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The Power Within the Reishi Mushroom

The Power Within the Reishi Mushroom

Reishi mushroom is arguably the most revered herbal substance in Asia. certainly ranking with Ginseng as the elite substance for attainment of radiant health, longevity and spiritual attainment. It has maintained that position for at least 2000 years, and its reputation and value are only increasing. Since Reishi mushroom has been known to have many functions, it has been the subject of a great deal of research in recent years. It is safe, being non-toxic.

Anti-Aging Effects of Reishi

Reishi mushroom has traditionally been used as an anti-aging herb and has been used for many diseases and disorders a well. Daoists have continuously claimed that Reishi mushroom promotes calmness, centeredness, balance, inner awareness and inner strength. They have used it to improve meditative practices and to protect the body, mind and spirit so that the adept could attain both long and healthy life and spiritual immortality.

Anti-Stress Effects of Reishi

Reishi is s superb ant-stress herb. Throughout history it has been used to bring balance into the lives of people who needed it the most in that department, and that means mostly everyone. Deep in antiquity, it was routinely used by mountain hermits, monks, Daoist adepts and spiritual seekers throughout Asia because it was and is believed to help calm the mind, ease tension, strengthen the nerves, strengthen memory, sharpen concentration, improve focus, build will power and, as a result help build wisdom. That is why it was called “Mushroom Spiritual Potency” by these seekers. The people of Asia have never lost their faith in Reishi Mushroom.

The Immune Building Effects of Reishi

Reishi is a profound immune potentator. It has been found to significantly improve the functioning of the immune system whether the immune system is deficient or excessive. In this sense, it is an immune “moleculator” – that is, it helps to modulate, or regulate, and fine-tune the immune system. Our immune system is virtually miraculous network of activates designed over millions of years to protect us from viruses, bacteria, parasites, molds, dust, pollen and malignant cells. It is the responsibly of the immune system to detect the intrusion, or invasion, of these entities and to mount a defense in order to eliminate them. A healthy immune system is capable of resisting most such intruders and a very hardy system may be able to resist invasions that many other people cannot. If the immune system is weakened or malfunctioning, the invading microbes can easily establish a foothold in our body and disease sets in. Antibiotics can often be used to stop the invasion at this time, but chronic use of antibiotics further weakens the immune response.

As we have seen very briefly the qualities of Reishi mushroom, but we could never know all of them. Thus, before leaving you to read on about other mushrooms, I just want to point another good quality of Reishi mushroom that is beneficial to us. Reishi mushroom has also been known in recent studies to help with reduce the side effects of many kinds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment and simultaneously contribute to the rebuilding of the immune system – an essential part of recovery from cancer. This process is triggered by stimulating the production of interferon and interleukins I and II, all being potent natural anticancer substances produced in our own bodies.

The Power Within the Mushroom
By Omid Jaffari

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Cordyceps and Cancer

Researchers from the University of Nottingham have found that a rare, wild mushroom called cordyceps is an effective treatment for cancer. Commonly used in Chinese medicine, the cordyceps fungi inhibits the growth, division, and proliferation of cancer cells in the body.

Cordyceps was originally formulated into a cancer drug called cordycepin back in the 1950s. Though the drug version was ultimately found to be ineffective because of rapid degradation inside the body once it was administered, the active components from the mushroom continue to be effective cancer fighters.

Depending upon dosage levels, cordyceps mushroom extracts directly impact the process of cell protein development, impeding the production of the mRNA molecules that create them. At high doses, cordyceps inhibits protein development directly, essentially eliminating the ability of cancer cells to function and survive.

Since the study focused on the pharmaceutical drug formulation derived from cordyceps, called cordycepin, lead scientist Dr. Cornelia de Moor and her team specifically sought ways to improve the effectiveness of that particular drug. Their only solution was to suggest giving another drug alongside cordycepin in order to prevent it from degrading in the body. The team warned that the other drug causes serious side effects which may discourage its use.

Though the research focused primarily on cordycepin, it ultimately revealed the powerful effects of cordyceps in preventing and treating cancer. The study is set to be published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and its authors hope that the findings will spark further research into the potential uses for cordyceps as a cancer treatment.

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

Learn more: About Cordyceps and Cancer