in calories. Mushrooms, for example, only provide 22 kilocalories per 100 grams — an ideal food for anyone who has to take care of their figure.
Secret growth underground
Mushrooms are true artists of life. The biomass of fungi on the planet is around 200 times heavier than the biomass of the entire human population (2). At first glance, that seems impossible. However, most of the mushrooms grow in secret. What we commonly understand as mushrooms are only the fruiting bodies, the sexual organs. Their job is to spread spurs and thus ensure survival. They do this so successfully that we ingest a few fungal spores with every breath.
In fact, the mycelium is the actual body of the mushrooms. This network of roots spreads underground and can take on enormous proportions. The largest living being on our planet is a honey fungus, a member of the species Armillaria ostoyae (3). This giant has conquered nine square kilometres in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon over the course of around 2,400 years. Its mycelium weighs an estimated nine tons. Researchers found the honey mushroom using aerial photographs.
Almost nothing can stop the power of mushrooms
The fungus was discovered, like another giant honey fungus in Michigan, because it attacked healthy trees (4). Fungi are the only living things that can break down lignin. This hard polymer supports the wood fibres. Mushrooms are also world champions in breaking down cellulose and chitin. While some species are slowly killing their hosts as parasites, others live in symbiosis with them. Experts estimate that the roots of around 90 percent of all land-living plants can come into contact with fungi. Lichen, for example, is a community of fungi with cyanobacteria and green algae.
Fungi far surpass plants in terms of diversity — although plants provide almost 30 times more biomass worldwide. At the moment, scientists are still puzzling about how many types of mushrooms there are. In 1991, 70,000 different mushrooms were known and it was estimated that there are around 1.5 million species in total (5). In 2017, researchers corrected this number to 2.2 to 3.8 million (6).
In fact, mushrooms play an important role in metabolism almost everywhere — even in your gut. It is now undisputed that the intestinal flora is good for the immune system (7). After all, most of the immune system is located around the intestines. However, research on the so-called mycobioma, the function of fungi in the human intestine, is still in its infancy (8).
Tremendous potential for therapies
What is certain is that all mushrooms — not just medicinal mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms — represent enormous potential. The discovery of penicillin in 1928 looks like a needle in a haystack given today’s knowledge (9). However, scientific research in this area lags far behind applied experience.
The consumer advice center points out that meaningful studies on the effectiveness and risks of medicinal mushrooms are lacking (10). In fact, current studies on the effects of fungi are primarily concerned with cancer cells in the laboratory and animal experiments. Medicinal mushrooms are therefore not approved as medicinal products in Germany — but that does not mean that they do not promote your health.
In fact, it is forbidden to advertise the possible therapeutic effects of medicinal mushrooms — for example as part of holistic cancer therapy, as an aid in losing weight or as a strengthening of the immune system. Traditional Chinese medicine has used medicinal mushrooms successfully for thousands of years.
Medicinal mushrooms — what exactly are they?
This term is difficult to define. As mentioned, mushrooms are not a recognised medicine in most parts of the world. Therefore it is already legally questionable to use the term medicinal mushrooms at all.
Experts estimate that there are around 240 different types of medicinal mushrooms. Chinese medicine uses 20 different mushrooms. However, scientific research has only dealt with a few types of fungus so far. “Trying is better than studying”: This saying applies to the topic of medicinal mushrooms. In fact, many people have had positive experiences with them.
Feature: richness of nutrients
In principle, we can call any edible fungus a medicinal mushroom. Even the common mushroom in the supermarket provides you with such a wealth of nutrients that we can confidently call it a medicinal mushroom. In general, however, we use the term medicinal mushrooms for the types that are traditionally used for medicinal purposes — such as the Reishi, the Shiitake or the Hedgehog Goatee.
Whether medicinal or not: Numerous natural healing methods use medicinal mushrooms. As a dietary supplement, you can easily buy mushroom powder and extracts. Many naturopaths use mushrooms in preventive medicine and Wikipedia now also explains the term myco-therapy.
A brief overview: medicinal mushrooms over the millennia
Traditional Chinese medicine has been using medicinal mushrooms for at least 3,000 years (11). Chinese doctors have given the poetic epithets ‘Plant of Immortality’ and ‘Mushroom of Life’ to the mushroom Reishi. Because it is rare in China, only the emperor and his family were allowed to use it for a long time.
