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Grifola Frondosa

Overview

Until recently the benefits of maitake mushrooms were just folklore. Current research has emerged that shows this little mushroom contains many chemicals to help us stay healthy. Common names for the maitake mushroom include cloud mushrooms, dancing mushrooms, and hen of the woods. The scientific name is Grifola frondosa. The mushroom has been shown to contain anti-diabetic properties as well as anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties.
Grifola Frondosa, commonly known as maitake mushrooms or Hens of the Woods.

Maitake History

Maitake mushrooms are native to Japan. They are commonly known as dancing mushrooms. The name comes from Japanese folklore that states when these mushrooms were found, the lucky person would dance with joy because these fungi were literally worth their weight in silver. Dancing mushrooms are used extensively in traditional Japanese medicine.

In the United States, maitake mushrooms are eaten raw or cooked. Dietary supplements available in the form of capsules and liquids are sold with the supplement name of maitake D-fraction.
General Health Benefits of Maitake D-fraction

There are many benefits of maitake D-fraction. It is highly promoted as a potent anti-cancer and anti-tumor remedy. Maitake mushrooms are known to help relieve the effects of chemotherapy. Reversal or prevention of tumor growth are other benefits to be gained by using the maitake mushroom. What makes maitake D-fraction so healthy is a polysaccharide called beta-glucan. This polysaccharide occurs in other mushrooms and organisms such as yeast.

Benefits of beta-glucan are well known. In particular, certain beta-glucans help increase the immune functions of cells. Maitake D-fraction exhibits similar properties.
Maitake May Prevent Certain Cancers

There is clinical proof that maitake D-fraction has a positive effect on the immune system. In particular, studies have shown that this polysaccharide promotes the growth of cancer fighting cells and it increases the ability of cells to fight off tumor growth.

Studies done in Japan, at the Department of Microbial Chemistry at Kobe Pharmaceutical University demonstrate there is a direct link between maitake D-fraction and the body’s ability to fight off cancer. A clinical study completed in 2002 included cancer patients ranging from 22 to 57 years of age. All patients were in cancer stages II to IV. In a non-random study, patients were given maitake D-fraction and whole maitake powder. The results were surprising. More than half of the lung cancer, liver cancer and breast cancer patients showed remission or noticeable improvements in symptoms. Other cancers such as brain cancer, stomach cancer and leukemia only showed a 10 to 20 percent improvement in symptoms.

Other studies involving the effects of maitake on cancer cells, tumors, and T-cells have been completed. Supplementation with maitake D-fraction appears to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The results of these studies are all showing great promise for Grifola frondosa and maitake D-fraction as potential cancer fighting agents.

Maitake and Diabetes

In addition to anti-cancer properties, maitake shows great promise for improving or reversing diabetes symptoms. Studies done at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, Nishikyushu University in Saga, Japan in 2001 demonstrates that a diet high in maitake mushrooms can have a positive effect on insulin and blood glucose levels. Further studies have shown that powdered maitake has distinctive anti-diabetic properties.
Are Maitake Mushrooms Safe

Research has discovered no adverse effects or toxicity from using maitake mushrooms in any form. Toxicity studies show no adverse effects of maitake D-fraction when taken in pill, powder or liquid form.


The American Cancer Society states that supplementation with maitake D-fraction may be of help to cancer patient
s.

The only caveat of maitake supplementation appears to be with patients taking medications to control blood sugar levels. For these patients, including those taking insulin, maitake supplementation is not recommended unless a physician is consulted. Combining maitake mushrooms with prescription diabetes medication can result in hypoglycemia and other complications regarding blood sugar. To date this is the only known negative effect of supplementation with maitake.

Call it what you want, maitake, dancing mushroom, cloud mushroom, hens of the woods, or Grifola frondosa, this mushroom should be added to every diet. To gain maximum benefits, consume maitake in dried, cooked, or supplement form.

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Maitake Mushroom and Cancer

Maitake Mushroom

Other common name(s): maitake D-fraction, maitake, maitake extract, beta-glucan,

Scientific/medical name(s): Grifola frondosa
Description

Maitake is an edible mushroom from the species Grifola frondosa. Maitake D-fraction® is an extract of this large mushroom native to the mountains of northeastern Japan. The maitake mushroom is eaten as a food, and maitake-D fraction is marketed as a dietary supplement in the United States and Japan. The substance in the maitake mushroom is thought to be active in humans and is called beta-glucan.
Overview

Research has shown that maitake D-fraction has effects on the immune system in animal and laboratory studies. There is no convincing clinical evidence to date in available peer-reviewed medical journals reporting that the maitake mushroom is effective in treating or preventing cancer in humans, although some human research is now underway.
How is it promoted for use?

Promoters claim that maitake mushroom extract boosts the immune system and limits or reverses tumor growth. It is also said to enhance the benefits of chemotherapy and lessen some side effects of anti-cancer drugs, such as hair loss, pain, and nausea.
What does it involve?

Maitake D-fraction is available in liquid extract, tablet, and capsule in health food stores, although the amount of beta glucan contained in each form may vary. The usual dosage of dried mushroom is between 3 and 7 grams daily. Maitake mushrooms are also available in grocery stores and can be eaten as food or made into tea.
What is the history behind it?

For thousands of years, Asian healers have used certain edible mushrooms in tonics, soups, teas, prepared foods, and herbal formulas to promote health and long life. Until recently, the healing properties of mushrooms have been the subject of folklore only. In the past few decades, however, researchers in Japan have been studying the medicinal effects of mushrooms on the immune system, cancer, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

The Japanese word “maitake” means “dancing mushroom” because people in ancient times were said to dance for joy when they found these mushrooms, which were literally worth their weight in silver. Modern research on the maitake mushroom and its D-fraction extract began in Japan in the mid-1980s and has only recently spread to the United States.

