What exactly are vital mushrooms (or "medicinal mushrooms")?

The term "medicinal mushrooms" refers to those mushroom species that are believed to have healing properties and that have been thoroughly researched scientifically. Of the approximately 1.5 million mushroom species known to us, there are about a dozen that currently fall into this category.

Medicinal mushrooms have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 5000 years. But even in conventional medicine in Japan and China, some medicinal mushrooms have been an integral part of treatment for almost 40 years. v.a. as part of cancer therapy.

What substances are contained in medicinal mushrooms?

All medicinal mushrooms contain numerous trace elements, minerals (e.g., potassium, which lowers blood pressure) and dietary fiber (v.a. beta-glucans).

Beta-glucans are responsible for the positive effect on the immune system (see following section), but they also have antibacterial and antioxidant properties in many parts of the body and can seal holes like "glue", which is relevant, for example, in the context of leaky gut or other diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, and which will be discussed in more detail below.

Triterpenes, essentially the essential oils of medicinal mushrooms, are also of great importance. Reishi mushrooms likely contain the highest concentration of triterpenes, although they are present in all medicinal mushrooms. These are messenger and defense compounds in the mushrooms that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting effects in the human body.

Other ingredients include statins, which inhibit excessive cholesterol production, and glycoproteins and lectins, which are among the most potent immunomodulators found in nature.

Medicinal mushrooms as immunomodulating adaptogens

Fungi have always had the same enemies as we humans.

What we know as a mushroom is the so-called fruiting body. The actual tree is underground – the mycelium. The mycelium has a huge surface area, is sometimes only a single layer of cells thick, and therefore has a very large area vulnerable to pathogens. This is why fungi have developed strong defense mechanisms over the course of evolution. When we consume mushrooms, these substances can have the same effect in our bodies as they do in the mushroom.

Mushrooms can restore our immune system to its biological optimum, re-establish balance, and thus have an immunomodulatory effect. Medicinal mushrooms are therefore also referred to as adaptogens. d.hThey do exactly what the body lacks: they restore basic immunity when the immune system is weakened. In cases of allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases, etc., however, they suppress the immune response.

How can this adaptogenic effect of medicinal mushrooms be explained biochemically?

All mushrooms contain branched-chain fiber called beta-glucans. These are high-molecular-weight polysaccharides that the body cannot easily distinguish between as food and as pathogens, thus activating the immune system and making it more competent. D.hMedicinal mushrooms train the immune system: not too weakly, but also not so strongly that it overreacts in the form of autoimmune reactions or severe inflammation. This slight stress stimulus, which ultimately results in the body being stronger than before, is called "hormesis" and refers to nothing other than the hypothesis formulated by Paracelsus that small doses of pathogenic substances can have a positive effect on our body.

The positive effect of beta-glucans on the immune system has now been proven by numerous studies.See also https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33322069/ “β-glucans also have immune-modulating effects, leading to their investigation as adjuvant agents for cancers (solid and hematological malignancies), for immune-mediated conditions (e.g., allergic rhinitis, respiratory infections), and to enhance wound healing. The therapeutic potential of β-glucans is evidenced by the fact that two glucan isolates were licensed as drugs in Japan as immune-adjuvant therapy for cancer in 1980.”

Furthermore, this study from 2017, for example, shows the positive influence of beta-glucans on upper respiratory tract diseases in older people: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28606567/

Specifically, the stimulation of the immune system occurs via so-called "Toll-like receptors" (TLR), in which v.a...the TLR-2 is relevant for the beta-glucans from fungi. TLRs are part of our innate immune system and serve to recognize pathogen structures (structures that occur on or in pathogens), so that the body can distinguish between self and foreign substances. When such structures are recognized, the TLRs control the activation and modulation of the antigen-specific (so-called "acquired") immune system.

