by Abigail McShinsky

Much of today’s medicine is based on tradition. Given the life-saving leaps that we have made in the realm of science, it can be easy to forget that many of the great innovations in medicine – pain-relievers, antibiotics – were discovered based on historical healing traditions found in nature. It is no surprise, then, that we are turning back to the earth as we look to support our health and well-being, leaning ever more readily on the healing traditions of the past.

Medicinal mushrooms provide an amazing example. With perhaps the richest history as a healing remedy, medicinal mushrooms have been documented for their health supporting qualities as far back as 6,000 years ago. Mushrooms have been revered for their support of the immune system, healthy inflammatory response and lung-supporting benefits.  They have been used by traditional healers spanning a range of cultures and continents.

In the early 1990’s, two tourists, hiking along the border of Italy, came across the mummified remains of a European man that had died 5,300 years earlier (roughly 3,255 BC). With him, he carried two varieties of medicinal mushrooms that were believed to aid in the healing process of flesh wounds and possess anti-parasitic qualities, respectively. Ötzi, as he was named, was the oldest discovered user of these powerful fungi, and offered a glimpse into the long-standing history of mushrooms-as-medicine.

The historical tradition of medicinal mushrooms has extended into the present, spurring active research on the use of mushrooms in supporting overall health. Maitake is perhaps the most noted mushroom, well researched and revered for its immuno-supportive properties. In Japanese, Maitake translates to “dancing mushroom,” as it is said that those fortunate enough to find them would dance for joy – at the time, Maitake was so highly valued it could be traded for its weight in silver.

Similarly, Reishi is revered for its immune supporting potential.*  Reishi promotes liver health and function within the body, among a long list of other reported health benefits. In Asian cultures, Reishi has been used for thousands of years to nourish the liver, support healthy energy levels, and help the body resist the effects of disease.

Cordyceps are rare medicinal mushrooms that have been used traditionally for their impact on energy levels, as well as their support to the respiratory system. As such, Cordyceps are often utilized by world-class athletes to support stamina and endurance during rigorous physical activity. You may recall hearing whispers of this powerful mushroom for the first time in 2004, surrounding the astounding performance of several Chinese athletes at the Summer Olympics. The claimed secret to their success: Cordyceps, which aided in their ability to recover from strenuous and intense training. Anecdotes such as this remind us of the innate wisdom of nature, and the healing power that surrounds us every day.

Perhaps this winter, and all throughout the New Year, we should look back to the healing traditions of the past and listen to the folk wisdom surrounding the use of medicinal mushrooms. With the growing body of scientific data and the healing practices of many before us, we could all take a lesson from Ötzi and support our health and wellbeing with one of the oldest healing traditions known to man.