About Our Mushrooms(old)

Scientists have only recently confirmed that mushrooms have within them some of the most potent medicinal properties found in nature.

These properties are useful in improving human health. Here is a short list of these, as shown by Paul Stamets in his book “Mycelium running”:

Antibacterial.
Anti-Candida.
Anti-inflammatory.
Antioxidant.
Antitumor.
Antiviral.
Blood Pressure moderator.
Blood sugar moderator.
Cardiovascular.
Cholesterol reducer.
Immune enhancer.
Kidney tonic.
Lungs/Respiratory.
Nerve tonic.
Sexual potentiation.
Stress reducer.

Above benefits were proven by the notable scientific articles: “Activities of Medicinal Mushrooms in the Treatment of Disease” and “Mushrooms with Activity against Specific Cancers” as they are presented by Paul Stamets in his book “Myco Medicinals: An Informational Treatise on Mushrooms”.

We have searched the forests of Southern tier New York, far and wide, to bring you the most fresh, potent and biologically active medicinal mushrooms.

We believe that naturally grown mushrooms are net superior to the ones grown in a controlled environment, are more pure and potent, as we are committed to provide you with the best products that are truly “LIFE’S ELIXIR”.

We have been focusing on the following medicinal mushrooms.

1. REISHI (Ganoderma Tsugae)

We are harvesting our Ganoderma Tsugae from the heart of the forests, in the Southern Tier of New York, at peak efficacy.

The Reishi is a mushroom that enjoys special veneration in East Asia, where it has been used as a medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest mushrooms known to have been used medicinally, known as “tree of life mushroom” in China and in Japan as “divine” and “spiritual” mushroom . Reishi is known as the “mushroom of immortality” and associated with “royalty, health, longevity, sexual prowess, wisdom and happiness”. Reishi is listed in the “American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium”.

The Chinese classified Reishi as “king of the herbs”, which is defined as one that “serves to maintain life, promote radiant health and long life because of its normalizing action, and to cause no side effects, even when used continuously”.

In fact all Ganoderma have good medicinal properties. Ganoderma Lucium and Ganoderma Tsugae are so similar that the only way to identify them without elaborate instruments, is to note on what kind of tree they were growing. Ganoderma lucium grows on hardwoods tree, usually oak, while Ganoderma Tsugae grows on Hemlock.

Here are some potential health enhancing properties of Ganoderma Lucium as given in the book “Mycomedicinals: An Informational Treatise on Mushrooms”, by Stamets:

Immune enhancer.
Biological response modifier.
Stimulates macrophage production.
Activates host’s production of natural killer T-cell and tumor necrosis factors.
Anti-microbial.
Tumoricidal against most cancers.
Tumor prevention.
Cholesterol reducing.
Anti-fatiguing
Immunomodulatory properties, of which only a fraction have been studied.
Steroid-like compounds that inhibit cholesterol synthesis, allergenic response and histamines.
Relief from bronchitis, asthmas and allergies.
Fights off the growth of meth-A and LLC tumor cell lines, and cervical HeLa cells.
Strongly stimulates the activity of T-lymphocytes.
Causes 5 to 20-fold increases in the tumor necrosis factors in interleukin and T-lymphocytes.
Restore T-cell function in the spleen of gamma-irradiated mice.
Inhibits the growth of leukemia cells.
Anti-oxidizing properties.
Enhances the production of nitric oxides from macrophages.
Decreases other free radicals and the collateral harm they cause to healthy cells.
Targets cancerous cells.
Kills diseased cells.
Anti-inflammatory.
Treat arthritis.
Inhibits platelet aggregation.
Treats atherosclerosis in HIV-positive patients.
Treats inflammation of the brain.
Treats prostate inflammation.
Treats inflammation responses in the immune system.
Potent inhibitor of enzyme closely related to liver dysfunction.
Helpful for those developing cirrhosis from hepatitis.
Treats chronic hepatitis and post-hepatic cirrhosis.
Anti-aging.
Improves respiration.
Anti-bacterial.
Anti-Candida.
Naturalizes blood pressure.
Blood sugar moderator (diabetics).
Cardio-vascular.
Kidney tonic.
Liver tonic.
Lung tonic.
Nerve tonic.
Stress reducer.
Enhanced stamina.
Increases coronary flow.
Decreases diastolic pressure without altering heart rhythm.
Fights Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Helpful in Immunotherapy.
Corrects skin disorders including some skin cancers.
Cures rashes.
Helps heal wounds.

