Medicinal mushrooms, the autumn magic from the forest!

Autumn is the season when the forest comes alive. Under a carpet of falling leaves, mushrooms of all shapes and colors burst forth from the ground. Their appearance fascinates us year after year—they seem as mysterious as they are powerful.

Because the forests are full of mushrooms right now, we want to focus on a special species in this blog: the medicinal mushroomA mushroom that is not only part of the ecosystem, but also part of age-old traditions of health and balance.

What are medicinal mushrooms?

A medicinal mushroom is a mushroom that, in addition to its nutritional value, contains substances that can naturally support the body. Rather than simply being used as food, these species have also been used in various cultures for their unique properties.

In Asia, medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine, but they also have a permanent place in natural medicine in Japan, Korea, and Tibet. Think of well-known species such as Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Maitake (Grifola frondosa) and Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus).

Even closer to home, the custom is not new. The Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 450 v.Chr.) already described the special properties of mushrooms in wound care and inflammation. And although this knowledge faded into the background in the West for a long time, we are today rediscovering their value—this time supported by modern research.Vetvicka &Novak, 2007 (1)].

What are the effects of medicinal mushrooms?

The power of a medicinal mushroom lies in its rich composition of bioactive substances. Scientific research shows that mushrooms contain compounds such as beta-glucans, triterpenes, sterols and polysaccharidesThese substances are being intensively studied for their potential role in supporting the immune system, energy levels and resistance to stress [Vetvicka & Novak, 2007 (1)].

Each species has its own character. This means Reishi often associated with relaxation and resilience, while Cordyceps was traditionally used for energy and endurance. Lion's Mane is known for its influence on focus and clarity.

While we can't make medical claims, studies show that mushrooms contain a unique synergy of natural compounds that help the body bring itself into balance — without being considered a drug.

What is the difference between a medicinal mushroom and a regular mushroom?

In a sense you could use any mushroom medicinal can name. Everything we eat nourishes and influences our bodies—even the common mushroom or oyster mushroom. A famous quote from Hippocrates is: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”.

However, the difference lies in the concentration and variety of bioactive compounds. Culinary mushrooms are rich in fiber, protein, and minerals, but medicinal mushrooms also contain a complex spectrum of compounds that can support the body at deeper levels.

A good example is the Shiitake (Lentinula edodes): loved worldwide in the kitchen, but also rich in lentinan, An beta-glucan that is being investigated because of its possible influence on the immune system [European Journal of Medical Research, 2024 (2)]. This blurs the line between food and Wellbeing — just as in many traditional cultures no strict distinction was ever made.

Why are medicinal mushrooms back in the spotlight?

The resurgence of medicinal mushrooms is partly due to renewed scientific interest, but also to people who want to reconnect with nature.

Writers and mycologists such as Paul Stamets, author of Mycelium Running, have played a key role in this revaluation. He calls mushrooms the architects of nature —organisms that not only connect trees through their mycelium, but also provide insights into how we as humans are connected to our environment.

In addition, documentaries such as Fantastic Fungi and the growing awareness of natural foods contribute to this renewed fascination. At a time when many people are seeking balance, energy, and peace, mushrooms seem to symbolize precisely that: natural harmony.

An ode to the medicinal mushroom

The medicinal mushroom reminds us that health is not something we find only in jars or pills, but something deeply intertwined with the nature around us.

They grow in silence, in places where light and shadow meet, and bring the forest to life with their invisible network underground.

There is wisdom in their simplicity: that recovery, growth and resilience often begin with something small — like a mushroom quietly doing its work.
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Sources

1. Vetvicka, V., & Novak, M. (2007). Biological actions of β-glucans, 27(6A), 2773–2784. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17895634/
2. Zhao, Q. et al. (2024). Lentinan progress in inflammatory diseases and tumor diseases. European Journal of Medical Research. Study: https://eurjmedres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40001-023-01585-7
3. Hippocrates, De Natura Hominis (c. 450 v.Chr.)
4. Paul Stamets, Mycelium Running (2005)
5. Documentary Fantastic Fungi (2019)