“Let’s Do Mushrooms!”

“Let’s do mushrooms!” they said.

Okay, opening line and some of you are instantly giddy and curious! Some of you are warily cautious, and some of you are just downright appalled. But let me clarify here, I’m not talking about “tripping balls at Lollapalooza, dude!” I’m actually talking about the nonpoisonous, non-hallucinogenic edible variety that are promoted for legal, functional consumption boasting “adaptogenic” properties.

This is not an article on psilocybin plant-medicine magic ‘shrooms that are also providing positive clinical results for patients with PTSD, TBI, depression and addictions. Those articles should continue to update and be published as further clinical research pushes for societal acceptance to those suffering mental and behavioral health crisis. I, for one, would really like to see the VA get with both the times and the science behind plant medicine for veterans.

Rather, with all the hype and faddish popularity, I want to clear the air and give a perspective on what these edible, health supporting, non-hallucinogenic, adaptogenic varieties of fungi are and what they are claiming to possess.

This is an important topic because as we seek natural and holistic ways to supplement our own natural hormones to deal with stress, fatigue, depression and insomnia, these edible mushrooms have been used for centuries in Eastern medicine just for those reasons. I am not a big Western-pharma, “pop-a-pill-for-the-cure” patient. Though that was sort of the easy fix to get past an injury and continue mission while serving, these days I would rather seek out natural, sustainable ways to find relief than to consume something I cannot even pronounce; let alone suffer adverse side effects or form an addiction. As a partnership, Mother Earth is beautifully designed by the creator and truly has our best interest in mind. I would rather trust her provision for my medicinal and nutritional intake.

Before we jump into this though, it would be irresponsible of me not to mention that supplements of any kind are not necessarily a replacement for sustenance or sound medical advice. Most supplements are not FDA approved, like 90% of the things on the shelves at GNC, and yet annually it is still a 50-billion-dollar industry! So, my suggestion is to always seek out professional guidance. Listen to your body, consider allergies, health conditions and talk with your provider when necessary.

So, let’s first start with what a mushroom is and how it actually helps the ecosystem. A mushroom is more than a nuisance growing in your yard where your dog left a couple of landmines last week. These fungi are actively living in symbiosis with other surrounding flora within their natural habitat. A mushroom is an intelligent living organism much like a tree. The mushroom starts its life as a tiny egg-like button connected to its mycelium, a root structure that helps secure its place firmly in the substrate and allows communication surrounding plants. Once the fungus has revealed itself to the world, they are much like us; beautiful in their own shapes, sizes, and personalities. Some variations even grow out of a live tree or downed log, out of a rock or even under your kitchen sink. As long as it finds moisture and a base to root itself, it will begin its life. With this newfound revelation and reverence, I no longer run them over with the lawn mower or hit them like Carl Spackler trimming the daisies in Caddy Shack.

Consider the fungi root system, the mycelium, like a communication mesh network allowing neighboring plants to share communication amongst each other. It has been found in studies that if a tree’s own health is deteriorating, it will send messages through the underground network of roots and mycelium to other surrounding trees. To lasting effect, in these studies it has been shown that the neighboring trees will respond to its call graciously and send their own nutrients to the unhealthy tree in an attempt for triage and first aid. The mushroom mycelium acts as part of the re-trans communication network and therefore aids in the healthy plant life of all that we see above ground. Everything is in living and loving relationship to each other, and mushrooms are acting as the 18E’s setting up comms for its area of operations for the surrounding indigenous forces.

Ok, time to nerd out a bit. “Adaptogens” is a coined word by Soviet scientists after WWII during research on the effects of herbal medicines upon stress in the body. In short, adaptogen properties in certain mushrooms, roots and herbs work with the bodies hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). This relationship of the bodies three leading hormone producing glands are connected to the central nervous system and endocrine system; much like the tree/mycelium root system example mentioned above. Adaptogens are showing positive results in stabilizing both thyroid and Hashimoto’s diseases;

“Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are associated with enhanced oxidative stress. Adaptogenic herbs counter catabolic processes associated with stress on the body and increase the oxygen consumptive capacity to decrease metabolic markers associated with anaerobic metabolism.” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/adaptogenic.)

