Natural mushrooms have been used for centuries around the world to ease a number of ailments with users having reported a variety of benefits ranging from boosting energy, clarity, and focus, to improving gut and heart health.
The first thing that may come to mind when you think of myshrooms is “magic mushrooms.” A mushroom doesn’t need to be psychedelic to offer benefits to your health and mood!
There has been more interest in psychedelic mushrooms in recent years thanks to the popular podcast the Joe Rogan Show and other self-proclaimed “psychonauts” across the internet openly discussing the benefits of psilocybin mushrooms and microdosing.
Lion’s Mane – A fungus believed to possess healing properties, Lion’s Mane, or hericium erinaceus, is being studied at length as it is believed to aid those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stomach problems, and many other conditions. In fact, in this article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), researchers concluded that Lion’s Mane has neurotrophic properties that can be beneficial to humans and that regular consumption may promote nerve and brain health! Time will tell what other benefits this fantastic fungus possesses!
Cordyceps – Cordyceps sinensis is a fungus closely related to the mushroom that comes from the mountains of Tibet. The people of North Sikkim call the fungus the “Himalayan Viagra” for its use as an aphrodisiac, though many use it for a variety of ailments. In this article from the NCBI, researchers discussed how the folk healers of Sikkim use Cordyceps to cure 21 ailments including cancer, asthma, TB, diabetics, cough and cold, erectile dysfunction, hepatitis, and more. They concluded that more research is needed, but that the effects of cordyceps on “immunomodulatory-related antitumor activities are most promising and deserve further attention”.
Kava Kava – Kava Kava, also known as the “intoxicating pepper” has been used by Pacific Islanders for thousands of years for both relaxation and its medicinal benefits. As noted in one of the earliest Western publications on kava (1886): “A well prepared Kava potion drunk in small quantities produces only pleasant changes in behavior…It relaxes the body after strenuous efforts, clarifies the mind and sharpens the mental faculties”.
Damiana – Damiana Leaf is used in Mexican traditional medicine as a tea, and is especially known for its use as an aphrodisiac. However, it’s also known to be used for a host of other things like anemia and anxiety, as an antibacterial, as an antidepressant, and as an antioxidant (and that’s just some of the A’s).