This function of medicinal mushrooms has also been confirmed by scientific studies. For example, a higher number of leukocytes, and a high degree of differentiation of these leukocytes, have been demonstrated in people who regularly consume medicinal mushrooms (see, for example, [reference]). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25866155/For example, after daily consumption of a handful of shiitake mushrooms for four weeks, a doubling of NK cells (natural killer cells) or a 60% increase in T cells could be demonstrated.

This also applies to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which is a group of bone marrow disorders in which too few functional blood cells are produced. will be, includes, there are promising studies – u.aRegarding the immunomodulatory effect of Maitake: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25351719/ "Maitake was well tolerated. Enhanced in vitro neutrophil and monocyte function following treatment demonstrate that Maitake has beneficial immunomodulatory potential in MDS."

There are also numerous studies on the immunomodulatory properties of Agaricus blazei. For example, a very recent in vivo study in humans suggests an improvement in liver function in hepatitis B patients. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18370584/ “The mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill extract normalizes liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis B.”

There are also numerous studies on beta-glucans from yeast, especially regarding viral defense: Thanks to the beta-glucans, the mucous membranes and the immune system around the mucous membranes are particularly active and can effectively ward off viruses.

Medicinal mushrooms for gastrointestinal diseases

To understand the effect of medicinal mushrooms on the gastrointestinal tract, let's first take a closer look at it:

Toxins and pathogens always enter the epithelium first. d.h...the uppermost layer of the mucosal tissue, in contact. The epithelium in the gastrointestinal tract is v.aThe lining of the small intestine is very thin. It must keep out pathogens while simultaneously absorbing micronutrients, and is therefore a very sensitive system that can easily become unbalanced.

The epithelium in the gastrointestinal tract is covered with a layer of mucus, the so-called mucus layer, which on the one hand represents a mechanical barrier, but also contains certain substances (antibodies, defensins, immune proteins) that are intended to prevent infection of the epithelium.

Let's begin our journey through the gastrointestinal tract at the top of the esophagus. Inflammation of the esophagus that affects the epithelium usually originates in the stomach.It's important to note that heartburn can be caused by both an overly acidic and an underly acidic stomach: In the case of over-acidification, the stomach tries to rid itself of the excess acid. With under-acidification (frequently occurring in people with autoimmune diseases), the effect is as follows: stomach acid protects us from pathogens. A lack of stomach acid leads to approximately 1000 times more bacteria in the stomach, which u.aFood components ferment, producing gases that rise from the stomach juice into the lower esophagus, burst, and thus trigger heartburn.

Moving from the esophagus through the gastrointestinal tract to the stomach, we need to talk about a tiny bacterium that roughly half the population carries (as a small child, you often catch it from your parents or even a cat): Helicobacter pylori. With a healthy immune system, this bacterium usually doesn't cause any major problems. But with a weakened immune system, or if the stomach is over- or under-acidic, it colonizes the stomach lining and irritates it (gastritis = inflammation of the stomach lining). It bores its way through the mucus layer into the stomach lining like a corkscrew, creating holes in the stomach wall. It then encapsulates itself in a urea capsule, protecting itself from stomach acid, as well as from the immune system and antibiotics.

If stomach acid drips through these holes onto the underlying tissue, it can lead to severe ulcers and even stomach cancer. After all, stomach acid is about as acidic as a car battery!

Which medicinal mushrooms should be used for diseases of the stomach and esophagus?

