I was recently at the Vitamin Store stocking up on
the extensive list of brain health supplements I
take for Neuro Lyme. The manager of the store was
assisting me with finding all of them and
mentioned that he is studying to be a naturopath. Suggested
looking into Maitake mushroom and pulled out a huge
natural medicine book. As we were reading about
this mushroom, it listed that it has been PROVEN
to treat the HIV virus as well as other Chronic
illnesses. At first, I was frustrated that I had
never heard of this mushroom before and the fact
that it is proven to kill the HIV virus and it has
not been made public knowledge! This manager said
that the Lyme sprirochete sounds similar to these
other illnesses that it treats so suggested I look
into it. I was wondering if anyone has heard of
this mushroom and/or tried it? He said it can be
purchased at Kroger in the organic section and
is delicious in spaghetti sauce.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Indeed, mushrooms are fabulous. Wording and claims can be tricky, however.
I would not be comfortable saying that it is a "fact that it is proven to kill the HIV virus" - it's a bit more complicated.
It can be enormously helpful to treatment, though and, yes, even "proven" to be good treatment.
It works in different ways to support immune function, and some medical mushrooms and certain herbs do have some anti-viral properties their action can't quite be translated to a "cure" but many with HIV who add mushroom therapy do seem to do much better.
MEDICAL MUSHROOMS are WONDERFUL. There's a lot about them you can find through the web.
CULINARY MUSHROOMS can help our health, too, and are delicious sources of great nutrients.
Some mushrooms are both great at medical mushroom treatment (condensed, in capsules or as a tea) and some of those same ones are also great as a food, and delicious.
It's best to incorporate many different kinds in meals and then have a naturopathic guide you with which medical mushrooms might be best for YOUR body, your symptoms.
I found out the hard way that not all are good for my. For instance, one the mushroom, Ganoderma, lowered my blood pressure too much and made me very tired. Although I had studied a bit on my own, it was my ND who corrected me on that.
I LOVE mushrooms, whether as support supplements or food. They are fabulous and I feel so much better with them in my life.
For nerve support: Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Through Google Scholar and PubMed, search at professional and academic websites:
Medical Mushrooms
Medicinal Mushrooms
then whichever mushroom is of interest - but cross check with their common name and then also with their scientific name for the best sources. -
[ 09-08-2012, 03:10 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I thought I had saved a links set but it's nowhere to be found in my notes. I did find this, though:
MUSHROOMS
Paul Stamets, mycologist, spoke at TEDMED in October. Find that direct link. ------
�There are more than 150,000 species of mushrooms, Stamets says. Still, only 14,000 have been identified, and Stamets and colleagues are still looking.�
�Eat mushrooms several times a week; eat a variety of mushrooms.�
Final report on HIV clinical trial -
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Be careful. My sister (cancer patient) took these and needed dialysis. Her doc said it was the mushrooms.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Catgirl,
I'm so sorry to hear of your sister's reaction. I hope it was temporary and that her kidneys healed. Salvia m. has been a good herb to help with kidney recovery.
SALVIA miltiorrhiza LINKS -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Mango,
The source matters - not all mushrooms are produced or grown in the best circumstances.
Professional guidance matters, too.
As Catgirl rightfully cautions, your body, along with whatever pharmaceuticals you take or illnesses you have, might need a different formulation than someone else -- or a different approach altogether.
Interactions with Rx can occur, too.
When considering herbal / nutritional / adjunct methods:
if at all possible - because each person & each case is different - it's best to consult with an ILADS-educated LL (lyme literate) doctor who has completed four years of post-graduate medical education in the field of herbal and nutritional medicine -
- and someone who is current with ILADS' research & presentations, past and present.
Many LL NDs incorporate antibiotics (depending upon the licensing laws in their state). Some LLMDs and LL NDs have good working relationships.
When possible, it's great to have both a LLMD and LL ND and even better when they have a long-standing professional relationship.
Integrative / Holistic M.D., etc. (Be aware that those in this category can have various levels of formal herbal &/or nutritional education, perhaps even just a short course. Do ask first.)
Links to many articles and books by holistic-minded LL doctors of various degrees who all have this basic approach in common:
Understanding of the importance of addressing the infection(s) fully head-on with specific measures from all corners of medicine;
knowing which supplements have direct impact, which are only support and which are both.
You can compare and contrast many approaches.
BASIC HERBAL EDUCATIONAL & SAFETY links,
BODY WORK links with safety tailored to lyme patients,
& WHY you need an ILADS-educated, Lyme Literate Doctor (whether LLMD or LL ND, or both) -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Annxyzz posted a while back that a medical mushroom, Chaga, helped an ill friend feel much better.
Pulling up my post from that:
All the medical mushrooms I've used over the years have always made me feel better, too.
Their strong suit is that they are so very nutritive in nature. I feel better even just when I eat mushrooms with a meal, which I try to do at least 4 times week.
Cordyceps Sinensis and Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) are the two medicinal mushrooms that have helped me the most.
Curious about Chaga, it seems primarily geared to cancer support. Here are just a few things from a simple search:
Minding My Mitochondria 2nd Edition: How I overcame secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and got out of my wheelchair
- by Terry L. Wahls, M.D.
[She does not discuss Chaga but has 24 other mushroom references - she also did use antibiotics during her recovery. That detail is not in her book, though.]
It's just another side of the story. The other issue right now is that there is still radiation leaking from Fukishima. Mushrooms really absorb radiation! So, any mushroom product you might buy could potentally be contaminated with radiation.
---
I haven't researched this alot - especially about HIV. Retroviruses are very different than Lyme & co-infections. I think if they really did totally cure HIV - there would be more news about it. I'm not saying that are no good - all of these things can have benefit to someone. I just don't think they are a miricle cure.
I took the Stamets combo for a while & I didn't notice much improvement.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Good point about source, species, reason.
Some mushrooms are grown in carefully monitored environments in the U.S. Oregon has at least one very reputable facility. -
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Thanks Keebler. She's better now. :)
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Gundersen: If in Oregon, Wash., Calif. you need to demand officials test how Fukushima fallout has affected rivers and fish � Significant radiation hit west coast and settled in on Cascades (VIDEO)
Even if mushrooms are grown indoors in carefully monitored conditions, their water supply matters, new soil they bring in, etc.
Same with Chlorella and other green foods powders. Reputable sources have considered all this and will share their quality control protocol and assurances.
So much to consider now. -
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Yes, it's deep... I love green tea but I have to think about it these days. Paul Stamets actually was cosulting with the gov't (I think it was) about how to remediate radiation... He has a species of mushroom or fungi that eats radiation.
Mushrooms really absorb it - so, you have to be very careful with them these days. I think sunflowers absorb radiation, too - maybe we should avoid sunflower seeds, too?
What a mess.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Studies show reishi mushrooms benefit people stricken with a variety of ailments . . . .
Excerpts:
. . . Though there are six different types of reishi . . .
. . . Health Benefits: Reishi indeed sounds like a cure-all. An immunostimulant, it is helpful for people with AIDS, leaky gut syndrome, Epstein-Barr, chronic bronchitis, and other infectious viruses.
It is used as an aid to sleep; as a diuretic; as a laxative; and to lower cholesterol. Reishi mushrooms are antioxidants and liver protectants. . . . -