Magic(al) Mushrooms

Mushrooms….I love them and everything about them, I tell everyone to eat them, and especially NOW!!  Fall/Autumn is the beginning of the yin cycle when the daylight lasts less than twelve hours. It’s a time of harvest when we gather the colorful fruits and vegetables for winter storage. Pumpkins and squashes are our symbols of bounty. We also store wood for the fire and get out our warm clothes for the colder, darker days of winter.

 The season of autumn is associated with the element of Metal, which governs organization, order, communication, the mind, setting limits, and protecting boundaries. It’s a good time to finish projects that you began in spring and summer – harvesting the bounty of your hard work. It’s also the perfect time to begin more introspective, indoor projects with the cooler days and nights upon us.

In the summer, (who is ruled by the Fire element) we deal more with the external – traveling and playing outdoors. Fall, on the other hand, is a time of organizing your life for the winter season ahead and being more inside your body and mind to reflect on your life.

The lung and large intestine are the internal organs related to Fall and the Metal element. Lung is associated with the emotion of “letting go.” This process is difficult for those who love the summer. They find it hard to give up the long days of sunlight, warm temperatures, and open windows. Others feel differently and love autumn, from the crisper air to the vivid red, orange, and yellow leaves on the trees. If letting go of summer is hard for you, extra support from your acupuncturist may be in order to help you make the transition. That’s right, I said it, acupuncture works on releasing emotional issues as well as physical ones.

Sleep is another important aspect of staying healthy in the Fall. The ancients advised that people should retire early at night and rise with the crowing of the rooster during the autumn.

The Lungs are considered to be the “tender organ.” This is because the lung is the uppermost organ in the body and especially susceptible to wind and cold. During the change in temperature, be sure to dress for the weather! I see too many people still dressed for summer at the beginning of autumn, which is an open invitation for coughs, sore throats, and the common cold.

The lungs control the circulation of the Wei-Qi, which is the defensive Qi that protects you from the invasion of flu and colds. The Wei-Qi circulates on the surface between the skin and muscles and works to warm the body. If the Wei-Qi is weak, the skin and muscles will not be warmed properly. This is why people tend to feel cold when they’re sick. A weakness in the lungs can lead to a weakness in the Wei-Qi, making a person prone to frequent colds.

The nose is the opening to the lungs, and you can prevent colds by keeping your nose and sinuses clean and clear. Using a netti pot with some sea salt and water helps rid the nose of excess mucus. If you suffer from a runny nose or sinus infections, acupuncture and Chinese herbs are wonderful for alleviating that problem.

What you eat also greatly affects the health of your lungs. Eating excess cold and raw foods creates dampness or phlegm which is produced by the spleen and stored by the lungs. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, cream, and butter also create phlegm, while moderate amounts of pungent foods like garlic, onions, ginger, horseradish, and mustard are beneficial to the lungs.

Now, on to the real good stuff…Mushrooms!!  On the whole, all kinds of mushrooms possess cleansing properties.  As they contain a substance which is generally called Germanium. In fact, it is a nutrient that helps boost the oxygen efficiency within the body. Germanium also helps counteract the body’s exposure to environmental toxins by increasing the body’s ability to fight sickness.

Another fascinating property of medicinal mushrooms is a substance called Polysaccharides which is enables mushrooms to boost the immune system and fight the growth of swellings.

What is most fascinating in the exploration of the healing benefits of medicinal mushrooms is that they are in fact closely related to human beings. When human beings consume these mushrooms, they are ingesting highly absorbable medicinal constituents that are recognized by the human body. Humans use of medicinal mushrooms has a long history, and the valuable medicines of mushrooms are a vital element in protecting our health. Fungi have developed incredible properties to ward off bacteria and mold that would compete with them.  These benefits and many more can be yours when you embrace the mushroom as medicine!

Next, what mushrooms you ask?  There are so many to choose from, and all are very beneficial, but I’ll list a couple that are amazing and are available to everyone.

Reishi (The Treasured Mushroom of Immortality)

Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum). The history of the use of Reishi goes back many thousands of years in the orient, and Chinese herbal medicine has valued Reishi above all other herbal medicines! They called it the “Mushroom of Immortality”, “The Great Protector” and “The Herb of Good Fortune”

Modern Science is now validating these curious names given to what is truly an extraordinary substance. Reishi is one of the most researched herbal substances on the planet. Terry Willard’s book “Reishi: Mushroom of Spiritual Potency and Medical Marvel” sums up for us what numerous Modern Scientific Studies have revealed about Reishi:

