Blog - Mushroom Magic

Mushroom Magic
Posted on September 20, 2010

Mushrooms have a long history of magical lore. From old-world fairy tales to East Asian stories of Immortality, mushrooms have been revered for their potent and mysterious powers. Composed of spongy spores, these fruiting bodied fungii come in shapes that are at once unusual and alluring. Their life span is curious too. They suddenly appear out of nowhere, often in a colony of brethren, and in a days turn disappear. They arrive in a startling array of colors from psychedelic oranges, reds, and yellows to the earthiest hues of browns, greens and grays. Some are carriers of deadly toxins, others elixirs of health and youth. So where do these magical creatures fit into the human world of health and medicine?

Medicinal mushrooms have been an intricate part of Japanese and Chinese traditional medicine. In Japan, extensive research has been applied to the therapeutic value of countless mushrooms. The end conclusion, medicinal mushrooms are packed with constituents that benefit the human body. Most all medicinal mushrooms enhance the immune system; quieting down allergic reactions of an over-stimulated immune response, while boosting overall immunity. Some are even capable of reducing tumor growth. Generally speaking, incorporating medicinal mushrooms into your daily regimen can help decrease recurrent coughs, colds and infections.

Here in the Northwest we are blessed with an abundance of wild mushrooms. Many people head into the mountains and forests to pick their own mushrooms this time of year, hunting for chantrelles and the likes in rotting douglas firs and other moisture-rich ecosystems. A number of local organizations host classes to help train people in proper mushroom identification as well as providing exceptional recipes for newly unearthed treasures.

Chinese Nutritional Therapy,Recipes,Season of Fall