Mycotherapy / Mushrooms
Archaeological studies have shown that mushrooms have been known to humans for about 30,000 years. The curative and nutritional properties of mushrooms are nothing new to humanity, even if Western societies are only just beginning to recognize their benefits.
The first traces of the use of mushrooms for therapeutic purposes are found in China and Russia and date back to around 4,000 years ago. Chinese medicine uses up to 270 medicinal mushrooms.
Their richness in bioactive substances such as polysaccharides (beta-glucan...), trace elements, and antioxidants gives them numerous therapeutic properties, including:
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Anticancer
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Anti-inflammatory
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Anti-degenerative
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Bactericidal
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Antiviral
Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was discovered from a fungus (Penicillium notatum). Some mushrooms, such as Reishi or Cordyceps, have been used for millennia in traditional medicine to boost the immune or nervous system and combat fatigue. The Chaga mushroom is rich in antioxidants and supports vitality. The Lion's Mane mushroom is studied for its benefits on cognitive functions and neurogenesis. Modern research is increasingly confirming their potential applications against many health problems and even as a complement to conventional treatments.
Mushrooms belong to their own biological kingdom, the fungal kingdom (Fungi). Genetically, they are closer to animals than to plants! Like us, they breathe by absorbing oxygen and releasing CO₂. Their cell wall is made of chitin, the same material as the shells of insects.
Long classified among plants, they differ because they do not have chlorophyll and therefore cannot use sunlight as a source of energy for nourishment (photosynthesis). Instead, they must find nutrients in their environment, either by feeding on dead organic matter or by associating with other living organisms.
They can be:
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Saprophytic: They feed on decomposing organic matter such as leaves and wood.
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Parasitic: They feed at the expense of their host, whether plants or trees (Cordyceps).
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Symbiotic: They live in a close relationship with their host. In this partnership, the fungus mobilizes nutrients from the soil (especially phosphorus) for the benefit of the plant or tree, while in return, it receives carbon that it is unable to synthesize.
