The 7 Types of Healing Mushrooms and Their Benefits & AHCC

Hey guys, Tom here from Gold Aura. Today I wanted to discuss several different types of medicinal mushrooms, their uses, and each one’s unique characteristics used throughout the health industry. I wanted to elaborate on each since we have been incorporating different strains in our supplements and which ones we have found to be the most beneficial through trial and customer feedback we have gotten this year. Being a premium supplements company, it is our job to search the earth high and low for the best and most effective form of plant matter to use within our supplements. We have now released Shiitake Gold which incorporates a higher form of medicinal mushroom extract which now incorporates Reishi, Cordyceps, Shiitake, Maitake, and Active Hexose Correlated Compound. In this article, we will go in-depth on each mushroom extract, the benefits, and some particular findings that we have noticed in each one over time. Thanks for listening and I hope you find some great value in this!

Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake Mushrooms are probably the most popular form of polysaccharide within medicinal mushrooms and also the best tasting. They can be used a lot to cook with and achieve a very high level of benefits when supplements into our daily health. Some known benefits of shiitake mushrooms are things like, being an anti-inflammatory agent, anti-tumor, antiviral, and having strong anti-parasitic properties. This mushroom has also been known to increase in the natural aid of our immune system functioning while still being anti-inflammatory at the same time. What activates these health benefits within this mushroom is something called Lentinan. Lentinan is a polysaccharide found within shiitake mushrooms that is the culprit of these health benefits and the carbohydrate molecule responsible for being such a strong anti-inflammatory catalyst. A study was done in vitro which showed that lentinan itself stimulated the production of the human white blood cells when supplemented into our health over time. Every supplement starts with a good foundation and Shiitake is one of them!

Reishi Mushroom

The reishi mushroom is also known as Ganoderma Lucidum is a mushroom that typically grows in hot and humid conditions in Asia. Similar to that of shiitake, this specific mushroom contains triterpenoids and peptidoglycans that are responsible for its health benefits. These are the polysaccharides found within the fruiting body of the reishi mushroom. This mushroom is known for its earthy and woody taste properties. Typically with this mushroom, the above-ground portions are used for medicinal purposes. Reishi is more known to help with things like slowing down the aging process, viral strongpoints, and aiding in things like the prevention of cancer and certain diseases. Reishi is a strong mushroom, red, and bright in color with a very fresh aroma similar to that of wood. Typically grown on bark and trees and in the depths of the forest basin. The triterpenoids have been known to help with common respiratory ailments for things like asthma and general breathing problems. Reishi is typically the strongest medicinal mushroom that contains vitamins and amino acids. When combined with other medicinal mushrooms, this specific mushroom makes up for the natural aid in our body's form of natural supplementation and health benefits other than that of helping the immune system. A great medicinal mushroom and one that we have now incorporated into Shiitake Gold.

Cordyceps Mushrooms

Cordyceps is one of the newest and most common medicinal herbs and mushrooms being used within supplements in the year 2020. This specific mushroom is visually appealing and the most unique mushroom of all the medicinal mushrooms. With its appearance being long and derivative from the stem of the mushroom in small complex stripes and linings from underneath the cap. Cordyceps have now been shown to increase in things like daily energy and strong levels of ATP associated with athletic performance and physical activity. With this mushroom blend helping with the aid of ATP, it has shown to improve strength, endurance, and daily levels of energy throughout the day. Cordyceps has been known to improve immunity by stimulating cells and specific antigens in the immune system. It may also have activity against cancer cells and may reduce tumor size particularly in that of lung cancers and breast cancers. Some people also use cordyceps as a stimulant, used to increase energy, build stamina, and reduce general fatigue overall.