Ötzi wore mushrooms like a necklace
However, Ötzi’s find in 1991 showed that the cradle of modern myco-therapy may even have been in Europe. Ötzi, the approximately 5,300 year old glacier mummy from the Ötztal Alps, had two medicinal mushrooms in his luggage: the tinder fungus and the birch sponge. The tinder sponge was carried in a leather pouch together with flint. Two pieces of Birkenporling he carried threaded on a leather cord like a necklace.
In ancient times, doctors also knew about the healing effects of mushrooms. The Roman scholar Pliny the Elder reported in the first century AD that the larch sponge can relieve shortness of breath, fever and epilepsy.
Hildegard von Bingen described medicinal mushrooms
Abbess Hildegard von Bingen also described the invigorating power of the Lackporling in her book Physica, which was written in the 12th century. She also recorded her knowledge of other medicinal mushrooms in this book. She writes about effects on the immune system, antibiotic effects and extraction processes.
In the Middle Ages and the beginning of the modern era, various mushrooms were used in Europe, for example the honey mushroom as a laxative or the stinkhorn for gout. Over time, however, the knowledge about medicinal mushrooms fell into oblivion — while medicinal mushrooms continued to play an important role in Asian countries.
It was not until the 20th century that the medicinal properties of mushrooms were rediscovered. In 1957, scientists in New York studied the properties of Boletus edulis, the boletus, and related species (12). Since then, numerous researchers have looked at the potential of medicinal mushrooms for cancer therapy. However, experts criticise that current research is mainly concerned with the effect of fungi on cancer cells themselves (13). The effect on the important signalling pathways of the human metabolism is therefore usually not investigated.
An expression of cultural change: the shroom boom
In the past six years, interest in medicinal mushrooms has literally exploded worldwide. At the beginning of 2014 hardly anyone was looking for the names of various medicinal mushrooms in the Google search engine. But within three years the corresponding Google search grew by an incredible 3099 percent (14). Experts therefore speak of the ‘shroom boom’. The increase at the beginning of 2018 was particularly striking.
Because the search volume has increased continuously over several years, experts do not consider the interest in medicinal mushrooms to be a passing fad. For them it is more an expression of a change in culture. Many people like you and me are increasingly concerned with preventing illnesses with a healthy lifestyle and considering alternative treatment methods.
Medicinal mushrooms: ingredients of the survival experts
All mushrooms offer you a real treasure trove of nutrients. As with any natural product, the amounts of the ingredients change. The number of hours of sunshine during growth, the nature of the soil and other environmental factors influence how a fungus develops and to what extent certain substances can build up.
The composition of the vital substances also naturally differs from mushroom species to mushroom species. Some medicinal mushrooms are edible — for example the shiitake mushroom. Others, on the other hand, such as Reishi, can only be consumed as a powder or extract. But all mushrooms are survivors that spread successfully and are difficult to control.
Suppliers of vitamin D and precursors
In general, all mushrooms provide numerous vitamins, minerals, enzymes and secondary plant substances. In addition to vitamin A and vitamins of the B complex, many medicinal mushrooms contain considerable amounts of vitamin D and precursors of this vitamin (15). Current studies show that every second person worldwide suffers from vitamin D deficiency (16).
Few foods contain this important vitamin, which is involved in numerous metabolic processes — and not just in the storage of calcium in bones. Vitamin D receptors are present in almost all cells in the human body. If this vitamin is missing, it affects the entire metabolism.
Simply enrich mushrooms with vitamin D
You can even enrich normal mushrooms from the supermarket with vitamin D yourself if you let the lamellae shine on them for an hour in the sun — this multiplies their vitamin D content enormously (17).
In addition to vitamins, all mushrooms provide numerous minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc. However, the so-called secondary plant substances in medicinal mushrooms, such as polyphenols, are particularly interesting for your health.
Important: polysaccharides and triterpenes
Two groups of active plant substances in medicinal mushrooms, polysaccharides and triterpenes, have been scientifically well researched. Polysaccharides are carbohydrates that are widespread in nature. These substances strengthen the immune system and have great potential in fighting cancer (18) (19). Medicinal mushrooms are primarily characterised by their beta-glucane content. These types of polysaccharides inhibit inflammation, promote fat metabolism, and help with weight loss and prevent osteoporosis (20).
