Mushroom Tea as a Holistic Herbal Medicine
Mushroom tea is a curious thing. Some people know of tea as dried leaves and flowers and many more think of tea as nothing more than a hot drink on a cold winter day. But mushroom teas, especially the ones we make at Zoom Out Mycology, aren’t just a tasty way to warm yourself up -- they’re a natural form of medicine that have been used to treat and prevent illness for many generations. In this blog, we’ll give you the breakdown on our most popular mushroom teas and what makes them so good for your mind and your body.
Reishi Red
Our Reishi Red is a tangy and bold tea made with reishi mushrooms, lemon, hibiscus and ginger. Reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi) has been used in ancient medicine for more than 2,000 years and is most commonly found in Asian medicinal practices. The Chinese believe reishi has immortal properties and symbolizes longevity.
Reishi has amazing stress relieving properties and is known as an adaptogen, which means it shields your body from potential disease and infection. Our bodies respond to stress in a myriad of ways, but prolonged or chronic stress can do internal damage and lead to memory loss or impairment, digestive problems, mental illness such as depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, and fatigue.
Adaptogens like reishi are being studied for their stress relieving benefits. While more evidence is needed, animal studies on the effects of reishi show promise.
Reishi Rose
Our Reishi Rose has all of the same properties as our Reishi Red, but is extra soothing. This tea is brewed with rose petals, buds and hips, and lemon. If you’re new to mushroom tea, this is a great introduction.
Because reishi has been shown to impact white blood cells and immune function, it is currently being tested as a treatment option for cancer. In recent studies, it has been found to suppress the spread and proliferation of cancerous tumors.
Drinkers of our Reishi teas may also benefit from allergy relief, reduced inflammation, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and better sleep.
Berry Brain
Our Berry Brain tea is made with lion’s mane mushroom, ginger, hibiscus, blueberry and elderberry. Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a beautiful mushroom with cascading tendrils that make it look like a waterfall frozen in time, but its health benefits are even more magical.
Lion’s mane has a growing mound of scientific evidence to support claims that it can enhance brain function and serve as an anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial to improve wound healing and ward off disease and infection. A 2013 study found that the bioactive compounds in lion’s mane protected against ulcers in rats.
The neurotrophic effects of lion’s mane are also being used to study Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease and some are finding that its anti-inflammatory properties do indeed impact memory recognition. What future studies will unveil is certainly exciting.
Maitake Mint
Our Maitake Mint is the most earthy tea we make, infused with a strong peppermint flavor and green tea and fennel. Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are rich in antioxidants, potassium, vitamins B and C, copper, fiber, and amino acids.
Multiple studies have shown maitake to be a useful treatment against cancer. A 2013 study on mice found that taken orally, maitake inhibited tumor growth and suppressed T-cell count. Additional studies have shown that maitake can lower cholesterol and help fight diabetes. A 2013 study proved that maitake improved glycemic response in mice and since then funding has been approved for human studies on the same effect.
Sipping on some Maitake Mint will also invigorate and energize you for the day, making it an excellent choice for your morning cup of tea.
Overall, mushrooms are still in their very early stages of scientific exploration for western medicine, but turning to ancient cultures, we can see the benefits these amazing fungi have on our health and well being. If you’re interested in trying our mushroom teas, visit our online store.
