Fantastic Fungi - The Magic of Mushrooms
Oh those fantastic fungi …. the mysterious power of mushrooms has been immortalized in the 2018 award winning documentary bearing the same name, a time-lapse journey about the magical, mysterious and medicinal world of fungi and its power to heal, sustain and contribute to the regeneration of life on Earth. But how much do we really know about the mysterious world of fungi?
There is over 1.5 million species of fungi currently found in the world. About 20,000 of those produce mushrooms. Fungi has been classified as a sort of a crossbreed between vegetable and animal. Did you know that there are bioluminescent mushrooms? We are more closely related to fungi than we are to any other kingdom. We are the descendants of mycelium.
The medicinal use of mushrooms dates back thousands of years. For the purpose of this article - which is to introduce you to the healing world of fungi, I will give you a brief rundown of the top health benefits of 7 medicinal mushrooms. I am not a medical professional. Please consult your doctor before taking any of these mushrooms/extracts. The opinions expressed in this article are my own and based on personal experiments and secondary research and as such I do not take responsibility for your health. Please research the adverse side effects of taking medicinal mushrooms, as each case is different and some of the following are recommended for people with certain preexisting health conditions.
Chaga - Has been known to reduces inflammation. High in antioxidants, some studies suggest that chaga mushrooms may be beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels, slowing cancer growth, supporting immune function, and reducing blood pressure. I have taken chaga in smoothies and drank it as tea to support my immune system.
Reishi - Has been known to enhance the immune system, reduce stress, improve sleep, and lessen fatigue. I have taken reishi as part of my mushroom booster routine. I would say that this particular mushroom did not sit well with my stomach at first, it took some getting used to. As I have recently read, reishi can also cause digestive side effects and could potentially be unsafe for certain people, including those taking certain medications.
Lion’s Mane - A natural nootropic (brain booster). Research on the health benefits of lion's mane indicates the mushroom has significant potential to promote neurogenesis, prevent and repair nerve damage in the brain and limbs, as well as alleviate dementia, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and neuropathic pain. I have used lion’s mane to boost my energy while working on film sets for 14hrs a day. After taking lion’s mane for a week I started having lucid dreams, the details of all of which I could recall upon waking. My memory drastically improved and so did my anxiety. I take Lion’s Mane daily now and I really love its benefits. I also give it to my father who had a stroke 7 years ago and it seems to be helping his memory and agility. I recently even tried a fresh lion’s mane burger at Mushroom World in Phuket, Thailand.
Cordyceps - Have been known to have anti aging properties. The elderly have traditionally used Cordyceps to reduce fatigue and boost strength. Cordyceps’ potential to slow the growth of tumors has generated significant interest in recent years from researchers, as well as their potential in treating a certain type of diabetes. I have never taken cordyceps so I cannot express personal opinions about their potency.
Maitake - Has been used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes and hypertension, manage diabetes, lower high cholesterol levels, reduce high blood pressure, boost the immune system and to treat cancer. I have not personally taken mistake mushrooms.
Shiitake - Some shiitake health benefits include the ability to aid weight loss, support cardiovascular health, fight cancer cells, improve energy levels and brain function, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system. I have cooked with shiitake before and they’re a great tasting mushrooms, but have to be properly prepared because they can also have adverse side effects.
Turkey Tail - Have been known to boost immunity, improve cognitive function, increase exercise performance, improve gut health, reduce inflammation and lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. I take turkey tail as part of a multi-mushroom supplement to boost immune function.
What About the Benefits of Magic Mushrooms?
Psilocybin Mushrooms - Psilocybin is one of a number of psychedelics being explored as a potential therapy for psychiatric disorders. Several studies have trialled a synthesised form of the drug to treat patients with depression and anxiety, with promising results. (Brian O’Hare / Imperial College London)
Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor. I do not condone the use of psychedelics recreationally or in countries where they are illegal. Exercise sound judgement. However, when used as plant medicine I believe that psilocybin can have immense therapeutic benefits if taken in the right setting, in the right dosage with the right intentions. For therapeutic effects psilocybin should be accompanied by the correct diet and in my experience a 24 hour window should be allocated to the journey, during which there is no stress and absolutely no operation of vehicles or tools. I also do not recommend taking magic mushrooms alone or in large doses. Adverse reactions to psilocybin have been reported and include: bad trips, death, psychosis, and unfortunately there have been incidents of people assaulting others while having a bad trip with fatal consequences. It should also be noted that if you take magic mushrooms in an uncontrolled setting you can never be sure if what you are taking is the correct mushroom. With recreational use there is a high risk of being poisoned by ingesting the wrong type of mushroom.
It is not recommended that people suffering from psychological disorders take magic mushrooms. Because of the way psilocybin works on the brain, taking mushrooms might have negative consequences for someone whose mental health is already compromised.
I have ingested psilocybin mushrooms in ceremonial setting twice - to meditate on the consciousness enhancing properties of the fungi. My first time ingesting psilocybin was at the age of 19. I took only a tiny dose mixed into a little chocolate, but the effects of the mushroom were profound. During the trip I experienced for the first time what it was like to feel ‘oneness’ with everything and everyone around me. It was a euphoric feeling and I think it was the first time I truly felt unconditional love. The experience also had a remarkable effect on my self esteem. After my first experience with magic mushrooms I became less inhibited, more social and my self esteem drastically improved.
I had several powerful insights during my second experience with psilocybin. I meditated and clearly stated my intentions before ingesting the fungi and received the answers to the questions I had asked during my trip. Both times I took rather minimal amounts of ‘mushrooms’ and I was completely lucid and coherent during both trips, however my consciousness was noticeably altered. There has been much research done in the past two decades about the therapeutic effects of psilocybin on the human consciousness and how psilocybin has been showing promise in the fight against mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The fact that psilocybin has been recognized as a tool of potential healing for mental health issues makes me really happy and I greatly look forward to seeing how this field develops over the next few decades.
My final thoughts on mushrooms is that I love them! There isn’t a day when our household is without mushrooms. I cook with mushrooms almost every single day because they make an absolutely delicious side to any meal (pan fried with onion), and I take mushroom supplements in pills and my smoothies every day. I do believe in the healing power of fungi and hope that this little introductory article has inspired you to do some further research into the wonderful world of mushrooms.