Why We Need Mushrooms

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

What happens to the mushrooms after you've used them to clean up toxins? Are they safe to eat or do they need to be disposed of carefully?

To the best of our knowledge — and I must emphasize that more studies are needed — it appears the mushrooms coming from oil-contaminated soils are edible. However, a major problem is that with oil spills, heavy metals and other toxins also co-occur, so it is safer to let the mushrooms rot and return into the soil food web rather than cooking them for dinner.

You're also working on a project where people are using mushrooms for water filtration. What can you tell us about that?

Mycelium can be grown on woodchips and placed into burlap sacks to filter water run-off, which can contain petroleum products, heavy metals and toxic bacteria. Mycelium Running describes these methods in great detail.

We are involved in several projects here in Mason County, Wash., connecting the Soil Conservation District; the Public Works Department, which chips wood from storm-damaged branches and trees; and the Health Department, which has a mandate to protect the watersheds and estuaries. We are seeking partners to conduct experiments nationally this next year. 

Mushroom Medicine

You write that one of the ways that mushrooms might save us is by treating viruses. Is it really possible that antiviral properties in mushrooms might be used to treat viruses such as bird flu?

Yes, my work on novel antiviral and antibacterials from mushrooms has produced some surprising results: results which are reproducible, species-specific and out-performing in some instances, the pure control antiviral drugs when run in parallel. Thus far, these are in-vitro tests — some of the best modern tests science has developed to discover possible new medicines.

But, as we all know, in-vitro tests must be confirmed in-vivo, in animals (humans) before we know for sure. It’s especially interesting that these mushrooms show antibacterial as well as antiviral properties because to treat some diseases you need both. For instance, many if not most of the victims from the flu pandemic of 1918, died from bacterial pneumonia subsequent to the viral scarring of their lungs.

Viruses not only challenge the immune system, but they reduce your defenses, making you more susceptible to other diseases. Moreover, mushrooms have immuno-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties that can help the immune system respond without going haywire. This area of research is very dynamic, currently, and we have high hopes for identifying a consortium of new fungal based active ingredients in 2009. At this point in time, it appears the beneficial compounds work synergistically. Mushrooms proffer a composite menu of benefits helping you stave off diseases.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print