Cancer is a fast growing pandemic. Cancer causes 25% of all the deaths in the United States, and is the 2nd leading cause of death behind heart disease. Fortunately, we live in a society that is determined to raise money, do the research, and find a cure. Until that cure is found, we need to pursue as many avenues of treatment as possible. One of the newest avenues is through the use of medicinal mushrooms.
Used for thousands of years in the Far East, mushrooms are believed to have healing properties for many conditions. This anecdotal evidence has spurred scientific research. Today, research has shown benefits for everything from Diabetes to Cancer. Some of the research has been done on pure extracts of a compound called AHCC, and some research has been done on an extract specifically from Maitake mushrooms.
Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is an extract of Mycellia basidiomycota which was designed by the hybridization of several types of mushrooms, including the Shitake. This genetic engineering of mushrooms has created a substance that increases the body’s natural immune system. By boosting the immune system, AHCC has been shown to help fight off bacterial and viral infections in chronically ill patients. Pneumonia and Strep throat are just a couple of the infections that have shown strong evidence of AHCC’s immune boosting power. One study found that Diabetics who take this supplement will require less insulin, and in some cases allowed diabetics to go medication free with AHCC and diet modifications. And AHCC is currently being imported for the strict use of treating cancer patients.
A Cousin of the Shitake mushroom, Maitakes mushrooms have been used by the Chinese to help ward off infections for years. More recently it has been found that the D-fraction and SX-fraction of these mushrooms exhibit an antitumor effect, by increasing our body’s immune power. Our immune system contains a few specialized cells that seek out abnormal (cancerous) cells and destroy them. One study out of Japan showed that this Maitake extract has the potential to decrease the size of lung, liver, and breast tumors in cancer patients. Positive results have been shown with almost all types of cancers, and to date this is considered by many to be the most powerful non-prescription antitumor supplement available.
With all of this research pointing to a legitimate aid in the treatment of Cancer, it is no wonder that oncologist are starting to send their patients into Chinese markets to seek out these medicinal mushrooms, and various health care providers are starting to carry these products as well. Low in fat and high in fiber, mushrooms are also packed with vitamins, particularly thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and ascorbic acid. Now that research is confirming that many of these species also stimulate the human immune systems, mushrooms are clearly becoming the gourmet health food of the 21st century.