The Best Medicinal Mushrooms For Immune Support

Medicinal mushrooms have been used for centuries by many cultures around the world. With the resurgence of fungal popularity, many people are looking to mushrooms for their perceived health benefits for a variety of ailments. One of the more popular uses of medicinal mushrooms is to boost and promote stronger immunity.

There are several medicinal mushrooms that are known for their immune-boosting properties. Here are some of the best:

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum):

Reishi is known for its ability to modulate the immune system and improve overall immunity. It is rich in beta-glucans, which can activate immune cells and increase their activity.

Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus):

Chaga is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to stimulate the immune system. It contains beta-glucans and polysaccharides, which can help to increase the production of immune cells.

Cordyceps Mushroom (Cordyceps sinensis):

Cordyceps has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects, meaning it can help to balance and regulate the immune system. It can also increase the production of white blood cells.

Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes):

Shiitake mushrooms contain beta-glucans and other polysaccharides that can activate immune cells and increase their activity. They also contain antioxidants that can help to protect the immune system.

Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor):

Turkey tail contains polysaccharides that can help to stimulate the immune system. It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce inflammation in the body and support immune function.

It is important to note that while medicinal mushrooms can be beneficial for immune support, they should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment. If you have a medical condition or are taking medication, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any new supplements.

References:

1. Reishi Mushroom:

• Dai, Y. C., & Zhong, J. J. (2018). Development of medicinal compounds from Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi), a medicinal mushroom. In Biodiversity and biomedicine of macrofungi (pp. 99-116). Springer, Singapore.
• Patel, S., & Goyal, A. (2012). Recent developments in mushrooms as anti-cancer therapeutics: a review. 3 Biotech, 2(1), 1-15.

2. Chaga Mushroom:

• Youn, M. J., Kim, J. K., Park, S. Y., Kim, Y., Kim, S. J., Lee, J. S., … & Lim, S. S. (2009). Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. World journal of gastroenterology, 15(37), 4743-4751.
• Park, Y. K., Lee, H. B., Jeon, E. J., Jung, H. S., Kang, M. H., & Kang, K. S. (2004). Chaga mushroom extract inhibits oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes as assessed by comet assay. Biofactors, 21(1-4), 109-112.

3. Cordyceps Mushroom:

• Zhang, G., Huang, Y., Bian, Y., Wong, J. H., Ng, T. B., & Wang, H. (2016). Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of a polysaccharide from the fruiting body of Cordyceps militaris in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 38, 61-68.
• Zhou, X., Gong, Z., Su, Y., Lin, J., Tang, K., & Cao, Z. (2009). Cordyceps fungi: natural products, pharmacological functions and developmental products. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 61(3), 279-291.

4. Shiitake Mushroom:

• Wasser, S. P., & Weis, A. L. (1999). Therapeutic effects of substances occurring in higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms: a modern perspective. Critical reviews in immunology, 19(1), 65-96.
• Jin, M. J., Kim, Y. J., & Chung, K. S. (2007). Antioxidant and anticancer activities of enzymatic hydrolysates of Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mycelia. Food Chemistry, 104(4), 1711-1716.

5. Turkey Tail Mushroom:

• Tsukagoshi, S., Hashimoto, Y., Fujii, G., Kobayashi, H., Nomoto, K., & Orita, K. (1984). Krestin (PSK). Cancer treatment reviews, 11(2), 131-155.
• Lee, K. M., Lee, J. S., Lee, I. K., Kim, Y. B., & Nam, J. O. (2009). Polysaccharide isolated from the liquid culture of Lentinus lepideus inhibits the metastasis of B16F10 melanoma cells. Journal of medicinal food, 12(5), 1059-1069.