The Healing Power of Herbs, a Client’s Testimonial
MY STORY: During the Fall and Winter of 2008-2009, I was incessantly sick. I had cold after flu after cold, back to back, most of the winter. By January ’09, I got such a bad flu I was in bed for over a week and once back at work, symptoms lingered for weeks more. Historically, I tend NOT to get ill — ever!!!
So, frankly, I was worried. I made an appointment with my primary care doc at Kaiser who — though meeting me for the first time — spent about 3 minutes with me and did not really look me in the eye! But he quickly wrote out the referrals I asked for. Thinking something might be seriously wrong, I asked for and took a battery of tests, including chest x-rays. Thank goodness everything appeared “clear.”
A month or so later, I began taking Atava’s Power Mushroom Extracts. I have taken this formula since, and — except for a couple mild head colds — HAVE NOT GOTTEN SICK ONCE! Atava explained that after years of continual stressors — being a single parent, putting myself through law school, post-graduate career challenges — my natural immunity was badly depleted. Her formulas have gotten me back to optimal health!
I have also taken herbal formulas for other needs as they arise — but I believe the above story illustrates how taking a regular immune-boosting supplement can have dramatic results! (And, in particular, how amazing the mushroom formula is.) I have also taken several classes from Atava, including two in her “Herbal Medicine 101″ series, where we learned to identify local plants and make simple remedies from them (including the oh-so-delicious Elderberry cordial!) One big reason I am so enthusiastic about promoting Atava’s work is that I admire her commitment to sharing knowledge for self healing. It is very fun and empowering to make your own medicine!
LV, attorney, Oakland, CA
To order Power Mushrooms, visit our on-line store.
Building Immunity with Medicinal Mushrooms
As the days grow shorter and we feel that autumn chill in the air, it is very important to start preparing our bodies for the colder seasons. Many herbal allies can play an important role in boosting our immunity and making us more resistant to catching seasonal colds and flu.
Last month, I wrote about elderberries. This month I want to talk about some of my favorite immune enhancing herbs, which in fact are not even herbs at all, but belong to the vast kingdom of fungi.
For thousands of years, medicinal mushrooms have been highly valued for their incredible healing properties. One of my favorite mushrooms, reishi or ganoderma lucidum, was referred to in the ancient texts of Chinese medicine as the “herb of immortality.”
Reishi supports and strengthens almost every organ system in the body, including the respiratory system and the immune system. These two organ systems are crucial to support to keep us healthy during the cold and flu seasons.
Many of the medicinal mushrooms are deep immune system tonics. In our bodies they work slowly and deeply to boost our immune reservoir and strengthen our resistance not only to colds and flu, but also to many other serious diseases like cancer.
For example, Reishi contains polysaccharides that have been proven to increase by five to twenty five times the body’s natural cancer fighting processes.
I recommend that most people at certain times take medicinal mushrooms for their health. For an average healthy person, this season is a good time to start incorporating them into your daily routine or diet. For people who have been chronically ill, medicinal mushrooms should play a bigger part in your life. In dealing with more serious disease, I would also recommend making an appointment to see professional herbalist like myself.
The power of medicinal mushrooms is amplified when they are in formula with one another. I have formulated a line of medicinal mushroom extracts called Power Mushrooms, which all have a baseline of five medicinal mushrooms- shiitake, maitake, oyster, reishi and turkey tails.
I have formulated my Power Mushroom Extracts to enhance certain healing properties of the mushrooms:
* The regular Power Mushrooms has astragalus to increase the immune enhancing effects of the formula.
* Power Mushrooms plus Liver Support has the additional herbs milk thistle and schizandra to offer an extra boost of protection and strength to the liver.
* Power Mushrooms Plus Turmeric has extra anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer fighting properties that come from the addition of turmeric to the formula. Available also with black pepper, which increases the bioavailability of the turmeric by up to 1000%.
* Power Mushrooms Plus Brain Support includes herbs like rosemary and rhodiola to enhances memory and cognitive functioning.
To order Power Mushrooms, visit Ancestral Apothecary’s online store.
How Mushrooms Can Save the World
I am a big big fan of Medicinal Mushrooms. Reishi, Shitake, Maitake, Oyster, Turkey Tails….. just to name a few. Mushrooms have been used for healing for thousands of years in cultures all around the planet. Medicinal mushrooms have often been valued for their abilities to increase health, vitality and longevity. For example, Reishi mushroom (ganoderma lucidum) has the nickname “Herb of Immortality.” Medicinal mushrooms are also deep, nourishing tonics for the immune system. In Asia they are well studied and utilized to help treat serious illnesses like cancer and HIV. Medicinal mushrooms also make great immune system tonics for the cold and flu season. Ancestral Apothecary sells a line of mushroom extracts called Power Mushrooms, which blend different herbs with Reishi, Shitake, Maitake, Oyster and Turkey Tails mushrooms. To order Power Mushrooms, click here to go to our on-line store.
Mushrooms also have a lot to offer our ecological environments. Here’s a series of videos from mycologist Paul Stamets entitled “How Mushrooms Can Save the World.”
Tags: Medicinal Mushrooms, mushrooms, mycology, Paul Stamets
Power Mushroom Testimonial Video
I have had many satisfied customers report to me the great benefits of taking my Power Mushroom extracts. One customer took it a step further and made a video.
Thanks Feral Kevin!
