Fungus Talk Hits Mainstream Again
by MADELINE FERGUSON
HBO’s new blockbuster show, The Last Of Us, has brought mycology-talk mainstream again.
The show is about a world as we know it-ending outbreak of a cordyceps fungus that infects people and essentially turns them into zombies. Well, it turns out there is actually a fungus that does that, but only to small insects.
With fungus entering the mainstream conversation as the center of a horror show, it’s a perfect time to also discuss the amazing things about all types of fungus, especially different types of mushrooms.
And, if you are a fan of The Last Of Us, no shame. But might I also recommend a documentary on the wonders of mushrooms called Fantastic Fungi?
Fantastic Fungi is a beautiful documentary that teaches about the incredible number of benefits fungi could and does provide the world. It also discusses how much there is still left to discover about fungi. Or check out other movies that are fun to watch while altered.
Benefits of different fungi and mushrooms range from human health support and carbon reduction to the vast uses of psychedelic mushrooms to treat depression, addiction and so much more.
Health Benefits Of Mushrooms
There are so many different types of mushrooms we know about and even more that are yet to be discovered and studied, so this list is by no means exhaustive, but a fun look into how you could use mushrooms to benefit your health.
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First, let’s talk about hallucinogenic mushrooms. It is the psilocybin in the mushrooms that makes people “trip”. There is so much new and emerging research on the mental health benefits of medical mushrooms. Psilocybin has shown to help people with PTSD, depression and addiction. It has such promise in the treatment of mental health conditions because unlike traditional mental health medication that has to be taken every day for most of someone’s life, psilocybin can be used for single treatments and only every few years.
When it comes to your physical health, mushrooms like Chaga, Reishi and Lion’s Mane are all shown to have benefits.
Chaga is shown to help your digestion, immune system and even your skin health.
Reishi is used to support your nervous and cardiovascular systems
Lion’s Mane provides nourishment to the brain and helps support nervous system health.
These are only a few of a long list of mushrooms described as adaptogens. Adaptogens are compounds found in herbal medicine that help the body adapt to stress. Stress causes inflammation in the body, so these adaptogenic mushrooms are seen as anti-inflammatory.
Mushrooms, like Turkey Tail, are also shown to have profound impact on immune function and brain health. Mycologists are hopeful that mushrooms may help unlock a cure for many autoimmune diseases, cancer and brain diseases like Parkinson’s and Dementia.
One of the most incredible things about mushrooms is that we will know so little about them. The undiscovered properties of these super-substances could lead to a cure for the diseases that plague so many of us or the solution to climate change.
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