2. CHAGA (Inonotus Obliquus)

We are harvesting Chaga, with passion from older birch trees, in the forests of Southern Tier, New York.

Most of our mushrooms weigh over 7 lbs., as such being the most potent available in nature.
Inonotus obliquus, commonly known as Chaga mushroom, grows in the birch forests of Russia, Korea, Eastern and Northern Europe, northern areas of the United States and in Canada. It grows rarely on elm, beech and hornbeam, and has been known for centuries.

So, in nature Chaga grows pre-dominantly on birches, and birch bark happens to contains up to 22% betulin.

We use Chaga because there is ample evidence that it contains elements that are very beneficial for the human body, and there is no evidence of it causing harm to those that drink the infusion, decoction or tea. It is believed that one cannot overdose with it.

Here are some of the potential benefits of Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus):

Balances hormones.
Improves blood circulation.
Purifies blood and expels toxins.
Reduces allergic problems.
Potent anti-tumor effects and promising anti-cancer activity.
Very strong antioxidant.
Reduces pain and heartburn.
Enhances metabolism and the immune system.
Anti-inflammatory effect when used internally and externally.
Treatment for stomach and intestinal ailments such as gastritis, ulcers, colitis.
Lowers arterial and venous blood pressure.
Regulates pulse.
Decreases blood sugar.
Treats psoriasis.
Eases stress.
Natural remedy for immunity defense, skin beauty and youthful vigor.
Regulates cytokine and interleukin response pathways.
Stimulates macrophage and natural killer cell production.

3. TURKEY TAIL (Trametes Versicolor)

We are harvesting our Trametes Versicolor from the heart of the forests, in the Southern Tier of New York, at the peak efficacy.

Turkey Tail mushrooms grow on dead hardwood throughout the world, and is extremely common in North America. This species has one main claim to fame: as a medicinal mushroom. It has been known in Asia and Europe probably for thousands of years.
Turkey Tail mushrooms are being taken seriously as a natural medicine treatment. They have been long used in China and Japan. It is the king in effectiveness to strengthen the immune system, particularly by enhancing the properties of one of the most critical cells, known as T helper cells. T helper cells tell all the other cells in the immune system what to do and to what degree, and when to stop.

Some of the benefits of Turkey Tail (Trametes Versicolor) include:

Corrects immune deficiencies.
Improves the upper respiratory tract infections.
Helps with pulmonary disease.
Helps with elimination of urinary tract infections.
Relief for digestive tract irritations.
Remedy for general lack of energy and malaise.
Improves quality of life by reducing susceptibility to infections and other negative effects of having a suppressed immune system.
Could prevent cancer or help other conditions in which immune suppression is a major problem (i.e. human immunodeficiency virus – HIV).
Reduces inflammation.
Reduces the growth of tumors and prevents new ones.
Fights viral infections and diseases such as herpes and hepatitis.
Lessens of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
Increases stamina and energy.

4. ARTIST'S CONK (Ganoderma Applanatum)

We are harvesting our Ganoderma Applanatum from the heart of the forests, in the Southern Tier of New York, at the peak efficacy.

Ganoderma applanatum (the Artist's Bracket or Artist's Conk) is a bracket fungus with a cosmopolitan distribution. This fungus grows as a mycelium within the wood of living and dead trees. Grows on older sugar maples and many other hardwood trees (beech , poplar, alder, apple, elm, buckeye and horse chestnut, maple, oak, walnut, willow, western hemlock, Douglas Fir, and Spruce), usually persisting for years.

When it is picked, the interior of an Artist Conk reveals layers of pores that are like rings on a tree in describing age. Often near streams it is an ideal location, because there tends to be more dead wood and a moist microclimate. They are everywhere actually. They have a strong but pleasant woodsy smell. A peculiarity of this fungus lies in its use as a drawing medium for artists.

The principal reported benefits of the Ganoderma Applanatum are:

Anti-tumor properties.
Ability to reduce blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels that compound.
May have potential in cancer prevention.
Diabetes prevention.
Use in respiration and lung support - being antimicrobial.
Immune system boosting.
A potent antioxidant.
Anti-parasitic
Diuretic.

5. BIRCH POLYPORE (Piptoporus Betulinus)

We are harvesting our Piptoporus Betulinus from the heart of forest, in the Southern Tier of New York, at peak efficacy.

