Beneficial mushrooms have been used for centuries to support human health. From energy and stamina to cognition and memory, and from sleep and cardiovascular support to support for liver health and the microbiome, the various species of beneficial mushrooms cover a wide range of system-specific needs. But, one thing they all have in common is that both beneficial mushroom mycelium and fruit bodies have been extensively researched and shown to support an engaged and modulated immune response.
At Fungi Perfecti and Host Defense, one of the most significant outcomes of our research has been discovering the enormous value of mushroom mycelium, the root-like structure of mushrooms. The mycelium is the metabolically active structure of the mushroom organism. It contains numerous novel compounds shown to benefit human health.
The longest-living part of the fungal organism, mycelium consists of intricate filaments that are only one-cell-wall thick. Despite its delicate structure, mycelium is quite formidable, growing for months, years, and potentially centuries. Mycelium can navigate through sometimes inhospitable ecosystems. It is capable of expanding its reach through a habitat filled with millions of microbes while communicating chemically with the surrounding environment, devising complex chemical responses to whatever challenges it encounters.
Mycelium creates its own immune response that supports not only the health and vitality of the fungal organism, but also the health of the surrounding ecosystem. The mycelial immune response often serves as the ecosystem’s immune response. Scientific research, targeted studies, and widespread use in holistic health and wellness plans demonstrate that when mushroom mycelium is harnessed in the form of supplements, human beings also benefit from its significant supportive power.
In order to grow mushroom mycelium, a food source called a “substrate” is used. The mycelium then breaks down and converts the substrate in a process of fermentation not unlike that of tempeh or yogurt. Host Defense uses an organic brown rice substrate to grow its mycelium.
The company uses the mycelium, the fermented rice, and the fermented metabolites all together in its supplements. This provides a far greater range of metabolically active compounds than what are found in mushroom fruit bodies alone. Recent research has shown that in Host Defense products, both the mushroom mycelium and the fermented substrate are immunologically active and offer a complementary array of health-supporting compounds.
The mycelium has been shown to engage NK cells, NK T cells, monocytes, B cells, and T lymphocytes. The fermented rice has been shown to engage the immune system’s checks and balances to keep the immune system from overreacting, thereby maintaining a balanced response within the “Goldilocks Zone.”
