Anti-Tumor – The stewed, tinctured Oyster Mushroom releases the pleuran constituents, which has anti-oxidant effects and is believed to be useful for preventing cancers from metastasizing.
HIV – The ubiquitin-like protein from Oyster mushrooms inhibits the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity, causing cleavage of transfer RNA. This unique form of ubiquitin appears to govern cell division, inhibiting cells that are infected with HIV. This protein also has antiviral properties.
Liver aid – Oyster Mushrooms show promise in treating tumors affecting the liver. It is also used to help liver function, increasing its ability to filter toxins.
Constituents: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, pleurotus ubiquitin-like protein, pleiran (B-glucan).
The woody True Tinder Polypore has been shown to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens, and further, exhibited strong inhibitory activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis, and M. smegmatis, a cousin to the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Birch Polypore was used traditionally in Bohemia for the treatment of rectal cancer and stomach diseases. It is also known as fungus of the ‘iceman’ from the Copper Age found in 1991, who carried P. betulinus fruiting bodies attached to his clothing on his journey in the Alps. Mycologists believe that the Birch Polypore he carried was used for medicinal purposes.
Red Belted Polypore has been most commonly used in conjunction with other treatments during cancer. Taken on a daily basis, the fungus has been used in naturopathic treatments to help prevent cancer cells from spreading through the blood system.
Turkey Tail forms non-pored brackets, 1 - 7 cm broad. These brackets formed singly or in overlapping clusters. They are thin in shape, flat or upturned, narrowed to base, and sometimes with a stalk-like base. The upper surface is grayish to brown, minutely hairy, with shiny brown zones. A green coloration may develop from algae living on the upper surface. The under surface smooth (no pores) and white in color.
True Tinder Polypore is hoof-shaped, stalkless, and woody. Its flesh is thick, fibrous-tough to woody, and yellowish-brown. The pore surface is depressed and pale brown. Spore print is white. It grows solitary or in groups on decaying hardwoods.
Birch Polypore grows on dead birch, It is kidney-shaped in outline; broadly convex to more or less flat; growing shelf-like or hoof-like. Its surface is dry, with a smooth or somewhat roughened "skin" that often peels away, turning whitish to pale brownish in age. The outer margin is rolled over smoothly to form a rim around the pore surface.
Red Belted Polypore is an attractive, varnished, orangish-red to brownish shelf fungus found on dead conifers. The perennial fruiting body is initially knob-like, forming a hard, rounded or hoof-shaped bracket. The thick; upper surface is at first yellowish-brown to orange-brown and varnished. The margin is banded reddish to orange-brown, with a blunt, white edge. The lower surface is minutely pored, white, and bruises pale yellow to buff. The flesh is woody, yellowish-brown over multiple layers of tubes; the pores of fresh specimens frequently exuding droplets of clear liquid
Coprinus comatus. 4 oz. brown glass bottle. The shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane, is a common fungus often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas. The young fruiting bodies first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped caps open out.
The caps are white, and covered with scales - this is the origin of the common names of the fungus. The gills beneath the cap are white, then pink, then turn black and secrete a black liquid filled with spores (hence the “ink cap” name). Its specific name derives from coma, or “hair”, hence comatus, “haired” or “shaggy”. When young it is an excellent edible mushroom provided that it is eaten soon after being collected (it keeps very badly because of the auto-digestion of its gills and cap). The species is cultivated in China as food.Coprinus increases the bodies ability to produce its own insulin. The blood-sugar reducing effect of the Coprinus is useful in the treatment of Diabetes Type I and Type II. It was found that diabetics who consumed the Coprinus had the same reduction in the level of blood sugar as when the normal pharmaceutical medication was used, the only difference being the non-burdening effect on the body by the mushroom. It has a protective effect on the islets of Langerhans (cells which produce hormones in the pancreas, e.g. insulin). One and a half hours after ingesting Coprinus, the blood sugar level was reduced by 41%. 3 hours later it was still 31% lower; even 6 hours later the blood contained still 20% less sugar than without substitution of mushrooms. There is no significant difference between the blood-sugar reducing effect of the Coprinus and that of the tolbutamide (anti-diabeticum); however, the cause of diabetes is treated and there are no side-effects. Scientists also found sarcoma- and carcinoma-inhibiting ingredients. The Coprinus is also used successfully in the treatment of hemorrhoids and digestive problems (congestion).
Because of its high content of biologically vital substances, the Coprinus prevents the breaking open of arteries and therewith prevents Arteriosclerosis. Chinese scientists have shown in experiments that the growth of malignant cysts/tumors of connective tissue can be inhibited. The Coprinus is also recommended for use in the improving of digestion and the treatment of hemorrhoids in far Eastern country’s natural medicine practices. The Coprinus also contains all essential amino acids that are not producible by the body. As a result the body then has access to the smallest of needed protein components.
The water or alcohol extract of Coprinus comatus was recently identified as containing potent anti-tumor compounds for breast cancer. Because breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, and because there is no effective therapy for estrogen-independent (ER-) breast cancer, these findings are highly significant. The anti-tumor potential of the water extract was shown to manifest itself in three ways:
1) it inhibited the growth of both ER+ and ER- breast cancer cells
2) it induced both ER+ and ER- cells to die (apoptosis)
3) it inhibited tumor colony formation in vitro.Constituents: Over fifty years ago, Coprinus comatus was found to contain ergothioneine, a thiol compound with antioxidant properties. Coprinus comatus also revealed a variety of compounds in the water or alcohol extract from the fruit body, including: 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-octanol, 2-methyl-2-penten-4-olide, 1-dodecanol, caprylic acid , 5’-GMP, glutamic acid, n-butyric acid and isobutyric acids (putatively).
Anti-Tumor – Research has shown that Turkey Tail acts directly on tumor cells, as well as indirectly in the host to boost cellular immunity. The fungi have been shown to have anti-tumor activity on adenosacarma, fobrosacaoma, mastocytoma, plasmacytoma, melanoma, saroma, carconoma, and mammary, colon and lung cancer. The main active constituent (poly-saccharide) have been scientifically extracted and then injected directly into the tumors. The injection inhibits tumor growth in other sites, thus helping to prevent metastasis. Oral dosages (3 #00 capsules taken three times daily) suppresses carcinogen-induced cancers of the colon, esophagus, breast and lung.
Immune Enhancer – The immune stimulating compounds found in Turkey Tail known as PSK or Krestin in Japan, generate sales of several hundred million dollars a year, making Trametes the world's top selling all-natural product for serious immune support. Turkey tail also has anti-viral activity and has been used in inhibiting HIV infection by modifying the viral receptor, stopping HIV from binding with lymphocytes. Whether as a tea, tincture or capsules, one can benefit from the anti-viral activity of turkey tail.
Liver aid – Turkey Tail is very effective in treating liver ailments, including hepatitis B and chronic active hepatitis.
Pulmonary aid – This fungus has also proven helpful in treating inflammations of the upper respiratory tract.
Constituents: Arabinose, fucose, polysaccharides (beta 1-4, 1-3 glucans), peptide and rhamnose.
