Mushrooms for May! May's TCM Tip is a little introduction to the medicinal use of mushrooms. Mushrooms are definitely having a moment in the spotlight with increasing availability in grocery stores, everyday products such as coffee, and in supplements. Their presence is undeniable as a current "trend" in the health and wellness community. So, it seems like a great time to take a look at some of these mushrooms and their relationship to TCM.
Mushrooms have been an integral part of the extensive pharmacopeia of Chinese medicine and have had their place in the materia medica for centuries. Although some medicinal mushrooms are edible, such as shiitake, maitake, and lion’s mane, some are purely medicinal. Let's take a quick look at a few of these purely medicinal mushrooms that are a regular part of my Chinese medicine prescriptions.
Reishi (Ling Zhi) - This mushroom belongs to the Ganoderma family and in TCM is classified as an herb that nourishes the heart and calms the spirit. This means that is a wonderful mushroom for heart blood and heart qi deficiency. It helps with insomnia, palpitations, nervousness, and forgetfulness. Although it would be unpleasant to eat, it can be sliced and used for tea, extracted into a tincture, or processed into a powder that can be added to drinks or encapsulated. Some would classify reishi as a qi tonic and longevity substance, meaning it can be helpful to take regularly to enhance longevity and quality of life.
Cordyceps (Dong Chong Xia Cao) - Although this is actually a fungus that's related to mushrooms and not a mushroom per se....it totally belongs here due to its classification as a medicinal fungus in TCM. Cordyceps is classified as a tonic, meaning it has a strengthening action on the body, most notably on the kidneys and the lungs. It can be used for issues like asthma, wheezing, chronic lung disorders, and pain in the knees, or low back due to deficiency or chronic disease. It has been well studied and demonstrates potential as an immunomodulatory agent, cancer support medicinal, and athletic performance booster. Due to its cost, it is really important to make sure you get this from a reputable source for Cordyceps Sinensis...as opposed to other Cordyceps variants that have different or less potent effects.
Poria (Fu Ling) - Poria is classified as an herb that drains damp. This means that it is utilized for its diuretic effect, it helps the body to eliminate excess fluids. This makes it useful in conditions with stagnant fluids such as edema, urinary difficulty, and dizziness. It also has a mild tonifiication effect on the TCM Spleen aka digestive function benefiting conditions such as diarrhea, bloating, and distention. Poria is gentle but really effective and is very widely used in Chinese medicine formulas. Because of its diuretic effect, it should be avoided or used very carefully under the supervision of an experienced herbalist and physician when pharmaceutical diuretics are being taken.
Mushrooms are totally deserving of their moment in the spotlight right now. They are amazing for the wide variety of medicinal benefits they have and let's be honest they are simply delicious to eat!
I'm Amy! I'm an acupuncturist, herbalist, registered nurse, and expert in women's health, anxiety, and stress relief.
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**All information and resources found on balancedstonewellness.com are based on the opinions, experience and research of the author unless otherwise noted. All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider...even if that provider may be the author ;)
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