October is a time of slowing, rooting, and releasing. Connecting in to the mycorrhizal and rhizomal layers unseen, decaying and decomposing into rich humus of which to feed the fruit of the seasons to come. In October, we dig roots and scour the forest for mushrooms. Our mushroom friends are one of the greatest forces of transmutation on this earth. They hold the ability to sequester carbon, render the potential toxicity of catastrophic oil spills inert, and are stimulated to grow even heartier from being exposed to radiation. Fungi are ancient information ~ especially relevant for us humans today who so lack the wisdom of our actualized elders. They are our relatives. Our ancestors. Fungi were the first organisms to come to land. They came to land 1.3 billion years ago and plants followed several hundred million years later. Fungi are more closely related to humans than any other kingdom and its well past time that we start to listen to what they have to teach us.
Mushrooms are anti-microbial powerhouses. They teach our bodies how to process and release chemicals, bacteria, and viruses that may otherwise build up in problematic levels in our body. They show us how to detoxify by encouraging the excretion of ama through the eliminatory processes of urination, defecation, and perspiration. It is my belief that we need to begin forming deep relationships with our fungal ancestors. Mushrooms teach us how to be resilient beings upon the earth. My favorite way to form and build relationships with fungi are through potent medicinal potions. Double extractions, oil extracts, essences, and concentrated powders. These medicines are the features of your October SHROOM BOX. Some of the mushrooms highlighted in this month's box are: Chaga, Red Reishi, Cordyceps, Artist's Conk, Birch Polypore, Amadou, Turkey Tail, and Amanita muscaria.
I have written some very short snippets on some of the information of each mushroom that we are aware of today. This is by no means the entire scope of their medicinal attributes. I encourage you to take a deep dive into learning about our fungal allies. What is it that their medicine lends to your life?
~Reishi (Ganoderma lucidem), (Ganodrema tsugae)- Known as “The mushroom of Immortality” in China for thousands of years ~ revered for centuries as a tonic to bring us more into our bodies, this mushroom is fantastic at calming the body, calming the mind, and bringing the body back into a relaxed and rooted flow. Reishi aides in an array of issues~ it is protective to the liver, regenerative to the cardiovascular system, relaxing to the nervous system. To connect in with Reishi use: “7 Precious Mushrooms” extract ~ This extract may be dosed anywhere from 1 drop to 1 dropperful 1-3 times a day. I enjoy dosing 7 Precious Mushrooms at 1-3 drops per day to keep my immune system dynamic and functioning at just the right level. When I am sick however, I bump up my dose to 1 dropperful up to 6 times a day. The “6 Mushroom Honey” I also love for immune maintenance. Just a ½ tsp a day to keep me strong and adaptive. The “Triple Shroom Cocoa” can be used similarly to the 6 Mushroom Honey. I stay away from the Cocoa when I am actually sick with an infection, opting for the 7 Precious Mushroom extract in that case, instead.
~Artist's Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)- Strongly antibacterial medicine as well as anti-inflammatory. The medicine of Artist's Conk is quite powerful and has been explored for its ability to help heal staph and MRSA infections, as well as gastrointestinal afflictions such as SIBO. To work with Artist's Conk, use: “6 Mushroom Honey” or “7 Precious Mushroom extract”.
~Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)~ Turkey Tail mushrooms are somewhat easy to find locally and are often incredibly abundant! This mushroom and it isolates are some of the most studied of all medicinal mushrooms. In particular is the glucan-protein complex of Polysaccharide-K (Kresin, PSK, PSP) that is used in cancer therapy to counter-act the immune depressing action of common chemotherapy. To work with Turkey Tail, use either: “6 Mushroom Honey” or “7 Precious mushrooms extract”.
~Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina)~A very strongly antibacterial polypore (many pored) mushroom that grows on dead birch trees. Birch Polypore is wonderful in blends with other immunomodulating and anti-bacterial mushrooms.