Promoting Immune Health with Edible Mushrooms – July 2025 Newsletter
Promoting Immune Health with Edible Mushrooms
Hello, this is Dr. Ellen. In this month’s ‘Real Common Sense’ newsletter, I want to take a look at medicinal mushrooms and their contribution to improving health and wellness.
“Medicinal mushrooms have important health benefits and exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antiallergic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, antidepressive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, and hypotensive activities.(1)
Needless to say, the number of medicinal effects mentioned above is quite impressive. However, I want to focus on just one of these, promoting a healthy immune response. This is the primary reason for which I most often find a blend of medicinal mushrooms indicated for my patients.
By the way, if you haven’t had a chance to see my previous newsletters, you can find them on my website, www.drellencutler.com under ‘Free Resources’.
The immunomodulatory effects
Medicinal mushrooms can exert positive effects on the body’s immune functioning. There are many compounds within edible mushrooms that are biologically active, including proteins and peptides (the former composed of longer chains and branches of amino acids than the latter) as well as long chain sugar molecules (a.k.a. polysaccharides). A specific category of polysaccharides, the β-glucans, are likely the most active in supporting the immune response, binding to receptors on many different immune cells.
Animal and human cell (i.e., in vitro) studies have demonstrated numerous effects on the immune responses of the innate (‘non-specific’) system.(2) β-glucans activate and increase the number of lymphocytes, enhance the production of cytokines (signaling proteins that help control inflammation) by natural killer (NK) cells, and promote increased phagocytosis (engulfing and thus eliminating foreign invaders) by macrophages.(3,4) Additionally, beta glucans have been shown to encourage the growth of healthy microbiota. They are prebiotics, stimulating the growth of healthy bacteria while blocking the growth of disease-causing bacteria. This is because beneficial bacteria consume beta glucans and then produce short-chain fatty acids as a byproduct.These short-chain fatty acids support a healthy gut lining, help regulate appetite and metabolism, and reduce harmful inflammation.(5)
Medicinal mushrooms are also known for their ability to enhance the adaptive immune system, of which there are two types of response to specific ‘foreign intruders’. B-cells (a.k.a. B-lymphocytes) respond by producing antibodies that are released into the blood stream to attack a specific invader. T-cells (a.k.a. T-lymphocytes) ingest the specific invader by phagocytosis.(2) For example, shiitake and other mushrooms can increase the population of immune cells, including helper T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells, and can stimulate the proliferation and activation of B-cells, boosting their secretion of antibodies that defend against infections, especially in the digestive and respiratory tract infections.(5,6)
Some specific examples of medicinal mushrooms
Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) has been used to promote well-being and longevity since ancient times in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to its positive effects on both the innate and adaptive aspects of the immune system, it has numerous other medicinal properties. Reishi has literally hundreds of bioactive metabolites with numerous effects.(1,7)
Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) has, in addition to its anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant properties, groups of compounds which easily pass through the blood–brain barrier and have neuroprotective effects. Because of this, it is most commonly used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment.(1)
Turkey tail mushroom (Coriolus versicolor) extracts have been approved for routine clinical practice in both Japan and China, especially in integrated cancer therapy for reducing adverse effects from chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. Several in vitro and clinical trials have found its polysaccharide peptide possesses immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory effects.(1)
Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) have immunomodulatory effects primarily through their polysaccharide, especially both β-glucan and α-glucan, as well as protein components, which enhance both innate and adaptive immune responses.(8,9,10)
Other medicinal mushrooms have been studied. A placebo-controlled animal study demonstrated that Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) (see above) and Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) had significant immunostimulatory effects.(11) And, both Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and Cordyceps mushrooms (Cordyceps sinensis or militaris) have been found to have immunomodulatory effects as well.(12)
Interestingly, some formulations with more than one mushroom type can create synergistic effects. For example, a combination of mushroom extracts enhanced cytokine expression more than the individual extracts. One study found that a synergistic immunomodulatory response in human macrophages was elicited from the from β- and α-glucan of a commercial formula consisting of Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake mushrooms.(13)
Mushrooms for immune support and the Ellen Cutler Method (ECM)
I use the Ellen Cutler Method (ECM) to energetically identify and then desensitize reactivities related to each patient’s health status. In those whose complaints are related to problems with their immune response, my ECM testing has often found that a combination of medicinal mushrooms would be beneficial to the individual. The supplement I have found that works best for most individuals is Mycozol™ made by Proenzol. It contains extracts of the 8 mushrooms described above, as well as additional β-glucan. A blend of proteases is also added to enhance absorption into the bloodstream.(14) This supplement has been very useful and well tolerated by almost all who have used it, even those who chose to use it without ECM testing.
Till next month, please be well, be healthy, and remember…
―Paul Stamets
Dr. Ellen
References
1. “Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials” at https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/2/634
2. “The Immune System” at https://drellencutler.com/january-2022-newsletter/
3. “Edible Mushrooms and Beta-Glucans: Impact on Human Health” at https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/7/2195
4. “Synergistic immuno-modulatory activity in human macrophages of a medicinal mushroom formulation consisting of Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake” at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0224740
5. “Immune-Boosting Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms” at https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2021/7/immune-boosting-mushrooms#:~:text=In%20studies%2C%20mushrooms%20and%20beta,compounds%20to%20help%20boost%20immunity.
6. “Immunomodulatory effect of mushrooms and their bioactive compounds in cancer: A comprehensive review” at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332222002906#:~:text=Consumption%20of%20mushroom%20compounds%20thus,eliminating%20cancers%2C%20and%20strengthening%20the
7. “Immunomodulating Effect of Ganoderma (Lingzhi) and Possible Mechanism” at https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-32-9421-9_1
8. “Effect of maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-fraction on the control of the T lymph node Th-1/Th-2 proportion” at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11995941/
9. “Maitake α-glucan promotes differentiation of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells into M1 macrophages” at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36709912/
10. “Characterization of a novel maitake (Grifola frondosa) protein that activates natural killer and dendritic cells and enhances antitumor immunity in mice” at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24020458/
11. “Immunomodulatory activity of extracts from five edible basidiomycetes mushrooms in Wistar albino rats” at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35859110/
12. “The Power of Mushrooms” at https://enviromedica.com/blogs/learn/health-benefits-of-medicinal-mushrooms?srsltid=AfmBOoqUWC7FvApUQIN3iGmvxQET6vFFhruLtli1ZNp7Z5bBNVkToWKs
13. “Synergistic immuno-modulatory activity in human macrophages of a medicinal mushroom formulation consisting of Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake” at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0224740
14. Mycozol™ at https://proenzol.com/product/mycozol/
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information and the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease.
