Kombucha (Fungus japonicus) |
Medicinal Parts:
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fungus |
Dosage:
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Use as a tea only as directed. |
Nutrition Profile:
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An enzyme-rich, immune boosting detoxification agent effective in cleansing the liver, eliminating toxic deposits and promoting optimal digestion and absorption. |
Cleansing Properties & Detox Activity:
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Kombucha is especially effective as a blood and liver cleanser. As a detoxifier, kombucha is considered a good source of Glucuronic Acid, a substance that can interact with body toxins, make them easier to excrete, and prevent them from being absorbed by the intestines. |
Safety Precautions:
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Avoid using kombucha if you drink large amounts of alcohol; it may cause adverse effects, such as jaundice, dizziness, nausea, even liver damage. Use commercial preparations instead of home-brewed kombucha. There is high risk of contamination with dangerous pathogens if the mold is not managed correctly. Persons with HIV are not recommended for kombucha treatment. |
Synergy With Other Herbs:
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Use alone, or with green tea and echinacea for immune strengthening. |
External links:
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Wikipedia's page on Kombucha |
Maitake Mushroom (Grifola frondosa) |
Medicinal Parts:
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fungus cap |
Dosage:
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As a preventative: 2 - 3 caplets per day. For hypertension: 6 caplets daily then 2 - 4 caplets per day to maintain lowered blood pressure. For immune suppression: 4 - 10 caplets per day. For diabetics: 10 caplets per day, then 3 - 6 caplets once blood sugar balanced. For tumors: 4 - 10 caplets daily. |
Nutrition Profile:
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contains amino acids, enzymes, lectins, triglycerides, EFAs, vitamins, nucleotides, amino acids. Taking maitake is more effective than taking reishi or shiitake; its polysaccharide, beta-glucan, is more readily absorbed than other mushroom immune-stimulating polysaccharides. |
Cleansing Properties & Detox Activity:
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Maitake is a specific in formulas to combat cancers (especially leukemias, prostate cancer, fibroid and breast cancers, ovarian and uterine cancers). Many healers use it as an alternative or adjunct approach to chemotherapy drugs. Maitake have strong immuno-stimulating properties for diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. They inhibit replication of HIV by increasing T-cell counts. In one test, maitake inhibited tumor growth 86% after 31 days. Four of ten animals showed complete tumor resolution. Another study reports maitake activates various immune effector cells (macrophages, natural killer cells, T-cells) to attack tumor cells, including lymphokines and interleukin. |
Safety Precautions:
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None in common use. |
Synergy With Other Herbs:
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Use with echinacea in an immune boosting compound. Use with reishi and shiitake for a medicinal mushroom superfood. Use as a specific in a weight control formula with thermogenic herbs like garcinia, sida cordifolia and ephedra. |
External links:
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Wikipedia's page on Maitake Mushroom |
Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) (Ling zhi) |
Medicinal Parts:
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fungus cap |
Dosage:
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tincture: 10ml 3x day; tablets: 1g. tablets 3x day. |
Nutrition Profile:
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contains protein, lipids, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, high levels of germanium, and ergosterol, a provitamin which converts into vitamin D with the presence of sunlight. |
Cleansing Properties & Detox Activity:
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Promotes longevity and health. Increases vitality and immunity during a cleansing program. Has special effectiveness against wasting syndrome, and degenerative diseases like cancer and AIDS. Stimulates T-cell activity and inhibits the replication of the HIV virus and demonstrates anti-tumor activity. In 1977, an extract of reishi (PSK) was approved in Japan as a treatment for cancer. (After five years, 62 percent of PSK treated cancer patients were disease-free, compared with 35 percent treated with surgery alone.) Helps reduce the side effects of chemotherapy for cancer. In several Chinese hospitals, a reishi formula tested on 2,000 cases of chronic bronchitis, one of the hardest-to-handle allergic reactions, is proven effective in up to 91% of cases. After several months of treatment with reishi, patients showed an increase in their immunoglobulin A (Ig A), the major immune system defender in the respiratory tract. Reishi is also a powerful antioxidant, used therapeutically for a wide range of serious conditions like hepatitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Detoxifies and regenerates the liver. Lowers cholesterol and triglycerides. Reduces coronary symptoms and high blood pressure. Calms the nervous system and relieves insomnia. Helps strengthen recovery from longterm illness. Excellent even for children. |
Safety Precautions:
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Use only when needed, not continuously. Do not use during pregnancy. Do not mix with aspirin. Take with food. If overused, reishi may cause diarrhea and skin rash. |
Synergy With Other Herbs:
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Works well with ginseng or chlorella to rebuild the system after illness. |
External links:
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Wikipedia's page on Reishi |
Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes) (Hsiang-ku) |
Medicinal Parts:
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fungus cap |
Dosage:
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1 - 2 capsules a day before breakfast. The dried or fresh mushroom may be added to soups. |
Nutrition Profile:
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contains LEM, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, polysaccharides and abundant in nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, silicium, magnesium, calcium, sulphur. |
Cleansing Properties & Detox Activity:
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Shiitake mushrooms are a tonic mushroom useful for maintaining immune defenses after a cleanse. Shiitakes have precise activity on immune response: they stimulate the immune system powerhouses, the macrophages and NK (natural killer) cells to act more quickly and aggressively against invading pathogens; they combat existing infections; and they increase antibody production and interferon for greater disease resistance. Shiitakes are now used all over the world to fight cancer, Candida infections and environmental allergies. |
Safety Precautions:
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None in common use |
Synergy With Other Herbs:
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Use with chlorella as a superfood immune booster for anti-cancer activity. In miso soup and brown rice for strengthening immunity. |
External links:
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Wikipedia's page on Shiitake |
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