If there are too many stress hormones like cortisol or adrenaline, and organs are overtaxed, adaptogens are believed to help lower and balance them in a natural, non-evasive way. Even better, if there is too little presence of a needed hormone, adaptogens are believed to help emulate and build up the bodies reserve to replenish until the body can come back online to produce its own supply. That is, as long as the person is making positive changes in diet, exercise, sleep, routine and taking the correct supplements when needed, adaptogens answer the call to turn off the bodies alarm system sending out the “distress call.” Not a replacement; but as a supplement.

An important reference for all things adaptogens can be found in a January 2021 journal publishing on the National Library of Medicine website titled “Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials.” (Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials – PMC (nih.gov) It is a long read of course but it’s packed with valuable information lending credit to the science and study of mushrooms for their medicinal, therapeutic and nutritional value. A glowing statement within it touts the benefits of mushrooms and as “fungal compounds with bioactivity, and which are potentially useful for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, are very diverse.”

Something worth considering in your daily diet and sustained way of living is your gut health. The gut is a marvelous and important part of our makeup that we unconsciously add garbage to and take for granted every day. It is said that the brain and the gut have the most nerve receptors and pathways in the body and that the gut is equally important to your physical and mental health as the brain. With that said, to ensure we are giving as much attention to our digestive system, we need to create a relationship with the good stuff that we should be adding to our diet. For energy, nutrients and gut cell support we look to polysaccharides. Mushrooms are packed with these good micro-carbohydrates and should be investigated as an addition to your current diet;

“The most important are polysaccharides, structural components of the fungal cell wall. The polysaccharides have a strong ability to carry biological information. More specifically, they have antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activity. In reality, the type and modulation of these biological activities are influenced by the specific structural features of the molecule, such as the weighted degree of branching, backbone linkage, side-chain units, and the type of constituent monosaccharides.”

With cancer, it’s been studied that it is the sugar-based proteins that tend to become distorted, toxic, oxidized and a source of inflammation; all things negative to a prosperous, functioning body. When an unhealthy overabundance of unrefined sugars corrupt a healthy protein cell, inflammation occurs which causes a breeding ground for cancer to take root and metastasize. Mushroom’s essential compositional makeup are being scientifically shown to have remarkable results in canceling out the corruption of our bodies cellular health;

“They” (adaptogens) “modulate the immune system by stimulating the expression of genes coding for proteins involved in the immune response, but also have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties.” Also, “Mushrooms are rich in proteins, which have cytotoxic and anticancer properties. Some of them are known for their characteristics and marked immunomodulatory effect. These proteins are indicated as fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs) whose mechanisms of action can be diverse.” 

I remember not too long ago the new, big focus was cutting down on the consumption and absorption of dietary and environmental toxins and oxidizers. Unfortunately, these chemicals and compounds are still found in the environment we inhabit and the ingredients that are hard to pronounce on the nutritional label decades later. The various food companies we grew up with, trusted and formed addictions to are now no longer serving us.

Likewise, the local water company we pay our monthly utility bill for access to purified water for our families is no longer providing us contaminate-free water. Without serious filtration at the household level, contaminates like heavy metals, micro-plastics, fluoride, chlorine and pharmaceuticals make their way into our household tap water. I’m seriously considering tossing a grenade out there and writing an article titled; “Water: Cheers to killing us softly!” just to highlight how compromised the water system we all depend on globally really is. We need to fully take back our power and turn our conscious attention to responsible, natural, whole, organically grown and clean resources for the means to counter the Western diet we are fed daily. Mushrooms, roots, and herbs do help offset these toxins;

“Other fungal metabolites with bioactivity are phenolic compounds, antioxidants with different mechanisms of action (oxygen scavenging, metal inactivation, free radical inhibition, peroxidase decomposition), laccases (copper-containing oxidases), and fatty acids.”

A simple search online for functional or performance mushrooms will result in a hundred assorted brands today selling different variations of edible mushrooms, roots, and herbs. Most of these variations are found and resourced from the upper northern hemispheres of Alaska, Canada, China and Russia or in damp tropical regions in and around the equator.

Consider these precipitous climates and environments of the tundra or jungle areas and it is not hard to fathom a perfect breeding ground for fungi. It has even been found that spores, as well as pollen, can attach to tiny water droplets that gather near the gills of the mushroom cap that then later evaporate to form the clouds in our skies. Since a cloud is formed in one location, can travel thousands of miles before releasing its water vapor in the form of rain while dispersing those spores to areas all around the world, this hydrological process enables essential fungi reproduction, as well as maintaining a natural recycling machine of organic material. Wherever they may land, these spores go to work; magically!

