Mushrooms: Magic, Myth and Medicine
Mushrooms, the edible fungi, have captured the attention of millions. Used
by healers for thousands of years, these primitive vegetables have long been
linked with magic, myth, and medicine. People of ancient cultures believed the
plants were created by lightening bolts. Because this belief imbued the plants
with supernatural qualities, ancient priests and rulers placed many
restrictions around their use. For example, in Egypt, only the pharaohs ate
such magic fare. Likewise, the Greeks and Romans considered them to be food of
the gods. However, they were eaten by the upper classes, and history records
that Julius Caesar decided who was classy enough.
Although mushrooms are eaten and enjoyed throughout the western
hemisphere, what we understand of their healing properties has been inspired
by their use in Asia. There, 3000 years of written history substantiates
particular species as medicine. Even today, the rare matsutake is prized so
highly that thousands of dollars have been paid for perfect specimens.
Current mushroom research has centered around the prevention and treatment
of cancer. The effectiveness of the mushrooms has pointed to their merit in
strengthening and...
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Keywords: Agaricus
blazei Murill, AIDS, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, AZT, Beta
glucans, Blood, Cancer, Candida albicans, CFS, Cholesterol, Chronic fatigue,
Cordyceps sinensis, D-fraction, Diabetes, Edema, Epstein-Barr, Hepatitis B,
HIV, Immunity, Interferon, Karposi’s sarcoma, Lentinan, Libido, Liver,
Maitake, Mushrooms, Poria cocos, Reishi, Rheumatoid arthritis, Shiitake, SOD,
Superoxide dismutase, Turkey tail
Topics: Maitake the Magnificent,
Reishi the Meditation Mushroom, Shiitake, Mushroom Miscellany
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