Immune enhancing mushrooms

There are six main genuses of mushrooms currently being commonly used in cancer treatment, all of which have similar properties and actions. They are:

• Maitake

• Cloud fungus mushroom

• Shiitake

• Reishi

• Agarikusu

• Surunokoshikake

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Description

• Also known as Hen of the woods

• Native of Japan, been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine

• In use since 1984 when antitumour properties found in animal tests

• Thought to be most potent of all the immune stimulating mushrooms

• Can be taken orally

• Originally purified to give a D-fraction, potent macrophage activator and stimulator

• Further purification gives MD-fraction - similar activity to D-fraction, but 30% more active

• Both extracts consist of beta-glucans (complex polysaccharides) and proteins

• Also contains: Vitamins C, B2 and D2, K and Mg.

Action

• Protects normal cells from becoming cancerous

• Enhances immune system to engulf and destroy cancerous cells

• Helps malfunctioning cells regain control of cell division and activate programmed cell death (apoptosis)

• Reduces metastasis of tumour cells

• Antiviral action

• Reduces cholesterol

• Improves insulin levels

• Reduces blood pressure

• Increase white blood cell production in bone marrow

• Activates phagocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, helper T cells cytotoxic T cells

Anti-cancer activity

• Colon

• Lung

• Stomach

• Liver

• Prostate

• Cervix

• Bladder

• Brain

• Leukaemia

For more information, click here

Cloud fungus mushroom (PSK/PSP) (Coriolus versicolor)

Description

• Also known as Krestin

• Native to China and Japan, used in traditional medicine for centuries

• Like maitake, active constituents are beta-glucans and proteins

• Probably not as active as maitake, but lot of evidence and clinical data to support efficacy in cancer treatment

• Can be taken orally

Action

• Protects normal cells from becoming cancerous

• Enhances immune system to engulf and destroy cancerous cells

• Helps malfunctioning cells regain control of cell division and activate programmed cell death (apoptosis)

• Reduces metastasis of tumour cells

• Increase white blood cell production in bone marrow

• Activates phagocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, helper T cells cytotoxic T cells

Shiitake (Lentinus edodes)

• Is best taken intravenously – not effective orally

Action

• Protects normal cells from becoming cancerous

• Enhances immune system to engulf and destroy cancerous cells

• Helps malfunctioning cells regain control of cell division and activate programmed cell death (apoptosis)

• Reduces metastasis of tumour cells

• Increase white blood cell production in bone marrow

• Activates phagocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, helper T cells cytotoxic T cells

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

• Also known as Chaga (Russian) and Lingzhi (Chinese)

• Native species of Japan

Action

• Protects normal cells from becoming cancerous

• Enhances immune system to engulf and destroy cancerous cells

• Helps malfunctioning cells regain control of cell division and activate programmed cell death (apoptosis)

• Reduces metastasis of tumour cells

• Increase white blood cell production in bone marrow

• Activates phagocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, helper T cells cytotoxic T cells

• Stimulates tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) production

Agarikusu (Agaricus blazei)

• Also known as Brazilian Mushroom

• Native of Brazil

Action

• Protects normal cells from becoming cancerous

• Enhances immune system to engulf and destroy cancerous cells

• Helps malfunctioning cells regain control of cell division and activate programmed cell death (apoptosis)

• Reduces metastasis of tumour cells

• Increase white blood cell production in bone marrow

• Activates phagocytes, natural killer cells, T cells, helper T cells cytotoxic T cells

• Good antitumour profile supported by animal studies

• Good against fatigue and low energy

Surunokoshikake

• Also known as shelf-fungus