The benefits to our Earth from these globalist miracle workers are enormous! But it is also worth considering what specific benefits they may lead to your own physiology. The industry has broken mushroom, root, and herb benefits into two distinct categories; “Performance” and “Functional.”

The Performance category includes varieties that may show benefits that:

• Increase energy levels.
• Boost the immune system.
• Support digestion.
• Boost metabolism.
• Regulate oxygen.
• Balance hormones for men and women.
• Supplement vitamin and mineral deficiency.
• Decrease inflammation.

Look to fungi, root, and herb variations of: Cordyceps, Ginseng Root, Licorice Root, Shitake, Maitake, Tremella, Skullcap Herb and Poria for these performance qualities.

The Functional category includes the varieties that may show benefits that:

• Enhance mood.
• Reduce stress.
• Destroy cancer cells.
• Manage skin and hair anti-aging.
• Alzheimer’s and dementia prevention (not reversal).
• Proven sleep enhancer.
• Promote cognitive health.

Look to fungi, root, and herb variations of: Reishi, Chaga, Lions Mane, Turkey Tail, Gingko, Yerba Mate, Valerian Root, Pasion flower, Saffron, Lemon Balm, Holy Basil, Kava, and St Johns Worth for these functional qualities.

Those mentioned above are not an exhaustive list of all the fungi, root, and herbs available but for the scope of this article, they will point you in the right direction and give you a foundation to build upon.

In doing so, searching online or at your local health store will render hundreds of brands advertising the above benefits but it’s on you to do your research for the most reputable and trusted ones. It’s important to point out you can either find all these separately in capsule or tablet form to specifically focus your supplemental results and create a stack or you may find them in a powder blend that can be used in your bullet-proof coffee resulting in your morning mood-enhancing mud-water concoction.

Recently, I have steered towards Laird Hamilton’s, Laird Superfood, brand. He has been a reputable personality in the surfing community and has a line of products that are sourced responsibly. He has created a company that represents his personal brand and one I gravitate to; an innovative, adrenaline junky that wants to live a long, clean life. His prices are reasonable as a nutritional supplement to an all-ready expensive monthly grocery bill. He has intentionally made his line up accessible on Amazon, Walmart and in most food chains. I have no affiliation with the company, but if this article renders a big wave surf safari with Mr. Hamilton personally, I will happily watch from the beach on Maui and not complain!

To conclude: Hopefully, this has given a brief, but informative resource to at least get the gears going about discovering the nutritional and medicinal value of mushroom, root and herb supplements for yourself or family members. Adaptogens are even good for your four-legged friends. Do your research, but a quick google search will yield just as many brands and varieties to help with doggy stress, physical, emotional and mental issues. I use CBD Dog Health for my online K9 health and cognition products.

We are truly starting to turn back to nature since the beginning of this millennium. I think as the science, the clinical research, the access to open-source information and the willingness to move from man-made, artificial products/medicines with a laundry list of side effects and health warnings back to a natural, grassroots, whole, and sustainable way of being, we will collectively usher in more and more opportunities to explore and embrace what Mother Earth has always been providing us. The time of looking at the “primitive ways” of doing life might just prove to be the “primary ways” to a long and sustainable way of living.

And if you get nothing else out of this article, at least you became familiar with a novel word; Adaptogen. It’s even fun to say: Ahhhhhh Dapt Ohhhhhhhhh Jinnnnnnnnnnnn!

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Robb is a retired active Army veteran of 21 years, primarily serving as a Cavalry Scout. Having accomplished multiple combat tours, diverse global assignments and leadership roles, Robb retired as a First Sergeant of Shadow Troop, 1-33 CAV (Rakassans). From there, Robb went on to attempt his luck in the civilian sector as a Reliability Engineer at an international paper processing company during the pandemic. Not quite satisfied and feeling the draw to serve once again, Robb made his way back behind the gate working with some of the nation’s tip of spear warfighters on Fort Liberty, NC.

It was during this time that he was drawn into an esoteric spiritual journey of self-discovery and began peeling back the onion of how vanquishing spiritual warfare can serve as a personal force multiplier. Dropping all ties to dogmatic religious principles, Robb solely embarked into studies of the mystical and metaphysical for the answers of life. Now forged with this newfound purpose, Robb blends his current path of spiritual ascension along with his past experience of the rigors of military service in order to uplift the future of his brothers and sisters in arms.

“The answers we all seek lie in potential.”

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.