The power of the vital mushrooms and fungi is often overlooked or even forgotten. In the past, mushrooms were used in Europe in the context of folk and monastery medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, however, medicinal mushrooms such as shiitake or reishi still have a firm place today.
Fungi Have a Healing Effect
The knowledge that fungi can have a healing effect is ancient. For example, Egyptian hieroglyphics have shown that the pharaohs gave the fungi a meaning for immortality.
Prof. Dr. Michaela Döll, professor at the University of Braunschweig and expert for vital fungi has mainly dealt with the immunological ingredients of fungi. “Vital fungi can make a valuable pharmacologically relevant contribution to health through their ingredients,” she points out.
Fungi can have a vitalizing and anti-tumoral effect.
Besides Shiitaki and Reishi, most attention should be paid to the fungi Cordyceps sinensis, Coriolus versicolor, and Ganoderma lucidum. These were declared by German authorities not only as food but also as medicines. Studies have shown that Cordyceps sinensis has a vitalising effect. Ingredients of Shiitake, Maitake and Reishi can inhibit cell metabolism and have anti-tumoral effects.
Suitable for Prevention and Accompanying Therapy
In order to achieve a health-promoting effect, a distinction must be made between prevention and accompanying therapy. As a preventive measure, regular consumption, i.e. at least twice a week, can be useful.
However, this would be far from sufficient in the case of a higher demand due to therapy, e.g. in the case of cancer. In order to increase the potency, various vital fungi can be considered, which, however, are usually not available from us. Shiitake is one of the few fungi rich in immuno-modulating beta-glucans grown here and found everywhere. Many forest mushrooms are still little researched concerning their ingredients and application possibilities and therefore do not belong to the classical medicinal mushrooms.
High and laboratory-tested quality is a must when buying vital mushrooms.
Vital Mushrooms as Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements made from vital mushrooms are a good alternative, but it is essential to pay attention to the quality and thus to laboratory analyses that guarantee consumer safety.
In addition, a distinction is made between mushroom powder and mushroom extracts. The extracts can enrich valuable ingredients. Beta-1,3-glucan and beta-1,6-glucan are known for their immunomodulation and antitumor effects. Vital fungi are therefore indispensable for supporting our natural defense.