Triterpenes are also substances whose enormous importance for human health is only gradually becoming clear. These plant active ingredients can fight cancer cells in a number of ways, for example by preventing the formation of metastases (21). It has been scientifically proven that triterpenes can inhibit inflammation, fight pathogens and strengthen the immune system (22). The authors of a meta-study consider it to be proven that triterpenes accelerate wound healing (23).
The chitin question: extract or powder?
The cell walls of mushrooms contain plenty of chitin. This polysaccharide strengthens the cells and is so strong that arthropods use it to build their shells. Human digestion, however, has a hard time dealing with this substance. There are still many experts who generally consider chitin to be indigestible. However, Italian researchers found in 2007 that humans can make chitinase s— the enzymes necessary to digest chitin (24). A study published in 2019 confirmed this (25).
You can buy medicinal mushrooms as a powder or as an extract. For powder, the entire mushroom, including the mycelium and substrate, is finely ground and then usually filled into capsules. The substrate — often millet — can influence the content of polysaccharides in these products, because all grains also contain polysaccharides.
Which extracts are particularly effective?
With the extracts, only certain vital substances are released from the fungus. The problem with this is that some active ingredients bind to fat, others to water or alcohol. Which extracts are particularly effective is currently still the subject of heated discussions.
However, the production of the mushrooms is more important than extract or powder. Most of the medicinal mushrooms are imported from China. While the soil in the mountain regions is not polluted with pollutants, the situation is different in the big cities. If medicinal mushrooms are grown in industrial areas, they are usually heavily contaminated with pollutants.
The most important medicinal mushrooms
One problem with the scientific evidence of natural remedies such as medicinal mushrooms is synergy. This term means that in traditional medicines such as medicinal mushrooms, numerous substances work together and thus jointly achieve a healing effect. The Greek philosopher Aristotle preached: “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”
Modern science still tends to isolate individual substances, analyse them and then determine their effects. Nevertheless, there are increasing voices among scientists who advocate a holistic view of traditional healing methods and remedies (32).
Hedgehog goatee Hericium: The belly whisperer
Hericium erinaceus, the hedgehog’s mustache, also known as the lion’s mane, is an edible mushroom that impresses with its extravagant shape. Long spines cover the rounded, oval body and are reminiscent of a wild mane. In Chinese medicine, this mushroom is mainly used for indigestion and to strengthen the liver. It is a popular edible mushroom all over Asia, because its taste is reminiscent of lobster. Experienced mushroom pickers can also find this mushroom in their native regions. It grows on deciduous trees and can cause white rot in wood.
Hericium extract, which was obtained with ethanol, seems to be particularly interesting. Several studies show that it stimulates NGF, the nerve growth factor (26) (27) (28). This protein complex promotes the growth of nerve cells and strengthens synapses, the connections between nerve cells. This is important for learning processes and the proper functioning of the brain (29).
In addition, the hedgehog’s mustache provides all the essential amino acids, vitamin D, many polysaccharides and considerable amounts of minerals.
Almond mushroom: the defender
The almond mushroom, with the scientific name Agaricus blazei Murrill, comes from Brazil. The almond tigerling is a relative of our mushrooms and a popular edible mushroom. In his homeland he is called Cogmelo de Deus, mushroom of God.
The almond mushroom is considered an excellent remedy for the immune system in naturopathy and has been used for many years to treat chronic diseases such as hepatitis, diabetes, cancer and arteriosclerosis (30) (31). In China, Japan, Korea, as well as Brazil and the USA, the almond mushroom is approved as a cancer drug.
Almost half of this mushroom is made up of protein. The almond mushroom also contains vitamin D, numerous minerals and many polysaccharides.
The ear of Judas: The radiant one
The Auricularia auricula-judae has many names: In addition to the ear of Judas, this medicinal mushroom is also known as Chinese morel, elderberry or mu-err. This popular edible mushroom has been grown in Asia for over 1500 years.
In Chinese medicine, the mushroom is used to treat circulatory problems. It is also said to lower cholesterol levels and improve blood flow.
Reishi: The mushroom of the elite
In China and Japan, the Reishi, with the scientific name Ganoderma lucidum, has been in high regard for millennia. Literally translated, the Japanese word Reishi means divine mushroom. The Chinese name Ling Zhi can be translated as mushroom of life. This fungus is very rare in China. Therefore, for a long time only members of the imperial family were allowed to consume it.
