Looking for a good book or resources that talk about which herbs/botanicals and plants pair well with medicinal mushrooms. Basically about using medicinal herbs effectively with medicinal mushrooms.

For example I know that some blend ginko with lions mane to support nervous system health.

I just took 1 capsule of Turkey tail from Gaia brand(I saw there are better brands it seems) a couple hours ago and holy smokes about an hour in I got so amped I felt uncomfortable. Like whole pot of coffee and some cocaine vision getting weird amplified.

What are the mechanisms that might cause this response in someone?

Additional information- I have a chronic mysterious health condition called dysautonomia(mystery is that the root cause is still unknown) and I tend towards physical fatigue and even when I have energy it’s unstable and doesn’t last long. The feeling is like it’s stimulated my thyroid and reminds me of when I tried iodine, just super amped. I’ll update how the evening goes.

Hi guys

I'm in need of a serious immune boost at the moment, I've had a lingering cold/flu coupled with migraines and gum infections (2 rounds of anti biotics) since just before Christmas. I think it's time to try Turkey Tail alongside improving my diet etc, my friend started using it recently and has had great results. He forages his and processes it himself, something I would like to do in the future, but I'm so run down right now I just need something ready to go that I can buy off the shelf until I have the energy and vitality to get out into the woods.

I see mainly gel caps and tincture, all at various prices and probably qualities, I imagine like CBD products alot of them will be more or less snake oil with minimal active ingredients in them or vastly overpriced, so I'm keen for some recommendations on what to buy and from where (UK based suggestions please). Also any links to good information about dosages, efficacy etc would be really handy, I've had a bit of a look but a lot of stuff I find is a bit wishy washy and I'm more a man of science.

TIA

Hi all, I am trying to do some supportive therapy for my dog Oscar. I want to give him some mushroom powder (freshcap) and have read a lot about tumor cell interference from mushrooms like turkey tail and cordyceps. Does anyone have a recommendation? He’s my best friend and I want to do whatever I can, osteosarcoma of skull bone, so it is not looking good. I attached a photo of him! He’s 7. And a very GB

Hi there

I've foraged Birch Polypore and Turkey Tail, now want to make some tinctures. Read 'hot water under pressure' is best method.. does does this mean pressure cooker?

Then what do you do? Simplest thing to me seems to then mix with pure ethanol 3:1 to make a tincture that would last

I collected some turkey tails and I wonder if I have to dry them first before I use them. And also if I just need to make a tea out of them or how to consume them.

There's so many mushrooms that are good for you, I kinda wanna take them all. There are lots of mixes on the market - are these a good idea, or better to focus on one mushroom to really get it's benefit, or maybe take individual mushrooms to get a good dosage but rotate through the week (trying to avoid spending all my money on supplements)???

Seems there's different views on whether to have whole mushroom powder or an extract. Saw a talk with a herbalist who was saying generally whole mushroom powder best as get full spectrum but some online sources saying need to get rid of chitins to facilitate absorbtion. Is it a matter of taking powders for general wellbeing, then extracts for something specific (e.g. turkey tail for cancer, chaga for inflammation)?

And if making extractions at home, how do you make a hot water extraction that keeps?

Hi all. My dad just found out his prostate cancer has spread. Still waiting to hear how Drs plan to treat but figure he should be taking Turkey Tail regardless. Does anyone have any idea about dosage? Seems 3g/day of PSK but that's an extract, so presumably a lot more of whole mushroom. Also, what is the best way to take it? I'm making him a tincture but I heard whole mushroom/powder maybe better.

I appreciate this isn't proper medical advice on this forum, I just want to get him taking something quickly. He's quite reluctant about anything that isn't hardcore chemicals so getting him to a herbalist is out the question

I recently found my first birch polypore ( she was a monster) and cut it into slices to dry. They've been out since Sunday night and are definitely drying but are still pretty bendy. It kind of feels like they might never not be bendy though? Will they ever get cracker dry? Is it worth me trying to dehydrate them in an oven at this point?

I'm planning on making a tincture, so ideally I need to be able to grind them up to a powder first. Would my nutribullet do the trick?

Thankyou in advance 🙏

What exactly is a “safe amount” of heavy metals. There are trace amounts in almost all brands I have had access to the test results - but what isn’t safe? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I don’t know how to read these results.

I recently tried a coffee with Reishi, Lionsmane, Chaga, Cordyceps, Shiitake, and Maca Root and it was delicious! I'm looking to try other brands or mixes. What have you tried?

I’m trying my hand at making double extracted tincture and put some lions mane in the dehydrator when I got home from work. I looked when I was about to go to bed and thought they could use more time so I left them overnight at 120ish and now they’re cracker dry.

But I’m worried I may have destroyed some of the compounds I’m going to extract? A lot of pages say to only dry it for 6 hours, is it still okay to use?

I plan to make a double extraction tincture, but I'm not sure how much dried lions mane to use. Most recipes I've found online only say HOW to make a tincture, and don't mention quantities. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help

My beloved 7 year old dog was recently diagnosed with cancer. It was suggested by another dog owner that I give her chaga. Does anyone here have experience with this or turkey tail for improving outcomes? I have access to lots of good local suppliers of tinctures and whole mushrooms who could also possibly help. Thanks in advance.

Hi guys,

Can’t find a definitive answer on whether Turkey tail is immune boosting, which I’d think would be bad for Autoimmune conditions, or if it’s immune modulating, which I’d think would help with Autoimmune issues.

Is Turkey Tail likely good or bad for autoimmune conditions?

Are there any other mushrooms that are good for this?

Does anyone know of a good supplier for turkey tail supplements? I am familiar with Paul Stamens Host Defense, however I was wanting to buy in bulk…?

The other night I made some turkey tail tea. About 5 one inch pieces. Gave me a boost of energy but the next morning I woke up with super bad body aches. Ended up sleeping 18 that night. I thought it was just a coincidence and I was sick. But now I have read a few things about cold like symptoms from turkey tail. Any input?

Does anyone know why there are sources saying reishi is good for the liver and then some say it can be bad?

Sources for example but I’ve seen many:

https://eatfungies.com/blogs/news/reishi-for-liver-health-the-body-s-natural-detox

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326520

Yes I realize these aren’t pubmed papers but let’s not assume everyone has the education, resources, or time to be able to go through all those.

Hello everyone,

Has anyone tried or looked into using MCT oil to improve absorption efficacy of mushrooms? Trying to find more info about how this may or may not work but struggling to find hard science among claims that it improves nutrient absorption.

Thanks in advance, have a wonderful day.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-09-chitin-crustaceans-insects-mushrooms-engages.html

Digesting chitin may increase immune function and reduce obesity

Several question in relation to extract potency and extraction methods. The method described by Real Mushroom, used for a dual extraction, consists of a hot water extraction, followed by a 50-50 mixture of alcohol and water. That is then heated for extraction. I’m unfamiliar with this 50-50 heated mixture method. They go on to say that “polysaccharides precipitate out in alcohol and are removed from the final liquid in the filtration process.” So they become suspended solids in the solution. If your using a simple kitchen strainer and not a cheese cloth(or something finer), those polysaccharide precipitates are still retained in the final mixture, correct? Or do they have a tendency to cling to the mjshroom tidsue thats being strained out? Are they still bio active and available for absorption in the body? Is loss of polysaccharides only a problem in mass production processes, as this information is from Real Mushroom (a supplement producer)? If you’re not going to do a dual extraction, whats the methods for preserving a hot water extraction if i’m interested in having a readily available solution and not made on demand tea; just add a ratio of alcohol?