Reishi and Hericium in combination are the first choice for diseases of the stomach and esophagus:

Reishi increases the production of antibacterial substances in the mucus layer of the esophagus and stomach, v.a. of soluble IgA (immunoglobulin present in mucous membranes that protects the epithelium from pathogens) and defensins. See also: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16798741/ “Reishi polysaccharides induce immunoglobulin production through the TLR4/TLR2-mediated induction of transcription factor Blimp-1”

Hericium contains a number of specific triterpenes that can thicken the mucus layer by increasing the production of mucins (the structural, protective component of mucus) and carbohydrate structures, thus stimulating the growth of the intestinal epithelium (therefore also important in cases of leaky gut) = "patching the hole". See also: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29455967/ “Gastroprotective activity of polysaccharide from Hericium erinaceus against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion and pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcer, and its antioxidant activities”

Hericium can also selectively kill the Helicobacter pylori bacterium without harming other beneficial bacteria. Furthermore, Hericium inhibits the adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to the stomach lining. See also: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30806251/ “In Vitro and In Vivo Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori by Ethanolic Extracts of Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes)”

Following the stomach is the small intestine. It is 6-7 meters long, very thin (thinner than a human hair), and unfolded to be as large as half a football field. This large surface area is necessary for nutrient absorption, but—precisely because it is so thin—it also presents a large target for pathogens.

A common small intestine disorder that medicinal mushrooms can help with is so-called "leaky gut." This involves microscopic holes in the intestine. Small intestine cells have an average lifespan of only about five days, as they are constantly exposed to toxins, pathogens, etc., and therefore need to regenerate quite frequently.Some substances can even reduce the lifespan of small intestine cells to just two days. If, for example, the micronutrients necessary for the regeneration of these cells are lacking, and substances like gluten disrupt the connections between the cells, undigested food proteins or toxins can enter the body through these microscopic holes. This can contribute to various chronic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, allergies, and high blood pressure. Autoimmune diseases, in particular, are very often associated with leaky gut syndrome.

Similar to the previously described process in the gastric mucosa, Hericium can also accelerate the regeneration processes in leaky gut by stimulating the growth of the intestinal epithelium. However, in leaky gut, it takes significantly longer—approximately 6-8 months—for the mucosa to be "patched" and regenerated than in the stomach.

It is always important not to rely solely on mushrooms, but to keep all micronutrients in mind: for example, if intestinal cells lack building blocks and growth factors due to a vitamin D deficiency, the diet or lifestyle should be changed. bzw.in In this case, vitamin D should be supplemented and, for example, gluten should be eliminated from the diet.

Another typical small intestine disease is fungal infection with Candida albicans, which can cause bloating, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Small intestine colonization by bacteria or Candida is usually associated with large intestine dysbiosis. d.h. an imbalance in the intestinal flora, or with low stomach acidity, so that pathogens can enter the small intestine via the stomach.

In these cases, shiitake mushrooms are the first choice, as they are a natural antibiotic and can effectively eliminate pathogens from the small intestine. Incidentally, many people experience a detoxification reaction when taking shiitake in larger quantities or as a concentrated extract, which is often misinterpreted as an intolerance.

See also regarding the antimicrobial effect of shiitake mushrooms https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15773410/ "The juice of this mushroom at a concentration of 5% from the volume of the nutrient medium was found to produce a pronounced antimicrobial effect with respect to C. albicans, S. aureus, E. faecalis, E. coli O-114 and to stimulate the growth of E. coli M-17. Bifidobacteria and lactobacteria exhibited resistance to the action of L. edodes juice."

Let's move on to the end of the gastrointestinal tract, the large intestine. It's not as long as the small intestine, but it's very wide. There, in the gut flora, live several trillion microorganisms in harmony. An imbalance occurs when the immune system no longer properly monitors what's happening in the large intestine (disrupted communication with the gut flora), or when one type of microorganism becomes dominant and displaces others.

