ABOUT MUSHROOMS
Essential Nutrition to Protect Yourself from Coronavirus
ABOUT MAITAKE
HISTORICAL & MEDICAL USE
BENEFITS
HOW TO USE IT?
SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETY
ABOUT MAITAKE
Maitake
The Dancing Mushroom
Species name: Grifola frondosa
What is maitake mushroom?
“Maitake” means dancing mushroom in Japanese. The mushroom is said to have gotten its name after people danced with happiness upon finding it in the wild, such are its incredible healing properties.
This mushroom is a type of adaptogen. Adaptogens assist the body in fighting against any type of mental or physical difficulty. They also work to regulate systems of the body that have become unbalanced. While this mushroom can be used in recipes for taste alone, it’s considered to be a medicinal mushroom.
The mushroom grows wild in parts of Japan, China, and North America. It grows at the bottom of Oak, Elm, and Maple trees. It can be cultivated and even grown at home, though it typically won’t grow as well as it does in the wild. You can usually find the mushroom during the autumn months.
Although maitake mushroom has been used in Japan and China for thousands of years, it has only gained popularity in the United States over the last twenty years. People are praising this mushroom for its promises of health, vitality, and longevity.
Other names
Hen-of-the-woods, ram's head and sheep's head
Location
The mushroom grows wild in parts of Japan, China, and North America
Dosing
Women with PCOS have successfully used a product with 18 mg of maitake extract and 250 mg of powdered mushrooms, nine tablets per day. For boosting the immune response, the effective dosage was 3 mg/kg, twice daily. That would be 420 mg of maitake extract daily for a 70-kg adult
Cancer patients received 40-150 mg of extract + 4-9 g of dried mushrooms daily
HISTORICAL & MEDICAL USE
Medical use
Ancient medical scripts from the east mention maitake as a powerful remedy to protect the lungs and liver and boost “qi” or life force. Traditional Chinese medicine uses this mushroom as an adaptogen — a tonic that balances the entire body and improves stress resilience.
In modern medicine, people mostly use maitake to enhance immunity, combat diabetes, and support cancer treatment.
This post reviews the scientific evidence to determine the potential uses & benefits of maitake, while pointing out significant drawbacks and limitations.
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BENEFITS
Benefits of Lion's mane
Active Components & Mechanism of Action
The primary active ingredients in the fruit body are beta-glucans, polysaccharides with versatile health benefits. In maitake, they are fused with protein to form specific glycoproteins: D-fraction and SX-fraction. This mushroom is rich in other metabolites and healthy fiber.
A decent amount of research backs up the uses of maitake D-fraction. Japanese scientists took a step further and purified a so-called MD-fraction, which supposedly offers therapeutic advantages.
Beta-glucans and other polysaccharides from maitake can
Boost the immune response
Reduce oxidative stress
Inhibit cancers cells
Improve metabolic health
Compared to other mushrooms, maitake has shown better results in preventing and treating cancer and other health conditions. Maitake also has a positive effect on overall immunity.
Maitake mushrooms are rich in:
antioxidants
beta-glucans
vitamins B and C
copper
potassium
fiber
minerals
amino acids
The mushrooms are also:
fat-free
low-sodium
low-calorie
cholesterol-free
HOW TO USE IT?
Dosing
How to add maitake mushroom to your regimen
If you’re using maitake to boost your health, you can add it to any food in which you would normally add mushrooms. It can be added to stir-fry, salad, pasta, pizza, omelets, or soup. You can also fry the mushrooms in butter or grill them. Maitake has a strong, earthy taste, so be sure you enjoy its flavor before adding it to a large amount of food.
If you’re buying maitake fresh, buy it whole to increase its shelf life. Store it in a paper bag in the refrigerator. You may be able to find it dried at some grocery stores. It freezes well, so you can keep it in stock if you are able to find it fresh. You can also freeze it raw.
Maitake may also be taken as a liquid concentrate or in dry form in capsules. If you decide to take it as a supplement, look for maitake D-Fraction, which is an extract of the mushroom.
The correct dosage depends your age, weight, and health. It also depends on the actual strength of a particular brand of supplement. Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use.
Always check with your doctor before taking a high dose, and monitor your reactions carefully. If you begin experiencing any unusual symptoms or discomfort, discontinue use and consult your doctor.
It may take a few weeks or months for you to feel a noticeable difference. Taking it with vitamin C is said to increase its benefits.
SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETY
Risk factors to consider
Maitake is digestible as long as the mushroom is not too old. If older, the mushroom’s toughness can make it difficult to digest. Cooking the mushroom can improve its digestibility.
Although allergic reaction and upset stomach is uncommon, it’s possible. More often than not, maitake mushroom is well tolerated.
If you have diabetes, you should consult your doctor before ingestion. Maitake may have an effect on your blood sugar. It may also lower your blood pressure, so be sure to discuss your options with your doctor if you have hypotension.
You shouldn’t ingest maitake mushroom within two weeks of surgery or if you have a bleeding disorder.
If you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or have an autoimmune disease, check with your doctor before use.