Medicinal mushroom have been used for centuries, especially in Asian lands, for their medicinal properties. More recently, they have also been used in the treatment of lung diseases and cancer.

Therapeutic mushrooms have been approved in addition to the common cancer blue meanie mushroom in Japan and China for more than 30 years and have a comprehensive clinical history of safe use as isolated agents or combined with radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

More than 100 species

Of medicinal mushrooms are used in Asia. Some of the most commonly used types include the following:

• Ganoderma lucidum (reishi)
• Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor (turkey tail)
• Lentinus edodes (shiitake)
• Grifola frondosa (maitake)

Studies have examined the effects of mushrooms on immune responses and on specific plant-specific mechanisms. The immune effects are regulated by the stimulation of innate immune cells, such as monocytes, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells.

The activity is generally

Considered to be due to the presence of high molecular weight polysaccharides (beta-glucans) in mushrooms, although other components may be involved. Clinical studies in cancer patients have shown that G products. lucidum is generally well tolerated.

Many companies distribute medicinal

Mushrooms as food additives. In the United States, dietary supplements are regulated as food, not drugs. Therefore, pre-market testing and approval of such ingredients by the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not required unless certain claims are made for disease prevention or treatment.

Because food additives are

Not officially reviewed to determine production compatibility, ingredients may vary greatly depending on the lot and there is no guarantee that the ingredients claimed in the product labels are available (or available at specified prices). The FDA has not https://mungus.com the use of medicinal mushrooms as a treatment for cancer or any other health condition.

Many of the medical and scientific terms used in this summary are hypertext texts (originally used in each section) and the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms, intended for non-specialists. When a linked word is clicked, a description will appear in a separate window.

The references cited in other

Summary of PDQ cancer information may include links to external websites used by individuals or organizations for the purpose of marketing or promoting the use of certain drugs or products. These reference quotes are included for blue meanie mushroom purposes only.

Their inclusion should not be construed as authorization for website content, or for any treatment or product, by the editorial board of PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies or the National Cancer Institute.