As of the early 21st century, much has been written about maitake and its purported magic healing qualities. This has sparked a great deal of interest in its use for various human illnesses.
What is the evidence?

Maitake mushrooms and the maitake D-fraction prepared from them contain a type of polysaccharide (a large molecule formed by multiple sugar molecules linked together), called beta glucan (sometimes called beta glycan). Beta glucan is found in several mushrooms, yeasts, and other foods. A polysaccharide is a large and complex molecule made up of smaller sugar molecules. Beta glucan is believed to stimulate the immune system and activate certain cells and proteins that attack cancer, including macrophages, T-cells, natural killer cells, and interleukin-1 and -2. In laboratory studies, it appears to slow the growth of cancer in some cell cultures and in mice.

Most of the research on maitake D-fraction has been done in Japan using an injectable form of the extract. A 1997 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Science found that maitake D-fraction was able to enhance the immune system and inhibit the spread of tumors in mice implanted with breast cancer. In a 1995 report published in the same journal, researchers concluded that maitake D-fraction was able to activate the immune systems of mice that had been injected with liver cancer cells. The extract seemed to prevent the spread of tumors to the liver and prevent the development of cancer in normal cells. A nonrandomized study of fifteen dogs with lymphoma did not find any evidence of benefit from the use of maitake extract.

While animal and laboratory studies may show a certain compound holds promise as a beneficial treatment, further studies are necessary to determine whether the results apply to humans. In 2002, a group of Japanese people with different types of cancer were given maitake D-fraction and maitake powder in addition to standard cancer treatment. Although the researchers thought some patients showed improvement, the study did not include a control group. Because of limitations in the study design, no reliable conclusions can be drawn. It is impossible to say for certain whether any effect was caused by the maitake treatments or standard cancer treatments the patients also received. More scientifically designed studies are needed to determine maitake’s potential usefulness in preventing or treating cancer.

The National Cancer Institute is sponsoring a very early (Phase I) study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to learn whether beta glucan can increase the effectiveness of rituximab (a drug used for treating some types of lymphoma and leukemia) by increasing cancer cells’ sensitivity to it. This clinical trial is studying the side effects and best dose of beta glucan when given with rituximab. It will look at young patients with relapsed or progressive lymphoma, leukemia, or similar disorders.

In another clinical trial, beta glucan is being tested together with other drugs to learn whether they increase the effectiveness of a monoclonal antibody (3F8). Combining different types of biological therapy may kill more tumor cells. This is a small open label trial (so called because both patients and researchers know which treatment is being administered) in patients with neuroblastoma that has not responded to treatment. A trial of maitake extract as treatment for breast cancer is also in progress.
Are there any possible problems or complications?
This product is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Unlike drugs (which must be tested before being allowed to be sold), the companies that make supplements are not required to prove to the Food and Drug Administration that their supplements are safe or effective, as long as they don’t claim the supplements can prevent, treat, or cure any specific disease.
Some such products may not contain the amount of the herb or substance that is written on the label, and some may include other substances (contaminants). Actual amounts per dose may vary between brands or even between different batches of the same brand.
Most such supplements have not been tested to find out if they interact with medicines, foods, or other herbs and supplements. Even though some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below should be considered incomplete.

The maitake mushroom itself has been used as food for centuries and is generally presumed to be safe. So far, studies have not shown any adverse effects from maitake D-fraction or beta glucan, but human studies of their effectiveness in treating cancer have not yet been completed.

In animal studies, beta glucans of the type in maitake mushrooms lowered blood sugar and should be used with caution in people with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or those who are on medicines to reduce or control blood sugar. Beta glucans also reduced blood pressure in animals and may have a similar effect in people. Additional studies are needed to find out whether these effects occur in humans.

Allergies to many types of mushrooms, including maitake, have been reported. Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.

Cancer.org

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Mushrooms vs Breast Cancer

Breast cancer and mushrooms

Meghan Telpner is a Toronto-based nutritionist, Chief Love Maker at the The Love In The Kitchen Academy and director of Nourish Your Soul Holidays. Her Making Love In The Kitchen series will bring you tips on how to prepare healthful, nutritious goodness from whole foods.

Finally! A cancer fundraiser that actually sort of makes some sense. Mushrooms Canada did a fundraiser in October to help raise money for the Breast Cancer Society of Canada to support research for the prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

A fundraiser that makes sense… sort of.

Medicinal mushrooms have definitely been proven as a valuable treatment option to help people heal from cancer. It’s been known forever in Chinese medicine and in alternative health care, and now there is even some science to back it up.

Research has come out showing that mushrooms and mushroom extracts are potent cancer fighters. It seems that this is especially the case for breast and prostate cancers. This is no wonder as mushrooms have long been considered a healing and special food. The ancient Romans and Egyptians considered them a gift from the Gods while the Chinese saw them as the elixir of life.

* Mushrooms contain CLA which slows down the activity of an enzyme needed to make estrogen. Since cancers of the sex organs are fuelled by high levels of estrogen, mushroom extracts may be super important in helping us steer clear of these cancers.

* Mushrooms contain “beta-glucans”, a special type of carbohydrate (specifically found in the Maitake variety). In the lab, beta-glucan was shown to annihilate prostatic cancer cells.

* Mushrooms are a source of selenium. It has been shown that men who consume high amounts of selenium in their diets are at a decreased risk of developing prostate cancer. Selenium may also slow the rate of tumour progression in the case of prostate cancer.

* Medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi, taken in their extract form, are believed to enhance the immune responses of the body. This helps your body overcome disease making it a strong fighting-machine. Research has shown that regular consumption of medicinal mushrooms is associated with a lower death rate from cancer.

Meghan Telpner
National Post

Read more at: National Post