Functional Mushrooms

In the Functional Mushrooms collection we bring together food supplements with mushroom extracts, alone or in combined formulas, from brands such as Hifas da Terra, Solaray, NOW Foods, Designs for Health, Zeinpharma, Nutergia, KAL, Hawa Pharma, Bétula, M.J.S. Med and AMClinic. You will find reishi, lion's mane, cordyceps, shiitake, maitake, chaga, almond mushroom and antrodia, in capsules, tablets and syrup.

What functional mushrooms are

They are edible mushrooms or mushrooms with a tradition of use in Asia, used in supplements for their natural compounds, such as beta-glucans (a type of fibre found in fungal cell walls), triterpenes and polyphenols. Many have been eaten for centuries in Chinese and Japanese cooking.

Fruiting body or mycelium

The fruiting body is the mushroom itself. The mycelium is the network of filaments that grows in the substrate, often grain. Fruiting body extracts generally contain more beta-glucans. Mycelium grown on grain may contain starch from the substrate. The label should state which part is used.

Extraction and standardisation

Beta-glucans are extracted with hot water and triterpenes with alcohol. Some products use both (dual extraction). To compare products, check whether the extract is standardised and the percentage of beta-glucans or polysaccharides per serving.

The mushrooms in this collection

Reishi

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a woody, bitter mushroom that is not eaten fresh. It has been used as an extract for more than two thousand years in the Chinese tradition.

Lion's mane

Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) is an edible mushroom with hanging white spines. It is also cooked as a food.

Cordyceps

Supplements mainly use cultivated Cordyceps militaris or the fermented CS-4 mycelium, because wild Himalayan cordyceps is rare and expensive.

Shiitake, maitake and almond mushroom

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and maitake (Grifola frondosa) are very common culinary mushrooms in Asia. The almond mushroom (Agaricus subrufescens, also called Agaricus blazei) comes from Brazil.

Chaga and antrodia

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) grows on birch trees in the cold regions of the northern hemisphere and is traditionally prepared as an infusion. Antrodia (Antrodia camphorata) grows on a tree native to Taiwan.

Combined formulas

Blends of several mushrooms, sometimes fermented, or mushrooms with vitamins, minerals, plants, yeast beta-glucans or live cultures.

Precautions

• Do not use these products if you are allergic to mushrooms or fungi.
• If you take anticoagulants, medication for diabetes or blood pressure, or immunosuppressants, talk to your doctor before starting: some mushrooms, such as reishi, maitake and chaga, may interfere with these treatments.
• Chaga is rich in oxalates and is not suitable for people prone to kidney stones.
• If you have an autoimmune or liver condition, or are due to have surgery, seek medical advice.
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding, ask a health professional for advice.

See also the Echinacea and Propolis collection.