Commonly known as the Birch Polypore, Birch Bracket, or Razor Strop, is one of the most common Polyporus Bracket Fungi and, as the name suggests, grows almost exclusively on birch trees.

The Birch Polypore's main claim to fame to the general population is that it was found among the possessions of Ötzi, the mummified stone age man from 5,300 years ago whose remains were found in 1991 in a glacial ice cave on the border of Italy and Austria. The traditional use of Birch Polypore extract does indeed include use as an anti-parasitic agent, as well as to stop bleeding, and as an antimicrobial agent in general.

A finding in 1997 confirmed that certain compounds in Birch Polypore extract help diminish chronic dermal inflammation, and are generally anti-inflammatory.

Another important compound of Birch Polypore extract is betulinic acid, a compound from Birch that gets extracted and concentrated by the Birch Polypore. A melanoma study conducted in 1995 showed that betulinic acid was toxic to malignant melanoma cells without affecting healthy cells. A possible mechanism of the anti-tumor property of Birch Polypore extract was suggested in 2002 when it was demonstrated to inhibit enzyme activity involved in tumor development.

Medicinal properties of the Birch Polypore are:

Achieving a healthy diet.
Anti-inflammatory.
Anti-bacterial.
Anti-septic.
Poisonous to the parasitic whipworm.
Helps the immune system - fighting cancer cells and preventing them from expanding.
Promotes the death of cancer cells, a process known as apoptosis.
Antiviral action against HIV, preventing cell reproduction.
Slows the proliferation of cancer cells.
Effective against certain bacteria, including E. coli.
Use against flu, yellow fever, cowpox and other viruses that have the potential to be deadly.
Prevention of malignant melanoma.
Aromatase inhibitor, which means that it can be used to inhibit the transformation of androgen hormones into estrogen. High levels of estrogen levels determine hormonal imbalances and even cancers within the body.

6. OYSTER MUSHROOM (Pleurotus Populinus)

We are harvesting our Pleurotus Populinus from the heart of forest, in Southern Tier, New York at the peak efficacy.

Pleurotus Populinus, the Aspen Oyster Mushroom, is a gilled fungus native to North America. It is found on the dead wood of aspen, cottonwood, oak, alder, maple, ash, beech, birch, elm, willow, and poplar trees. Although morphologically similar to Pleurotus Ostreatus and Pleurotus Pulmonarius, it has been shown to be a distinct species incapable of cross-breeding. Pleurotus Populinus is reported to be edible, and fruits in late spring and summer.

The Oyster Mushroom is relatively new, being mentioned just after 1700, in Europe.

Oyster Mushrooms are rich in protein, plentiful in B vitamins, have no cholesterol, and have significant levels of the cholesterol-lowering molecule lovastatin - up to 2.8 percent by dry weigh.. Because of its native lovastatin content, the Oyster Mushroom has been studied for its benefit in helping modulate blood cholesterol levels.

General medicinal benefits include:

Anti-bacterial.
Anti-viral.
Blood pressure regulator.
Nerve tonic.
Reducing triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.
An excellent source of natural lovastatin.
Inhibits growth of colon and breast cancer cells.
Cardiovascular health.
Stop tumors from growing and support tumor regression.
Has a potential therapeutic/preventive effect on breast and colon cancer.
Can improve cancer treatment.

7. SHIITAKE MUSHROOM (Lentinula Edodes)

We grow our organic Shiitake Mushroom on birch logs, outdoors, in natural conditions, and harvest them at their maximum potential. We use the birch log because of this wood’s own medicinal properties; its bark contains 22% betulin, and is the host to two other medicinal mushrooms, Chaga and Birch Polypore. We harvest them at their peak efficacy, and dry them in direct sun, to increase the percentage of Vitamin D.

The Shiitake is native to East Asia, prefers warm and moist climate and grows on dead broadleaf trees as oak, maple, poplar, chestnut, beech. Shiitake has been known in Asia for over 1000 years. Today it is cultivated all over the world, being the most popular gourmet mushroom.

Health benefits of Shiitake Mushrooms are:

Significantly lowers cholesterol.
Anti-tumor properties.
Inhibits platelet aggregation.
Antioxidant properties.
A source of Vitamin D.
Anti-bacterial.
Anti-candida.
Anti-viral.
Blood pressure regulator.
Blood sugar moderator.
Immune enhancer.
Kidney tonic
Liver tonic.
Sexual potency.
Stress reducer.