The intestinal flora can then be brought back into balance with medicinal mushroom extracts. Hericium and Reishi are also the first choice for the large intestine, as the mucus layer and epithelium there also need constant regeneration, and the immune system needs proper training. It is also known that the polysaccharides of the mushrooms can restore balance to the intestinal flora – see, for example:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32693144/ "Moreover, mushroom polysaccharides also act as prebiotics and modulate the composition of gut microflora; and thus, can reduce insulin resistance. The present review discusses the pathophysiology of diabetes and, elaborates some potential mushroom species that are known to have antihyperglycemic activities. Different mushroom polysaccharides modulating the composition of gut microflora in diabetic animal models have also been discussed.“

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33322069/ “β-glucans have metabolic and gastrointestinal effects, modulating the gut microbiome, altering lipid and glucose metabolism, reducing cholesterol, leading to their investigation as potential therapies for metabolic syndrome, obesity and diet regulation, gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel, and to reduce cardiovascular and diabetes risk.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28885559/ "Mushrooms act as a prebiotics to stimulate the growth of gut microbiota, conferring health benefits to the host. In the present review, we have summarized the beneficial activities of various mushrooms on gut microbiota via the inhibition of exogenous pathogens and, thus, improving the host health."

Furthermore, there are specific studies on Reishi and Maitake showing that they improve the intestinal flora (u.a. in type 2 diabetes) were able to regenerate in an animal model:

Reishi:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26102296/ “Our results indicate that G. lucidum and its high weight polysaccharides may be used as prebiotic agents to prevent gut dysbiosis and obesity-related metabolic disorders in obese individuals.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31712153/ “Intake of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides reverses the disturbed gut microbiota and metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30826407/ “Hypoglycemic activity and gut microbiota regulation of a novel polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa in type 2 diabetic mice”

When the gut flora is working with us again, instead of against us, it also produces substances that are needed elsewhere in the body. For example, almost all happiness hormones are located in the gut (99.9% of our total serotonin content), and the large intestine is connected to the brain via the vagus nerve. Vitamins and short-chain fatty acids are also synthesized in the gut.

This connection could also explain the positive effects of Hericium on depressive moods or sleep quality:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20834180/ "we investigated the clinical effects of H. erinaceus on menopause, depression, sleep quality and indefinite complaints, using the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Indefinite Complaints Index (ICI). Thirty females were randomly assigned to either the H. erinaceus (HE) group or the placebo group and took HE cookies or placebo cookies for 4 weeks. Each of the CES-D and the ICI score after the HE intake was significantly lower than that before.

Initial studies also suggest a positive influence on neurodegenerative diseases and improvement of cognitive abilities through Hericium, such as... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31413233/ “In this study, we tested a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group comparative study to evaluate the improvement of the cognitive functions by taking supplements containing fruiting body of H. erinaceus for 12 weeks. […] showed that oral intake of H. erinaceus significantly improved cognitive functions and prevented from the deterioration.”

Medicinal mushrooms in complementary cancer therapy

Only about 5% of all cancers have a clearly genetic cause (Source: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/61809/Erbliche-Krebserkrankungen The rest is due to lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of micronutrients, environmental toxins such as heavy metals or electromagnetic radiation, obesity, chronic infections such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease, alcohol, etc.

This is also evidenced by migration studies, e.g.Residents of a small town in Nigeria have about 70% fewer cases of cancer than people in our Western, "modern" societies. It should be noted that medical care in this town is so good that it can be ruled out that these are simply undetected cases. When these Nigerians then migrate to the USA, they suddenly have the same cancer risk as the American average. Comparable studies with the same result exist, for example, for Japanese people who migrate to Hawaii (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1287741/ ).

How does a healthy cell become a cancer cell?

To turn a healthy cell into a cancer cell, various stages must be passed through – and medicinal mushrooms can effectively intervene at each of these stages:

DNA damage, for example, caused by infections, inflammation, toxins, radiation, etc., must first trigger certain mutations that prevent the cell from activating its self-destruction program, known as apoptosis. Subsequently, the cell's metabolism is altered, shifting to anaerobic lactic acid metabolism. The cancer cell begins to grow uncontrollably. Normally, the body has built-in "brakes" against this uncontrolled growth, but these brakes are also bypassed. At this point, a small, degenerated tumor cell, about 1 mm in size, is present. Almost everyone has these so-called microtumors within them from a certain age. The point at which a malignant tumor develops from this microtumor is a process called angiogenesis: the tumor releases signaling molecules and encourages the body to form blood vessels from pre-existing blood vessels to supply it with oxygen and nutrients. The tumor can then continue to grow and form metastases throughout the body via the bloodstream.

