The Magic of Mushrooms

At their core, mushrooms are a type of fungus (not a vegetable) that grows on soil or its own food source (such as dead trees), where the mushroom gains its nutrients to thrive. Nutritionally, mushrooms offer various fibers and nutrients such as polysaccharides, amino acids, indoles, polyphenols, B vitamins, and carotenoids (a form of vitamin A). While these nutrients offer no calories—they only come from protein, fats, and carbohydrates—the benefits seen in eating mushrooms have been regularly substantiated in the medical world for a variety of contexts.

In Cancer

Certain types of mushrooms (maitake, shiitake, and reishi) have been shown in animal studies to have an anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefit. These studies show stimulation in the activities of immune cells and free radicals (which can stop tumor cells from growing and promote their death). These benefits have been associated with several types of cancer, including breast and prostate, when used along with cancer treatment (such as chemotherapy) and a nutrient-dense meal pattern.

This is really no secret, though. Traditional Eastern medicine has touted the use of mushrooms in promoting health for centuries. The first reported use of medical mushrooms for anti-inflammatory benefit goes as far back as around 500 B.C. While there is currently no hard data to show that these benefits are proven in people, there is absolutely no harm in consuming these mushrooms, and there is no known toxic level for eating them as a regular part of the diet.

In Mental Health

An emerging but relatively concealed benefit of certain other mushrooms, known to some as “magic mushrooms,” is found in the realm of brain health and mental illness. The compound found in these mushrooms is called psilocybin, which is a potent psychedelic. The effects of psilocybin vary depending on the amount consumed, the individual person’s metabolism, and the type of mushroom used.

Currently, research is limited because of laws preventing FDA approval for use in studies, but many researchers are forging ahead with clinical trials to change the landscape of science in this field. While traction for FDA approval does seem to be gaining steam over the past couple years, the world of magic mushroom research has gone back to the 1950s.

Consuming psilocybin is seen to directly impact the central nervous system and cause neuroplasticity, or the ability for the connections made in the brain to change, which feels often like a life-changing event or epiphany for the user. This impact, along with talk therapy, can be a breakthrough for many people facing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nicotine addiction, alcoholism, and cancer-related psychological distress. In all of the studies in these areas, psilocybin made a significant, beneficial impact for six months or longer. Participants in these studies have reported a “radical reframing of reality,” helping them to become “unstuck” from their normal ways of thinking and believing.

The future of psilocybin research will delve into how psychedelics affect behavior, brain function, learning and memory, the brain’s biology and mood, and look into psychological and behavioral disorders such as opioid addition, Alzheimer’s disease, and anorexia nervosa. Scientists and physicians alike  stress caution with tolerance, lack of standardization of psilocybin in “street shrooms,” and overall safety with continued unfettered use. The future of mushrooms in the medical world, however, shows promise as to how we deal with ailments plaguing people for generations.