The Healing Power Of Medicinal Mushrooms

When you think of valuable mushrooms, you might think of gourmet truffles or posh porcini, but mushrooms are more than just a risotto filling

- Katie de Klee

Medicinal mushrooms are rapidly becoming part of the wellness movement, and their magical properties have nothing to do with psychedelic trips. Funghi make up an entire living kingdom, and modern scientists are starting to understand that mushrooms are closer in DNA to humans than they are to plants. They “breathe” oxygen and release carbon dioxide, they digest rather than photosynthesise, and mushrooms even produce their own vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.

Our ancestors were fascinated by mushrooms; the benefits of reishi mushrooms were recorded in texts as early as the 29th century BC and ancient healers brewed up chaga mushroom teas and used puffballs to treat wounds. Mushrooms are the original superfood; indigenous cultures have used these powerful funghi for thousands of years, but for a long time we have underappreciated their role in supporting life on earth. What we are only beginning to now understand is their mighty health-promoting potential— mushrooms can help us to fight illness, focus on work, alleviate stress and enhance our general wellbeing.

Adaptogenic mushroom tonics, elixirs, coffees and lattes are popping up in all the trendiest health cafes and stores. Companies like Four Sigmatic, Moon Juice and Sun Potion are helping us to appreciate the uses and doses of these powerful shrooms.

Mushroom powders are great additions to smoothies and superfood lattes, and are readily available as blends, capsules, teas and tinctures.