Did you know?
Medicinal Mushrooms contain a high density of polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and triterpenes. They also contain over one thousand other bioactive compounds such as phenols, sterols, and tannins.
When extracted, a variety of these naturally occurring compounds in Medicinal Mushrooms have been suggested to support immune function, boost cognition, fight fatigue, improve mood, benefit a wide range of medical conditions, as well as athletic and sexual performance enhancement.
Keep reading for a further explanation of these scientific terms and how they relate to our tinctures!
Definitions
Adaptogens
Adaptogens are substances that help your body maintain homeostasis and respond to fatigue, anxiety, illness, or stress - in other words, they support the body's ability to adapt. Research suggests that in addition to exerting anti-fatigue, pro-cognitive, and immunomodulatory effects, adaptogens might also help play a role in balancing levels of our stress-inducing hormone, cortisol.
Medicinal Mushrooms are one of the few naturally-ocurring sources of adaptogenic compounds, and some Medicinal Mushrooms that have been used in healing for centuries such as Reishi (Ganoderma sp.), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus),and Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris)are now often referred to as 'adaptogenic mushrooms' for their supportive role in the body's natural regulation functions.
Beta-glucans
The cell walls of mushrooms boast a special type of adaptogenic polysaccharide known as beta-glucan. The basic role that beta-glucans play within the structure of mushroom cell walls seems to mirror the overall immunomodulatory effect that beta-glucans have on our bodies. These compounds are thought to have a meaningful beneficial impact on the immune system, as research suggests that beta-glucans effectively stimulate the host immune response to defend against bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infection.
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are a complex carbohydrate and are one of the most commonly occurring bioactive adaptogenic compounds in fungi. Thought to play an immunomodulatory role while simultaneously boosting cognitive function and mood, specific types of mushrooms, like Reishi, Turkey Tail, and Maitake, all possess high levels of polysaccharides such as alpha- and beta-glucans. Along with many other bioactive compounds, a high level of beta-glucans is what characterizes our Medicinal Mushroom Tinctures.
Triterpenes
Commonly found in Reishi and Chaga, triterpenes are noted to have significant potential to support the human immune system. They are implicated in the mechanisms of action and pharmacological effects produced by many plants and fungi that are used in folk medicine against diseases. As well as being immunomodulator compounds, they have been described as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial agents.
Why Tinctures?
Tinctures make enjoying the therapeutic benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms easy! Because most Medicinal Mushroom bioactive adaptogens are water-soluble but locked inside a matrix of chitin within the fruiting body, all of our Tinctures undergo a lengthy three-phase extraction process to break down the chitin and render the adaptogens bioavailable. This ensures high concentrations of immune-supporting triterpenes, mood-boosting beta-glucans, and other homeostasis-promoting adaptogens in all Go Mushrooms Tinctures.
Whole Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium?
There’s been controversy over the inclusion of the mycelium, which is the root structure of the mushrooms, as well as the whole fruiting body in Medicinal Mushroom products. The majority of the mushroom polysaccharides reported to have adaptogenic qualities are found in the whole fruiting body (the stem and the cap), so Medicinal Mushroom products made from just the body will naturally have higher levels of adaptogens. At Go Mushrooms, we use only the whole fruiting body, and not the mycelium and substrate in which the mushrooms are grown.
Our Go Mushrooms Tinctures use whole fruiting mushroom bodies only – no mushroom byproducts – for the highest level of adaptogen efficacy.We believe the highest level of adaptogenic support comes from mushroom products that are extracted from whole fruiting bodies.