by Dr. Isaac Eliaz, M.D., MS., L.Ac.
Whether you’re talking about a cold or the flu, there are various recommendations for preventing and treating them. If you start early on prevention, you’ll likely be among the lucky people who sail through the winter without catching either. By far the best defense is prevention. A strong immune system will prevent a cold or the flu and speed up recovery time if you do in fact get sick.
One of the best preventive measures is medicinal mushrooms, which are well-documented for their ability to enhance immune function and help combat infection, especially on a long-term basis. Medicinal mushrooms are literally immune system coaches, and it is more efficient to train your immune system when you are not already sick. The beauty of medicinal mushrooms is that they are also highly beneficial in times of distress and when your immune system is under an increased risk.
The best way to use medicinal mushrooms is to take them regularly at a maintenance dose and then increase the dosage when you are at greater risk or when you have a cold. At times of distress or if there is an increased risk for colds and flu, doubling the dosage of medicinal mushrooms is extremely beneficial.
Mushrooms naturally contain Beta glucans, which are simple polysaccharides (sugar/carbohydrate molecules) that enhance immune function by boosting macrophage activity. Beta glucans can be cultivated in yeast cells and extracted and added to mushroom products for a booster effect. Thus, when you select a mushroom product, it is important to choose one that contains additional Beta glucans for the best benefit. Additional herbs that are valuable for immune health include Echinacea and Goldenseal. Various Chinese herbal formulas such as Yin Qiao San, Gui Zi Tang, Ge Gen Tang can also be effective, depending on the specific characteristics of the flu or cold. Tonifying and adaptogenic herbs, such as Astragalus, Ginseng, and Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng) are also powerful defenses, but consult an herbalist knowledgeable in TCM herbology before taking them.
To continue reading about how to stay healthy this cold and flu season, visit Dr. Eliaz’s Wellness Blog.
Dr. Isaac Eliaz, M.D., MS., L.Ac., has been a pioneer in integrative medicine since the early 1980s. He is Director of Amitabha Medical Clinic and Healing Center in Sebastopol, CA, where he and his team of integrative practitioners treat cancer and other chronically ill patients using a wide range of cutting edge and traditional therapies drawn from diverse medical systems.
Thanks for this info. Mushrooms are a mystery to me. I know they have medicinal properties but I don’t know shitake from reiki.