Page 276 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

taking reishi mushrooms regularly. It also seems to safety. Consult a doctor before using reishi mushrooms
regulate irregular heartbeats. People also notice a drop if you have a bleeding disorder. Do not use before sur-
in “Bad” LDL cholesterol and an increase in “Good” gery, as reishi is a vasodilator.
HDL cholesterol.
Recipes. Reishi Mushroom Tincture Dou-
Altitude Sickness: Reishi mushroom’s ability to ble-Extraction: Use the double-extraction method
increase blood flow and oxygenation of the blood is found on page 39 or page 268 to make your tincture so
useful in treating altitude sickness. Breathing im- that you extract all of the medicinal compounds from
proves and dizziness is reduced. It is best to start tak- your mushrooms. If you have a cloudy solution in your
ing reishi mushrooms before the trip and to continue finished product that is a good thing – it is the water-
use throughout. soluble polysaccharides coming out of solution as they
are mixed back with the alcoholic part of the tincture.
Warning: Reishi mushrooms are safe, however it is
possible to ingest too much. Use reishi mushrooms Just shake before using. The alcoholic portion has the
from a reputable source or consult an expert. Think triterpenoids, which lend the reishi its bitter taste, as
about avoiding reishi mushrooms if you are pregnant well as other compounds. Note that you can also do the
or breastfeeding, since there is no information on their alcoholic extraction first and follow up with the water
extraction.

Turkey Tail Mushroom,

Trametes versicolor or

Coriolus versicolor

Turkey Tail Mushrooms have been in use for many
years in Japanese and Chinese Medicine; they are
called Yun Zhi in China. They are commonly used as an
adjunct cancer therapy as they complement both radi-
ation and chemotherapy. This polypore mushroom is
found around the globe.

Identification: Turkey tail mushrooms grow in col- Turkey Tail Mushrooms, photo by Jerzy Opioła [CC BY-SA 3.0]
onies on tree stumps or fallen logs. The caps are multi-
colored with concentric circles of alternating colors. Edible Use: Turkey tail mushrooms are very nutri-
Bands may be black, brown, tan, gray, blue, red, or- tious and full of vitamins and minerals. However, they
ange, or white. The edges of the cap form wavy ripples do not digest well, so they are rarely eaten.
like the outside edge of a turkey’s tail and they can Medicinal Use: I use turkey tail in tincture form
grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide, though I usually find and take this daily as part of my daily health routine.
them around 1.5 to 2 inches (3.75 cm to 5 cm) wide. They are also taken in dry, powdered form or as Turkey
They are stemless. The cap of the turkey tail mushroom Tail Tea. I use a double-extraction method to access all
is velvety or fuzzy, thin, and flexible. It has pores on the of its medicinal properties (see page 38 or page 268).
underside that are evenly spread out (3 to 5 pores per
mm). They do not have gills. The wavy growing edges Regulates the Immune System, Prevents
are white or nearly white. and Treats the Cold and Flu: The nutrients,
antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory components in
Gathering wild mushrooms without expert knowledge
can make you violently ill, or worse. Always consult turkey tail mushrooms regulate the immune system
with an expert before eating any wild mushroom. Look and help fight off diseases. It is a very good anti-viral.
for these identifying characteristics and have an expert Fights Cancer and Supports Cancer Pa-
verify the mushroom’s identity before using it. tients: Turkey tail mushrooms are often used for

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