Using Medicinal Mushrooms in Your Kitchen
Medicinal mushrooms have gained popularity in recent years, showing up in coffees, superfood powders, teas, tinctures, and capsules. If you saw my last article, there is quite a bit of cultural history and modern research showing the benefits of medicinal mushrooms in supporting the immune system. But, the question that remains is, so how do we incorporate these mushrooms into our lives? I am all for using food as medicine, so first let’s talk sourcing, and then we will hop into some easy ways to bring mushrooms into your kitchen.
Sourcing Your Mushrooms
If you recall my last article, we discussed these six common medicinal mushrooms:
Chaga
Reishi
Shiitake
Maitake
Lion’s Mane
Turkey Tail
Fresh mushrooms
Of these mushrooms, you may have seen shiitakes and maitakes in the produce section of your grocery store. That is an excellent place to start when it comes to sourcing your mushrooms, but really, all fresh mushrooms are nutritionally beneficial. The primary medicinal constituent of mushrooms is polysaccharides, which are found in all mushrooms. So, that is all the more reason to highlight mushrooms in our diets with creminis, baby bellas, white buttons, portobello’s, oysters and all the other mushrooms found within our grocery stores. If you are really adventurous, you can even try growing your own mushrooms through North Spore, a company located in Westbrook, Maine. We grew oysters and lion’s mane mushrooms last year, and have been wanting to grow more again soon!
Dried Mushrooms
The other mushrooms on this list are most easily found as dried mushrooms. I find that the easiest and most cost effective way to get your hands on dried mushrooms is through your local food co-op. Often times, these co-ops will have a bulk section, where you can find dried mushrooms like chaga and reishi. If that is not an option, then I like to order through Starwest Botanicals or Mountain Rose Herbs.
Medicinal Mushroom Broth
Bone or veggie broth is a great way to introduce herbal medicines into your food. The addition of medicinal mushrooms like reishi, chaga, and turkey tail to an already simmering broth or soup adds nutritional and medical value. The medicinal component of these mushrooms, the polysaccharides, are water soluble, meaning that they are best extracted through water, i.e broth. There is no real recipe to this. Just add what you can and let it simmer for at least an hour. I have listed these as whole herbs (slices), but many herbal companies also sell them as powders.
Broth & Soup Herbal Additions
3-4 dried reishi slices
A handful of dried shiitakes or maitakes
A couple tablespoons dried chaga
A few slices of dried astragalus root
Spices like ginger, turmeric, garlic, thyme, rosemary and oregano
A strip of kombu or seaweed
If you are looking for a complete recipe, then check out this mushroom bone broth.
Elderberry Syrup + Mushrooms
Elderberry syrup is a tried and true natural remedy! I’ll be writing more about this in another article because the research behind elderberry is impressive. When I make my elderberry syrup, I like to add in quite a few medicinal spices, as well as some medicinal mushrooms. Keep an eye out for my elderberry recipe coming soon. In the meantime, here are some ways to amp up your elderberry syrup.
Elderberry syrup additions
5 dried reishi slices
1-2 tablespoons dried chaga
2 tablespoons dried astragalus root
Warming spices like cinnamon, anise, ginger or cloves
Making elderberry at home is easily the most cost effective option, but If you aren’t into making your own elderberry syrup, then that’s totally okay too! I love the Elderberry Mushroom + Roots Elixir from Herbal Revolution Farm and Apothecary in Union, Maine.
Medicinal Hot Chocolate, Chai & Coffee
One of the more common ways of consuming medicinal mushrooms is by through drinks. My favorite way to use mushrooms in drinks is by adding a a teaspoon of chaga pieces to an existing chai blend, like Chai Wallahs. For this, bring your chai and your dried mushrooms to a simmer for ~30 minutes, and then you are good as gold.
Another option is to add 1/2 teaspoon of mushroom powders to hot chocolate, golden milk, or even coffee. It is best to start small and see how you like the earthy flavor. There are many pre-blended combinations such as Four Sigmatic and Om Mushrooms that can be easy additions to drinks.
About the Author
Dr. Hannah is a naturopathic doctor providing whole body adjunctive healthcare to patients in Maine and Massachusetts. She believes every patient has their own unique health journey, which influences her personalized treatment approach. She has a passion for helping women, mothers and families heal and thrive, all while uncovering the root cause of whatever ails them. Her goal is to empower and guide her patients on the path towards healing the mind, body and soul through natural methods of healing. Dr. Hannah sees patients locally in Portland, Maine. Through telehealth, she is happy to serve the people of Lewiston, Ellsworth, Belfast, Bangor, and all the towns in between! She now sees Massachusetts patients through telehealth as well!
Disclaimer
The information provided on or through this website is for educational and informational purposes only. This information is not a substitution for proper and personalized medical diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or trusted healthcare provider before making an adjustments or changes to your healthcare regimen. Natural medicine is not inherently harmless, and therefore it is important to speak with your healthcare providers for personalized medical advice.
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