• Reishi has an Immune Enhancing Response (this is due to its high content of Polysaccharides, complex sugars, essential food for the immune system, that has been shown to increase RNA and DNA in Bone Marrow where Immune Cells are Born). Reishi, in fact has a “double-direction” effect on the immune system, regulating anti-body production in the body.
• Its Beneficial in the Treatment of Cancer
• Disrupts Viral Disease
• Inhibits Bacteria
• Reishi provides Liver Protection and Regeneration, Improving Liver Function
• Reishi reduces Blood Fat Levels
• Reishi Lowers High Blood Pressure and Hypertension
• Reishi Inhibits Platelet Aggregation
• Reishi Oxygenates the Blood and Increases Absorption of Oxygen
• Reishi helps Alleviate Allergies, Inhibiting Histamine Release
• Reishi works as an Anti-Oxidant
• Reishi is Anti-Arthritic
• Reishi has an Adaptogenic (Stress Relieving) Effect
• Reishi relieves Chronic-Fatigue Syndrome
• Reishi Contributes to Pain Relief
• Reishi has Anti-Inflammatory effects
• Reishi relieves Insomnia, Stress Induced Tension and has a Calming Effect

It is most definatly the Mushroom of Immortality! And what is neat is how the Ancient people knew so much of this so long ago. As Terry Willard found out to be the case for Traditional Chinese Herbalism practices: “Traditionally Reishi was prescribed to patients with “a tight or “knotted chest”, it was said to positively affect the heart Qi, mend the chest, cure forgetfulness and strengthen the intellect.”  This correlates precisely with what modern science is “discovering” about Reishi’s benefits to the cardiovascular system.

Most important of all its qualities, and perhaps the cause of all the rest of its illustrious qualities, is Reishi’s ability to help us cope with stress! Stress is without a doubt is at the root cause of most illness and disease. Ron Teeguarden, Master Herbalist and founder of Dragon Herbs, a man with the most intimate relationship with Reishi and its legends also reports a correspondence with ancient beliefs and modern science: that the “Taoists continuously claimed that Reishi promotes calmness, centeredness, balance, inner awareness and inner strength. They have used it to improve meditative practices and to protect the Body, Mind and Spirit so the adept could attain both a long and healthy life and Spiritual Immortality.  By protecting the whole human being from stress is how Reishi is able to grant longevity.

By examining Traditional Chinese Herbalism, we learn of a very important aspect of the medicine of Reishi, especially in our modern lives. As Teeguarden continues; “Reishi was believed to help calm the mind, ease tension, strengthen the nerves, strengthen memory, sharpen concentration, improve focus, build willpower and as a result, help build wisdom. That is why it is called the “Mushroom of Spiritual Potency.”  Soon, we shall realize how the quality of the Spirit does indeed effect our physical body!

Medicinal Mushrooms and Vitamin D

This is the recent research that has come to light about the effectiveness of Medicinal Mushrooms as Vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D is still quite a mystery to modern science, but we are finding it also is essential to immune-health and happiness. The recommended dose varies from as low as 400iu a day to doses as large as 4,000-10,000ui daily for severe immune system illnesses. Now, Paul Stamets, through his own research efforts, has uncovered amazing amounts of Vitamin D in mushrooms.

The essential trick is to expose the Mushrooms to sunlight and they have the potential to generate amazing amounts of Vitamin D.

Paul took 100g of Shiitake Mushrooms, and exposed them to sunshine for a two-day period. Vitamin D content soared from next to nothing, to 46,000iu in 100g! The Vitamin D content started declining on the third day of sun-exposure, due to UV damage. He was amazed to find, that not only did the Vitamin D levels remain high after long periods of storage, but mushrooms that had been already dried for a long time exponentially increased in Vitamin D content when exposed to Two Days of Sunshine.

Mr. Stamets recommends consuming 10g of these Solar Infused Mushrooms a day, a dose equivalent to 4,600iu of Vitamin D.  All polypores and mushrooms can be enhanced in this way. Consuming them is equivalent to taking Vitamin D supplements in terms of Blood Serum level of Vitamin D, and superior when you realize all the other benefits to consuming these fungi!

Along with your new found knowledge in mushrooms, it’s now time to strengthen your Qi and prepare for winter by getting a “tune-up” from your acupuncturist and incorporating these magical mushrooms into your lifestyle.  Best place to start, SOUP!!  Enjoy!

Rich and Hearty Mushroom Soup

4 cups of assorted mushrooms (button, white cremini, oyster, shiitake, reishi etc)

½ cup chopped onions

2 cloves of garlic, finely minced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

Splash of extra virgin olive oil and truffle oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1-1.5 liters of water

1 cup dried porcini mushrooms

In a large pot saute the onion, garlic, and thyme.  Add a good splash of olive oil and cook for 5 minutes.  Next, add clean, sliced mushrooms and season with salt and pepper, stir over medium heat for 10 minutes. Next, add water and bring to a simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.  Puree any way you choose.  Return to heat and adjust the seasoning as you choose.  Serve it up and enjoy the love it spreads to the body, mind and soul.