Lions Mane

Lion’s mane mushrooms are also an increasingly popular medicinal mushroom extract. Its scientific name is also pronounced Hericium Erinaceus. This mushroom is possibly the most unique in its appearance. Presenting itself as white, fur-shaped fungi that have long, shaggy spines similar to that of a lions mane (Thus the term lions mane). People will eat them or take them in the form of supplements and health remedies. Research now shows that they offer a wide array of health benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved mental ability and heart health. Lion's mane has a strong impact on mental health for things like anxiety and depression. A 2015 study showed that groups of mice that consumed lion’s mane mushrooms showed fewer depressive behaviors and had KPI's that concluded lower depression rates. The research concluded that this may have been due to the effects of having strong anti-inflammatory properties which alleviated stress levels and increased the amount of serotonin on the brain. Lions man also has been shown to provide a strong source for antioxidants and cellular repair within our DNA.

Chaga Mushrooms

Chaga mushrooms also are known as (Inonotus obliquus) is a type of mushroom that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in colder climates, such as Russia, Northern Europe, Korea, Canada, and Alaska. Chaga has been called several types of names such as black mass, polypore, birch canker polypore, cinder conk, and the sterile conk trunk rot (of birch). Chaga has a strong beneficial health factor but is probably not the most visually appealing out of the bunch. Which makes Chaga so hard to extract as a hydrosol sometimes. Chaga conforms to a woody growth, which somewhat looks similar to burnt cedar or blackened bark — roughly 9–14 inches in size. The inside reveals a softcore with an orange color. Chaga has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine overall health and immune system function. Chaga has been know to aid in the treatment of things like diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease. Traditionally, Chaga was curated into a fine powder and has now been put into capsules and herbal remedies.

Maitake mushrooms

The word Maitake means “Dancing” in Japanese. This clever name began for this mushroom because early tribes would dance in happiness upon finding this medicinal mushroom due to its high healing capabilities and strong health properties. This medicinal mushroom is called an adaptogen. Adaptogens work with the body to fight off any type of mental or physical strain during times of high activity or emotional stress. They also work to regulate parts of the body that have become unbalanced during illness. Similar to that of the shiitake mushroom, this mushroom is great tasting and is also used in many recipes despite its strong healing effects when used medicinally and traditionally. This mushroom grows in parts of Japan, Korea, and the United States and is typically found growing on the bark of elm and oak maple trees. People have been cultivating this mushroom in their own homes, however, it doesn't grow nearly as good as it does in its natural wild setting. Even though Maitake mushrooms have been used for centuries in Japan and China, over the last 20 years the United States has begun to catch on and use it for its strong health properties. People are praising this mushroom for its promises of longevity, vitality, and health characteristics.

Turkey Tail Mushroom

Turkey tail mushrooms are a special type of fungi that grow on the trunks of trees and also fallen tree barks or branches. They are very abundant in several places of the world, including the United States. This specific mushroom has a varying color and a disc-like shape which also resembles that of a turkey tail, hence the name. Over the years, the Chinese and Japanese have used this medicinal mushroom also known as Trametes Versicolor or Coriolus Versicolor as a general health supplement and used in traditional cooking for its high quality and health benefit components. In traditional medicine, many people have used it for its strong effect on the respiratory system and the ability to fight off anti-inflammatory conditions and issues. Turkey tail has been growing in popularity in the United States and is often compared to that of Active Hexose Correlated Compound. It is important to distinguish between the two and know that Turkey tail is simply a form of a mushroom extract derived with many other forms of mushroom extract to provide the best proprietary blend for AHCC. Turkey tail has strong immune system abilities which allow us to increase our NK cellular count to improve things like our natural t-cell count and cytokine production within our cellular health. Taking turkey tail alongside things like Chaga can be an important combination since they vary so much with their health benefits.

The Power of AHCC

AHCC stands for Active hexose correlated compound. AHCC is an extract taken from mushrooms of the Basidiomycete class which includes shiitake mushrooms and other types of fungi. Within the extract contains different polysaccharides known as "Glucans" which research now shows that the glucans are responsible for the biological activity and special power of this medicine. AHCC at its core is a functional food derived from different types of healing mushrooms rich in Alpha Glucans. Active hexose correlated compound is used in many areas including things like universities, hospitals, traditional and integrative medicine. But overall, Mushrooms, in general, have had a significant amount of impact on health and disease in many in different regions of the world. But where AHCC shines is its impact on the immune system.