Posts tagged ‘Mushroom’

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October 22, 2012

Chaga Mushroom

The Chaga mushroom/conk doesn’t resemble a typical mushroom at all because it looks like burnt black charcoal and the inside is yellowish. It grows on rotting or wounded trees and has a symbiotic relationship with the trees. The mushrooms found on birch trees have the same constituents found in birch tree and have the same analgesic properties. Chaga was known  by the ancient Chinese as the “King of all mushrooms” which is high praise coming the masters of medicinal mushrooms in  the East. The Siberian tribesmen who are also masters of medicinal mushrooms called it the “Gift from God,” and a gift it is! It is so healing and nutritious it is a super superfood! It is a top source of SOD superoxide dismutase which is an enzyme needed to protect all cells in the body. Also rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, phytonutrients, tannins chaga is an adaptogen that helps the body adapt to any stress. This amazing medicinal mushroom also addresses malnutrition, fortifies the immune system, and dissolves pain.

This Chaga mushroom weighs almost a pound and was wild-crafted from the Northern Ontario forest. The tea and tincture are good for aches and pains because it grows on birch trees and shares the same analgesic properties as birch. Chaga mushroom is an adaptogen which means it helps the body adapt to any kind of stress, bringing balance to all systems and acts as a tonic to the adrenals and immune system.

You can use the dried Chaga in a tea or in a tincture. Wild-craft ethically or buy it from a reputable source. I steep it on warm setting in a ceramic crock pot.

This is a good page about Chaga mushrooms

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/the-chaga-natures-medicinal-mushroom

also good information on mushrooms

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/

CHAGA MUSHROOM/CONK AKA CLINKER/TINDER MUSHROOM

Common   Name Chaga mushroom/conk aka Clinker polypore/mushroom
Latin Name Inonotus obliquus
Family Hymenochaetaceae
Parts Used Fungi/Mushroom
Target Organs Immune, Nervous, Endocrine, Pancreas, Spleen, Digestive, Liver, Urinary, Heart
Common Uses Strengthens and cleanses all systems.Tonic to Immune, Nervous, Endocrine systems, Heart, Stomach,   Digestive, Liver, Urinary system.Lowers cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure,Supportive treatment for cancer, diabetes, infections, allergies, hypertension, worms, liver digestive problems
Properties Primary properties underlined:Adaptogen,   adrenal tonic, analgesic, antiallergenic, antiatherogenic, antibacterial,   anticarcinogenic, anticardiotoxic, anticatarrhal, antidepressant, antihepatotoxic,   anti-inflammatory, antimutagencic, antineoplastic, antinephrotoxic,   antineurotoxic, antioxidant, antiradiotoxic, antithrombotic,   antiulcerogenic, antiviral, anxiolytic, aperient, appetite stimulant, astringent,    blood pressure normalizer, cardiac, depurative, diaphoretic,   diuretic, decongestant, emmenagogue tonic, expectorant secretolytic, hypocholesterolemic,   hypolipidemic, immune stimulant, immune tonic, nervine, pancreatic,   vasodilator,vulnerary
Constituents Polysaccharides, tannins, phytonutrients,  triterpenes, amino acids, saponins, Phytosterols, betulin, betulinic acid, inotodiol,Minerals, magnesium, chromium, iron,germanium
Cautions Correct identification   is important to avoid poisoning, illness and possible death.Caution with   hypoglycemia.

Posted in Health conditions, Herbs, Natural Health | Leave a Comment »

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March 19, 2012

Medicinal Mushrooms

Polypore mushrooms are medicinal mushrooms used for centuries as a tonic to detoxify, cleanse and strengthen all systems. Polypore mushrooms are adaptogens that have a high level of antioxidants that nourish and balance the body.

This group of mushrooms grow on rotting logs and stumps and are called bracket fungi because look like shelves or brackets. They are usually found on rotting birch trees but are also found on other trees. Mushrooms that grow on birch are desirable because they have some of the properties that birch has like the essential oil betulin. Betulin and other fat soluble parts can only be captured in a tincture because water preparations like tea only capture the water-soluble constituents.

Artist’s conk is the only fungi identifiable by the ability to etch designs and words on it and it grows on hardwood trees like maples.

Remove Mushrooms with a hatchet, axe or knife and chop them up with a hammer or axe in a cardboard box. You can dry them out for a couple of days in a warm place. Use polypore mushrooms medicinally in a tea or tincture and are typically not culinary.

This is a good documentary about knowing your mushrooms.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/know-your-mushrooms/

There is new research into how mushrooms can clean up the planet by eating up oil spills and breaking down plastics.

There are culinary, medicinal and poisonous varieties of mushrooms so correct identification is important. Caution when picking mushrooms because misidentification can lead to fatalities.  Get fungi from a reputable source or take a guide with you into nature and some field guide books to wild-craft but caution is advised!

This is a good website about mushrooms in eastern Canada and United States.

http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomartist.html

VARNISH POLYPORE FRUITING BODY/

BRACKET FUNGI

 Common Name  Varnish Polypore Fruiting Body/ aka Bracket Fungi 
Latin Name  Ganoderma spp. L. Includes:

Lacquered Polypore- G. lucidum aka Reishi

Hemlock varnish shelf- G. tsugae

Artist’s Conk- Ganoderma  applanatum
Family Polypore family Ganodermataceae L. 
Parts Used Fruiting body/Mushroom/Fungi
Target Organs Immune, Nervous, Endocrine, Pancreas, Spleen, Digestive, Urinary, Heart
Common Uses Strengthens and cleanses all systems.

Tonic to: Immune, Nervous, Endocrine, Heart, Pancreas, Spleen, Digestive, Urinary Systems

Lowers cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure, Cancer, diabetes, infections, allergies,
Properties Underlined properties are primary:

Adaptogen, adrenal tonic, analgesic, antiallergenic, antiatherogenic, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, anticardiotoxic, anticatarrhal, antidepressant, antihepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagencic, antineoplastic, antinephrotoxic, antineurotoxic, antioxidant, antiradiotoxic, antithrombotic, antiulcerogenic, antiviral, anxiolytic, aperient, appetite stimulant, astringent, bitter, blood pressure normalizer, cardiac, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, decongestant, emmenagogue tonic, expectorant secretolytic, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, immune stimulant, immune tonic,  nervine, pancreatic, relaxant, spleenic, tranquilizer, vasodilator, vulnerary
Constituents Polysaccharides, polyphenols, phytosterols.

Betulinic acid, betulin are in mushrooms only found on birch trees and are fat soluble and only available in tincture form.
Cautions Polypore bracket fungi are edible but correct identification is important to avoid poisoning, illness and possible death.

Posted in Health conditions, Herbs, Natural Health, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

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