As the cost and concerns of medications continue to increase, more and more people have been turning to more natural remedies. As more people become more health conscious, they often look for anything that is labeled natural or organic.

(Just a quick note. I’ve seen a number of reports that say that the difference between produce in most grocery stores labeled as ‘organic’ and the normal produce is minimal at best. Yet, many people believe that buying the more expensive organic produce is healthier for them are basically wasting their money. It’s like buying items listed as ‘lite’. According to regulations, a product can contain more calories, more sugar and be worse for you, but if it is lighter in color than the ‘normal’ product, it can be labeled ‘lite’.)

There is nothing wrong with turning to natural products instead of ingesting synthetically made products. I take things like turmeric (brain health, reduce risk of heart disease and antioxidants), cinnamon (helps lower blood sugar), saw palmetto (for prostate health), flax (reduces risk of some cancers and heart disease), cranberry (kidney health), fenugreek (helps lower blood sugar) and stevia (0 calorie natural sweetener that doesn’t raise blood sugar levels).

I used to know a lady who regularly chewed on willow bark to help cure headaches and upset stomachs. Willow bark is the natural source for salicylic acid, known today as aspirin.

Yes, natural products can be healthy, but when someone tells me something is good because it’s natural or organic, I remind them that hemlock is also natural and organic, but it will also kill you.

With the rise for natural remedies has come the increased legalization of marijuana, which has been found to help with seizures, kill or ease chronic pain and help with a number of other issues.

With the rise of medicinal marijuana has come the rise of medicinal mushrooms. The main use of medicinal mushrooms is helping to boost the immune system, as reported:

“Beta-glucans are sugars found in the cell walls of bacteria, cereals and certain fungi. Studies have shown they can activate white blood cells, which boost the body’s defense against illness.”

Gary Kracoff, a registered pharmacist with a degree in naturopathic medicine commented about one product that is a blend of mushrooms:

“You can add it to your tea, right to hot water, to your coffee; that gives you the beta-glucans to every day make sure your immune system is up to speed.”

“Taking a medicinal mushroom blend, not a huge dose but some every day, along with good exercise, good food, a night’s sleep, can activate your soldiers so the immune system is on alert so when something comes in, it responds quicker.”

Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in the Far East.

I found one source that listed some of the main types of mushrooms that have medicinal properties and are safe to take:

• Maitake – “In Japan, they call it the “dancing mushroom,” since foragers who came upon this clustering fungus would get jiggy with glee. Known in English as “hen of the woods,” the maitake is making a name for itself as degenerative disease’s worst nightmare. Thanks to its powerful antioxidant punch, maitake is currently being researched as a treatment of diabetes, tumours and even cancer.”
• Lion’s Mane – “This pale branched fungus has an ethereal beauty when you come upon it in the woods — it looks like something out of Lord of the Rings and its brain-boosting powers are about as close to magic as you can get. Consuming Lion’s mane encourages your body to produce two important bioproteins (nerve growth factor, or NFG, and myelin) that not only improve clarity, cognition, and memory but also inhibit degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.”
• Cordyceps – When you’re looking to enhance your performance, be it in the gym, the boardroom, or the bedroom, cordyceps is the mushroom you should reach for. The special bioactive compounds in cordyceps help improve circulation, allowing the body to utilize oxygen more efficiently. That means sustained energy, improved stamina (and libido), and quicker recovery from whatever you might have been doing, not to mention better sleep afterwards.”
• Reishi – With its cute knobby profile and a color pattern that looks like your grandma’s favorite set of soup bowls, reishi looks as friendly as it is. It is sought after for a mood-boosting compound called triterpene, which is said to alleviate anxiety, ease depression, and encourage better sleep. No wonder people call this cute little shroom “nature’s Xanax.””
• Chaga – “While it is indeed medicinal, chaga is not a true mushroom, but a sclerotic fungus — a variety that hardens upon contact with the air. It looks more like a burned stump than anything you’d want to eat, but trust us, you want to eat it. Used for centuries among the indigenous people of northern latitudes, chaga has exploded out of obscurity in recent years. It can be found in everything from tea to chocolate to cosmetic products, thanks to its ability to fight off oxidative stress (the kind that contributes to aging, haggard skin) as well as lower cholesterol and even prevent cancer.”
• Shiitake – “You know it for the creamy umami flavor it adds to your favorite Asian dishes, but did you know shiitake is also good for your ticker? The phytonutrients in this tasty mushroom help maintain healthy blood pressure and circulation by preventing the buildup of plaque within your arteries.”
• Turkey Tail – “The aptly named turkey tail mushroom, with its fan-shaped body and variegated bands of brown, is the best friend your immune system ever had. It brings something called polysaccharide-K (PSK) to the party, a compound so effective that it’s actually prescribed for cancer patients in some countries and an approved anticancer prescription drug in Japan. Using turkey tail has proven to be effective in fighting off leukaemia and other cancers — imagine what it could do for your winter cold.”

Before diving straight into medicinal mushrooms, do some research. Sometimes they can hinder or react with come medications. As Kracoff warned:

“If you’re looking online, you want to look at whose site is it? Are they an independent person but they’re getting funded by a company? Anything you put in your mouth and you’re going to swallow, you should know why you’re taking it, what is it going to do, is it OK with your health conditions and the medicines you’re taking.”