Mushrooms are often associated with mystery. They are indeed fascinating, being neither plant nor animal, yet having characteristics of both. In ancient times mushrooms were regarded as magical, as people could not figure out how they were produced. Could they also be magical when it comes to supporting the human immune system?

Let’s find out!

While mushroom use dates to some of the first medical texts on record in China and was traditionally used in Eastern Europe, mushrooms were generally excluded from the traditional Ayurvedic diet in India.

Why were mushrooms not widely used in Ayurveda, but were highly regarded in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

The answer is somewhat unclear, yet it can be speculated that this was due to mycophobia. Yes, fear of mushrooms!

It is common knowledge that one should have adequate identification skills before eating a mushroom from the wild. Herbalist, Renee Davis states, “Mushrooms: there are the good, the bad, and the psychedelic.” Most people are familiar with the latter varieties—which often leads to regarding the unknown with danger—and in turn, the good mushrooms often don’t make it into the spotlight.

It is estimated that there are 140,000 or so species of mushrooms on earth, of which only 10% or so are known. Of the 14,000 species that we know today, about half of them are considered to have varying degrees of edibility, over 2,000 are safe, and about 700 species are known to possess significant pharmacological properties.

While medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in TCM, Western science is just now beginning to catch up and acknowledge the powerful benefits of medicinal mushrooms. Many current Ayurvedic practitioners are also now implementing medicinal mushrooms into their practice; some mushrooms are even considered to be rasayanas- rejuvenative tonics which can help lengthen lifespan.

Immune Boosting Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms

There is a large amount of scientific literature pointing to the immune boosting benefits of medicinal mushrooms. Medicinal mushrooms can act as tonics for our immune system and may prove helpful during times of excess stress and transition. Research shows that our immune systems change with the seasons- this is a way in which we adapt to the change of weather and types of microbes in our environment.

Both TCM and Ayurveda have long held the belief that we are deeply connected with our environments- it’s about time we use this ancient wisdom to our advantage- with our current change of season from warmer months to cooler ones, it this is an optimal time to use medicinal mushrooms!

We tend to be more prone to sickness and infection during the transition of seasons, which makes sense as our immune system is in transition like the world around us. Research has led scientists to believe that the seasons have a profound effect on how human genes work.

They have discovered that the genes involved with immunity- our bodies defense against infection- are more active in cold months; while this is helpful for fighting off the flu, it can prove harmful and trigger autoimmune conditions.

One study, in “Nature Communications,” observed genes involved in immunity and specifically inflammation. These genes were more active in the cold winter months (December to February) for people living north of the equator and from June to August for those living south of the equator. Interestingly, for people who lived close to the equator, where the temperature remained mostly consistent throughout the year, they observed a different pattern—immunity and inflammation were linked to the rainy season when diseases such as malaria are more prevalent.