ANCIENT MUSHROOMS

Medicinal mushrooms have been used in traditional and folk medicines since before recorded history. You've probably heard of Ötzi, one of the oldest bodies found frozen in ice around 3300 BCE was discovered in an alpine glacier in 1991. He was carrying two different species of mushroom on him at the time. One was a tinder fungus capable of holding a warm coal to re-start a fire at a new location many hours later. The other was a medicinal birch polypore used to fight parasites and other infections. You can see from Egyptian hieroglyphics that their society saw mushrooms as a plant of immortality. Mushrooms were typically only eaten by pharoahs and other nobles, and were given the name “sons of the gods” and depicted in artwork as being sent to earth on Lightning bolts.

 

Before we get too deep,

LETS GET TO THE MEDICINAL USES…

Below we're reviewing our favorite adaptogenic mushrooms along with their folk and medically verified uses. For those of you new to the word “adaptogen", in a nut shell it means non-toxic plants that help the body adapt to multiple stressors, primarily protecting the body (and mind) from the damaging effects of stress, helping the body achieve homeostasis. 

 
 
 

AGARICUS

Images of Agaricus Blazei can be seen on frescoes and clay fragments from the Aztecs times. This mushroom was a primary nutrient dense stable to indigenous peoples in the Amazon. Studies of its compounds have found it to be a powerful immune booster with liver and heart protective properties.

 

+ Digestive health

+ Heart and liver support

+ Modulates the immune system 

+ Nutrient dense (18 different amino acids, 10 different minerals, 16 different vitamins,  linoleic acid and  polysaccharides: 1-3/1-6 beta-glucans)

 

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CHAGA

Chaga is a fungus that grows primarily on birch trees, and has been used medicinally for centuries in Siberia and other parts of Asia as a medicine to boost immunity and improve overall health.

 

+ Reduces free radical damage

+ Fights inflammation and infection

+ Immune protective

+ Protects from stress and anxiety 

 

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TURKEY TAIL 

Turkey tail extract is full of polysaccharides and triterpenes that give it its well known immunomodulating properties. What sets it apart from the rest of the mushrooms are two of its unique beta-glucans: polysaccharide krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP). PSK has received global attention for its anticancer properties, which sparked a significant link between medicinal mushrooms and cancer.

 

+ Treats colds and flu

+ Aids digestion

+ Wards off infection

+ Help heal infections

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Fun Foraging Fact!

 is all about turkey tail, because if there is one mushroom you can find on your lunch break, it’s this one. Once you find it, you’ll start seeing it everywhere—seriously. Note that turkey tail is not edible in its natural form, so don’t immediately try to gobble up your woodsy finds. The most common ways to consume it are in powdered and liquid extract forms.

 

Soon we'll have 100% organic Turkey Tail as a single extract powder at our apothecary! Along with the beautifying mushroom, Tremella! 

 
 
 
 

Have a great day,

 

Anima Mundi

 
 
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