The shiitake mushroom is an edible mushroom from Asia that grows on freshly cut wood. The fact that it is also referred to as the "king of the mushrooms" and was prominently mentioned in the TCM writings more than 2000 years ago underlines its special position among medicinal mushrooms.

Highlights of Shiitake

• Its main ingredient is the so-called "Lentinan", which is chemically a glucan that is said to have an immune-modulating effect and act against tumors. In Japan, for example, an infusion containing lentinan (“lentinan”) has been used for concomitant cancer therapy since 2000 (cf. Ajinomoto: History of Pharmaceuticals Business, October 2008).
• Many users report antibacterial and antiviral effects of the shiitake mushroom. This could also be attributed to the ingredient lentinan, as this is said to improve the release of the antibodies immunoglobulin A produced in the intestine and increase the formation of T cells.
• Many Shiitake users have observed a cholesterol-lowering effect that has not yet been conclusively explained scientifically. A possible cause could be the shiitake substance eritadenine, which is said to inhibit the linoleic acid metabolism in the liver cells.

Extract instead of powder - advantages in detail

• The mushroom powder, which is then later extracted using hot water, is produced using the so-called "Shellbroken Process"; the fungus is ground so finely that the chitin cell wall of the fungus is broken open. As a result, the ingredients can be optimally utilized by the organism.
• Only the fruiting body is used for the production of the mushroom extracts, NOT the underground part ("mycelium"), which contains hardly any nutrients, or the substrate on which the mushroom is grown. Such products can contain many undesirable by-products, from wood to manure.
• Mushroom extracts contain in particular the highly effective and bioactive polysaccharides and glucans in high concentrations, which are relevant for the immune system.
• The extraction not only releases the active substances from the cell organelles, but also enriches the fungal active substances by separating the insoluble accompanying substances.
• Another advantage of extracts compared to powder is the standardization and reproducibility. In this way, the dosage and combination with other preparations can be carried out precisely and in a targeted manner.
• And the proportion of polysaccharides also varies in the extracts: few products even contain up to 30%

Legal information for consumers: German and European case law aims to protect consumers from supposedly misleading claims. The statements made here refer to the original Ayurvedic and TCM texts. This knowledge, which has been handed down for thousands of years, is based on experiences that are passed on from generation to generation. It should not be claimed that the products described here have any effect in the sense of western medicine. All products are dietary supplements; they are not medicines and have no medicinal effect. If you are ill and need medical care, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.

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