The super powers of the mushroom
A mushroom is defined as a living being without chlorophyll composed of a base and a cap, both made up of networks of filaments, called the mycelium. The interest in the fungus is mainly based on its reproductive apparatus, called the carpophore or the sporophore which is studied for its complex composition.
Mushrooms represent an exciting and unique universe: they have nothing to do with plants or animals, they are separate living organisms. They are absolutely essential in the cycle of nature. For example, it is mushrooms that rid the soil of our planet of various organic debris, like the rest of the plants which they transform into humus. Without them, the ground would be covered with such a layer of debris that life, as we know it, could not exist! They are intimately linked to the life cycle of all living beings and are therefore essential to us.
Mycology and mycotherapy
There is a branch of science devoted to the study of mushrooms: mycology.
Mycology really began around the 16th century: it was estimated that there were 3.3 million species in the Fungi kingdom. Of these, only 80,000 have been named by researchers. Of the 14,000 species well known to mycologists, only 50% are edible to certain degrees. 2,000 species of mushrooms are considered healthy edibles.
Historically, medicinal mushrooms have been integrated into several healing traditions in Asia, where they have been appreciated for centuries. They are particularly present in traditional Chinese medicine and Kampo medicine. Mushroom medicine, or Mycotherapy , is an integral part of Chinese pharmacopoeia.
Mushrooms with many virtues
The best-known medicinal mushrooms in the world have seen, over recent decades, scientific and clinical studies on their composition and their benefits multiply.
Mushrooms such as Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake, Cordyceps, Chaga, and Hericium have been the subject of numerous studies to better understand their composition. This research aims to explore the diversity and complexity of the compounds present in these mushrooms.
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