The medicinal properties of mushrooms

In the first part of our series on Medicine Box's mushrooms, we talked about the four mushrooms found in Medicine Box's 1CaB Healing Suite of Botanical Formulations that tackle sleep, gut health and overall vitality. In ending that piece, we mentioned that we hadn’t stopped there, and indeed, we’ve brought even more of them into Mind’s Eye Harmonize, our plant medicine nootropic and microdosing supplement. All these mushrooms confer powerful mental and physical wellness benefits which, when combined with synergistic herbs such as tulsi, sea moss and turmeric, hone the senses and sharpen the intellect. To get a peek into how it’s done, let’s find out how our fungal friends do it.

Lion’s Mane

Named after the stringlike growths emanating from its base, lion’s mane is known for its cognitive-enhancing properties. A study which paired injured rodents to a control group, for instance, found quicker nerve repair than the control group, suggesting neurogeneration. Studies have shown that lion's mane extracts called erinacines can potentially help to protect the brain from age-related damage, as well as improve cognitive function. Lion's mane is also thought to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It’s famously used in Paul Stamets’s microdosing stack alongside niacin for its potentially neurogenerative effects. Plus it’s a delicacy amongst gourmets who compare its taste to shrimp and lobster.

Agarikon

The medicinal value of this old growth forest dweller is hardly questioned. In his book Mycelium Running, Stamets discusses how extracts from this massive, ribbed fungus (executed during the same Project Bioshield mission we discussed in Part I) showed strong activity against viruses from the pox family, so watch out, monkeypox! Studies on agarikon and its mycelia have also illustrated its anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties, making it an ideal choice for those looking to boost their immune system. 

Cordyceps

Most know this little bugger from the memorable way it propagates: infect a carpenter ant, force it to climb up above the canopy, sprout from its head and spread its spores far and wide, where the cycle begins anew. However, for humans, its effects are far more salutary. Cordyceps has been used to help increase stamina and endurance, and recent studies have shown that it can also help to improve exercise performance. Additionally, cordyceps also possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Turkey Tail

Turkey tail, so named because of the colorful gradients on its fanlike shape, has been remarked upon for its use in mycoremediation projects, cleaning up toxins like organophosphates and mercury from blighted regions of our planet. Turs out it can also bolster a human’s immune response as well. Additionally, turkey tail has also been researched for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and is often used over-the-counter as a gut health remedy.

Together with red reishi and chaga (to learn more about their benefits, check out Part I), Mind’s Eye Harmonize helps pull your body and mind together for whatever task is at hand. All of us have learned the hard way how important it is to treat the whole system when embracing full-spectrum health. Mushrooms give both our 1CaB formulations and our Mind’s Eye capsules the added reach needed to access optimal wellness. We’re glad to have finally discovered what was under our feet all along, and to unite it, as it always has been, with all the tools nature has given us to heal.