3 Medicinal Mushrooms That Boost Health and Immunity

We were first introduced to a warm and smooth, medicinal mushroom tea a few years ago when our brother started foraging and harvesting the Chaga Mushroom from the forested areas on his property in Ontario. He would carefully cut this hardened fungus off the old growth birch trees and steep it for hours with the addition of a little birch or maple syrup (no wonder it was so delicious), and this is where our love story began with these amazing, adaptogenic foods.

Functional Nutrition is big in the wellness world and the most potent plant medicines are touted by health practitioners for their health-giving and disease preventative effects. In the last few years, medicinal mushrooms have really taken center stage for their ability to boost and bolster the immune system and for their adaptogenic qualities. Adaptogens are herbs or mushrooms that have healing properties including stress relief, hormone regulation, and blood sugar balance. Some other common adaptogens would be ginseng, licorice root, aloe vera, and nettles, to name a few.

Medicinal Mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries for their natural healing properties. Medicinal mushrooms are so effective because they have a polysaccharide called beta-D-glucan, which keeps your immune cells awake and helps with metabolizing fats and sugars. 

Although there are many beneficial mushrooms out there to forage, today we’ll be focusing on: Chaga, Reishi, and Lion’s Mane.

Chaga

It may surprise you that a mushroom could help prevent wrinkles, but Chaga is known to have antioxidant compounds that support anti-aging. Just a dash of Chaga can bring out your youthful glow!

But the “black gold” mushroom isn’t just the fungi of youth; its antioxidants also help your immune system stay strong. Because of its phenomenal immune-stimulating effects, Chaga is recommended to many cancer patients. Chaga also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties and antiviral benefits. 

Chaga has always been popular among Northern cultures. The mushroom grows on birch trees and can be picked, chopped up, and tossed into a soup. The black and yellow mushrooms have a smooth and earthy flavor that makes them a perfect addition to any fall or winter recipe.

The Chaga mushroom also contains vanilloids giving it a vanilla flavor which is such a complementary addition to beverages like smoothies, coffee, or tea. You can buy pre-mixed Chaga tea and curl up on the couch with your warm mug and a good book after a yoga session. If you ask us, that sounds like heaven.

Reishi 

Reishi mushrooms have been called the “mushroom of immortality,” the “elixir of life,” and “the queen of mushrooms.” It earned these titles because it aids in reducing both physical and mental stress. 

Over 1,500 studies have explored Reishi’s healing properties, and many consider it the best starter medicinal mushroom. The extensive research on these little pink mushrooms has demonstrated that Reishi leads to better immune function, heart health, inflammation response, and allergy control. 

On top of that, Reishi acts as a natural balancer, which can help you fall asleep faster and get a better night’s rest.

As pretty as they are raw, you can’t eat Reishi in their mushroom form. The best way to access the benefits of Reishi is to add it to something in its powder form. You can mix Reishi powder into smoothies, juices, coffees, and more, or you can opt for one of the pre-mixed forms available.

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane mushrooms are nootropic, but they don’t come with any funky side effects. The only side effects of these brain boosters are an increase in memory, creativity, and concentration. These pretty white mushrooms are called the “smart mushroom” because they activate both the brain and the nervous system.

Aside from helping you concentrate on work, Lion’s Mane can also improve your agility and coordination. If you’re about to do heavy-duty exercise, Lion’s Mane is all the pre-workout you need. The mushroom helps athletes naturally hone their focus in their sports training and performance.

Like Reishi, Lion’s Mane can’t be consumed in its mushroom form. (Well, you could, but then you would be looking at funky side effects) Instead, Lion’s Mane can be consumed in powder form, and you can add it to any food or drink for smooth consumption.

Our favorite immune-boosting elixir

For an all-around wellness upgrade, you can enjoy these medicinal mushrooms in our Mushroom Mocha Elixir!

This delightful beverage begins with a Chaga tea base and layers in the Reishi and Lion's Mane powders along with other nutritious and delicious ingredients to maximize the nutritional benefits of the mushrooms. 

Check out the recipe here and give it a try!