MEET THE MUSHROOM MAN
February 2017
By Deb Martín, Holistic Health Educator
We first encountered Paul Stamets on YouTube. I could not rip myself away for a second. His talk at a Bioneers’ Conference in 2015 was riveting and inspiring. This man and his wife have literally spent years in the forests, mostly in Oregon and Washington States. He holds hundreds of patents and is widely regarded as a top science expert in the field of mycology. He has a mission on this planet and has found hundreds of solutions using mushrooms. His experiments have proven many things, including that mushrooms can clean up toxic waste, combat chemical weapons, kill damaging carpenter ants, treat HIV, and kill a tough strain of e-coli, to mention a few.
To top it all off, several years ago his own mother’s life hung in the balance with a massive, stage 4 Breast Cancer tumor. Her doctors, unbeknownst to Paul at first, utilized his own mushroom products and protocols to treat her. Watch the video to the end and you’ll meet her…alive and doing well several years after her Stage 4 Cancer diagnosis.
And so began our fascination with The Mushroom Kingdom. We hope you will become a Fan of Medicinal Mushrooms too as we create for you a series of articles on mushrooms. Let’s begin with Lion’s Mane.
LION’S MANE:
FOR THE PEOPLE….FOR THE BRAIN & NERVOUS SYSTEM
We’ve all met someone who needs to regrow their nerves or other brain components. This becomes critical after a stroke, when the brain has suffered the ravages of Alzheimers and Parkinsons’, and also following damage and destruction to the protective barrier around the brain (myelin sheath) as happens with Multiple Sclerosis. And remember, the brain is connected to all the nerves in the body, so when the leg and/or foot is damaged and no longer feels anything—or perhaps feels only pain—Lion’s Mane could save the day. I met someone like that recently.
I met John at a party over the holidays. He is a scientist in his mid-30’s. When his leg was severely damaged in an accident, he underwent surgeries and a long year of healing and rehab before he could walk again. His doctor told him the nerves might regrow in a year—or not. In his case, it was the “or not” result. Being a curious and capable scientist, he ventured off on his own adventure of discovery and found, (drum roll, please): Lion’s Mane Mushroom has been shown to regrow nerves! To the chagrin of his girlfriend, he began growing it in his living room and having mushroom burritos for breakfast every day. In a couple of months, he could feel again…all the way to his toes! While I love and value all the science studies, there’s nothing so impactful as a person right in front of you with a story like that!
TELL ME MORE:
In Asia it is said that Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) gives you “nerves of steel and the memory of a lion”. Western Science is just beginning to tap into this mushroom’s medicinal effects. New studies and evidence point to unparalleled therapeutic benefits for many diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. Here’s a list of a few of the benefits which have been substantiated on some level:
- Improved cognitive function (dementia, memory and concentration and creativity)
- Nerve regeneration, remyelination, and increased Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)
- Improved digestive function and relief from gastritis
- Improvements for anxiety and depression
- Effective against deadly bacteria such as MRSA & e-coli.
- Immunosupportive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Anticoagulant; mild ACE inhibitor (heart disease), improved lipid profile (cholesterol balance).
- Has been used to prevent and treat Lyme
While clearly someone can eat this mushroom and experience healing, as in John’s case, the science points to highest medicinal effects when this mushroom is processed with a hot water extraction process, as has been done for centuries in Asia. We are delighted to carry such a product, in capsule form, on our shelves.
LION’S MANE AND THE BRAIN
While many mushrooms boost the immune system, fight cancer, and improve/reverse cardiovascular maladies, Lion’s Mane is the only known mushroom to actually REGROW NERVES. This is a Big Deal in the brain and nervous system, and the scientists refer to this as “NGF” (Nerve Growth Factor).
When various neurological disorders happen, the brain cannot manufacture its own internal source of NGF. And worse, the semi-permeable membrane (myelin sheath or “blood-brain barrier”) inhibits the body from delivering NGF from outside the brain. Over time, the brain neurons deteriorate.
Lions Mane to the Recue! This mushroom has been shown to be exceptionally effective in stimulating the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor. It does this with two UNIQUE compounds:
1) Hericenones activates the brain to produce NGF.
2) Erinacines has the ability to breach the blood-brain barrier to encourage the brain to produce neurons. It has proven effective in improving muscle-motor response pathways in Parkinson’s and repairing neurological trauma in stroke victims.
Hopefully this article has convinced you of the unique and powerful healing capabilities & value of this mushroom! I think this quote is a great summary to help you capture, in your own brain, the capabilities of Lion’s Mane Mushroom.
“Lion’s Mane is nature’s gift to your nervous system! It’s the only mushroom possessing not one but TWO potent nerve growth factors, showing potential benefits for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis, leg cramps, anxiety and more.” – Valerie Burke, MSN
REFERENCES
Lion’s Mane Mushroom’s Unpalleled Benefits for your Brain and Nervous System, by Valerie Burke, MSN, June 16, 2016. http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/lion-s-mane-mushroom-unparalleled-benefits-your-brain-and-nervous-system
Paul Stamets, Mushroom Magic, 2015 Bioneers’ Conference https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-domaindev-domaindev_extensions&hsimp=yhs-domaindev_extensions&hspart=domaindev&p=paul+stamets+Mushroom+Magic#id=1&vid=85963e918cf6447612cbec30100605fa&action=click
Medicinal Mushrooms, A Clinical Guide, by Martin Powell, 2010 and 2014.
Superfoods for Super Health: http://www.superfoods-for-superhealth.com/lions-mane.html
Bioactive Substances in Hericium erinaceous and Its Medicinal Utilization, International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, Vol 1, pp. 105-119 (1999), Takashi Mizuno, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 4-13-9 Seinan-Cho, Fujieda-Shi, Shizuoka 426-0063, Japan
Healing Lyme: Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Coinfections, by Stephen Buhner
Staying Alert,
Dr. David and Deb Martin
And all the Providers at Lotus Blossom Clinic
www.LotusBlossomClinic.com
239-277-1399
Serving the Greater Fort Myers area with Chinese Medicine, Food Healing Science, Energy Healing, Natural Esthetics/Facials, Emotional Breakthrough Coaching and more.