Approximately 20 tumor cells are created in the body every day, but i.d.R...are recognized and eliminated by our immune system. A healthy, strong immune system is therefore a crucial factor in cancer prevention.

How can medicinal mushrooms help in prevention and therapy?

Fungi actively protect cells from environmental toxins, viruses, radiation, etc., but they also help the immune system recognize and eliminate abnormal cells more quickly. Furthermore, they influence the powerhouses of our cells, the mitochondria, and can help prevent the metabolism from entering an anaerobic state, where it only ferments and no longer produces energy effectively.

Crucially, medicinal mushrooms play a role in angiogenesis by producing certain signaling molecules that prevent blood vessel recruitment and thus tumor growth. Shiitake mushrooms, for example, with their specific beta-glucan lentinan, play a significant role in this process. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30373628/ “Lentinan inhibits tumor angiogenesis via interferon γ and in a T cell independent manner”

See also https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15234192/ “Fungal polysaccharopeptide inhibits tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice”

A 2009 study in a rural region of China, for example, on breast cancer risk showed that women who drank an average of one cup of green tea a day and ate 4 g of dried or 40 g of fresh mushrooms a day had a 60% lower risk of breast cancer than the control group. See also: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19048616/ “Dietary intakes of mushrooms and green tea combine to reduce the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women”

In China and Japan, some mushrooms are already approved for use in conventional cancer therapy, e.g., maitake and shiitake extracts as infusions.

In complementary cancer therapy, the following medicinal mushrooms are also used in the West, and they are among the best researched: Reishi, almond mushroom, Maitake, Coriolus and Shiitake (v.a. in breast and colon cancer).

Reishi, for example, can increase the response rate to chemotherapy by about 40%, according to a scientific study. See also:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29141563/ : “Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies has demonstrated that GLP possesses potential anticancer activity through immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic effects.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27045603/ "G. lucidum could be administered as an alternative adjunct to conventional treatment in consideration of its potential of enhancing tumor response and stimulating host immunity. G. lucidum was generally well tolerated by most participants with only a scattered number of minor adverse events. No major toxicity was observed across the studies."

All o.g. Thanks to their (pentacyclic) triterpenes, mushrooms also have antitumor and chemoprotective effects and strengthen the immune system.

There are numerous studies, particularly on shiitake and maitake mushrooms, on strengthening basic immune competence during chemotherapy. d.hBasic immune activity can be maintained through the administration of the aforementioned medicinal mushrooms. Example: Maitake: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14977447/ "Maitake D-Fraction hindered metastatic progression, lessened the expression of tumor markers, and increased NK cell activity in all patients examined. Thus maitake D-Fraction appears to repress cancer progression and primarily exerts its effect through stimulation of NK activity."

Furthermore, there are reviews of almond mushroom (Agaricus blazei) and maitake that show that chemotherapy-related side effects could be reduced by 70-80%, so that the quality of life was reasonably maintained.

The turkey tail mushroom (Coriolus) contains two glycoproteins (proteins with a sugar component), namely PSP and PSK. Studies have shown that the survival rate increases significantly (up to 40%) when this mushroom is administered concurrently with chemotherapy (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32466253/ ).

A very recent review from 2020 focusing on Reishi and Coriolus also shows their positive effects in the context of adjunctive cancer therapy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33685191/

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that scientific studies in the Western world have already confirmed many of the positive effects attributed to medicinal mushrooms – some in humans, many so far only in animals. Due to these promising results, the number of studies has increased dramatically over the past three years, so it can be assumed that the importance and use of medicinal mushrooms will also increase significantly in the West within a few years.

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