It has been possible to grow this mushroom since the 1970s. The hard, bitter fruit body is unsuitable for consumption. That is why the mushroom is offered as a powder or extract.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the Reishi is considered the best-known medicinal mushroom. It was used to treat asthma, liver problems, and coughs, and was also taken as a tonic to help prolong life. Taoist monks used the mushroom to improve their meditation (33).
This mushroom is said to contain at least 400 different bioactive substances, including around 150 triterpenes and 100 polysaccharides.
Caterpillar mushroom: the extravagant
Cordiceps sinensis is an exception among the medicinal mushrooms. This parasite lives in the Himalayas at altitudes over 3000 meters. It attacks the larva of a certain moth and kills it. The fruiting body then grows out of your body.
The Chinese name of this most expensive medicinal mushroom is Dong Chong Xia Cao. That can be translated as ‘worm in winter, grass in summer’. In fact, the mycelium of this parasite penetrates the plants on which the caterpillars feed. In this way, the fungus attacks the larvae.
The caterpillar mushroom has been highly valued in traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine for many years. It is said to increase stamina, relieve depression and exhaustion and tiredness. That’s why healers in Sikkim use the mushroom as a tonic for all diseases (34).
A few years ago, researchers discovered a new substance in this mushroom called cordycepine. One study shows that this substance can fight cancer, effectively inhibits inflammation and has a strong antioxidant effect (35). In addition, the mushroom provides many different B vitamins and minerals, including copper, iron, selenium and zinc.
Shiitake: the all-rounder
The Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), also known as the oak mushroom, is a jack-of-all-trades: It tastes great and has proven itself as a jack-of-all-trades for around 3000 years. The mushroom has been grown in China for over 1000 years. After the common mushroom, the shiitake is the edible mushroom that is most commonly eaten. Shiitake is particularly popular in East Asian cuisine.
In traditional Chinese medicine, doctors use shiitake to regulate blood lipid levels and lower cholesterol levels. It should also help with stomach problems and have a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora. According to Chinese doctors, regular consumption has a beneficial effect on the immune system (36). The shiitake contains all essential amino acids, many vitamins and minerals as well as numerous polysaccharides.
Maitake: The versatile one
The rattle sponge (Grifola frondosa) is called Maitake in Japan, which means dancing mushroom. In fact, the folds of the fruiting body are reminiscent of elves dancing a dance. The fungus grows on old deciduous trees. In Japan, the mushroom was once a means of payment. It is rarely found in Germany. It has been cultivated for around 30 years.
This tasty edible mushroom is used in traditional Asian medicine to strengthen the immune system. In 2010, the fungus was approved in China as a drug for cancer therapy (37). Half of the maitake consists of polysaccharides, many of which have a beneficial effect on the immune system. In addition, it provides B vitamins, vitamin D and numerous trace elements.
Chaga: the fire maker
The name Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) comes from the Russian language. This fungus grows on birch trees and is related to the tinder fungus. Like this, the chaga can be used to make a fire. Its cork-like, hard fruit body is not suitable for consumption.
In addition to the Eastern European peoples and the Russians, the Indians of North America have long valued this mushroom as a medicine. He was used to treat heart disease, intestinal upset, liver problems, tumors and tuberculosis. Chaga is also associated with the stomach and liver in traditional Chinese medicine. It is supposed to build up the Qi, the life energy, and have an expectorant effect, as well as strengthen the kidneys and calm the heart and mind.
Current research views the chaga as a potential cure for cancer (38) (39). The fungus contains betuline and betulinic acid, among other things. These terpenes are seen as hope in cancer therapy because they can target cancer cells.
Conclusion: incredibly healthy
The scientific proof with clinical studies on humans is still pending: Therefore medicinal mushrooms should not be touted as medicinal products or proper medication. However, mushrooms play an important role in traditional medicine around the world.
For some years now, products with medicinal mushrooms have become increasingly popular. Experts interpret this trend as a sign that we are all increasing our efforts towards prevention.
What is certain? Medicinal mushrooms are generally healthy.
They provide high quality protein, many vitamins and trace elements as well as secondary plant substances such as polysaccharides and triterpenes. It is important to pay attention to quality when choosing products. Can medicinal mushrooms cure chronic diseases? There is no generally valid answer to this question — a reason to gain experience for yourself.
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