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The Benefits of Mushroom Tea
Mushroom tea offers many advantages to help make life simpler in any capacity, whether that means an early morning wake-up, an afternoon boost, or relaxing evening drink. It can even add something new and different to your routine by adding this unique beverage into daily life!
Mushroom teas are typically composed of multiple kinds of mushroom varieties to provide stress support. Reishi, chaga and cordyceps varieties are some of the more popular blends used.
Reishi Mushrooms
Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) has long been considered an emblem of longevity and health in Asia, being utilized as both an antioxidant and immune booster since ancient times. Reishi contains various polysaccharides and triterpenoids which may provide potential anti-inflammatory, immunostimulatory and even anticancer properties.
Reishi is an adaptogen that helps relieve stress and anxiety, promote sleep quality, enhance mental wellbeing and increase energy levels while decreasing fatigue. According to research studies, Reishi may even boost your memory and prevent dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases from appearing.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the power of Reishi to significantly slow cancer growth and increase chemotherapy effectiveness, by strengthening white blood cells and inhibiting the formation of abnormal blood vessels that could potentially give rise to life-threatening tumors.
Reishi fungus offers numerous health advantages, such as its ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, thus decreasing risk for heart attacks and stroke. Reishi is also an excellent source of proteins, zinc, potassium and calcium minerals – essential nutrients that may contribute to better heart health.
Reishi tea is considered an effective natural remedy for strengthening immunity, reducing inflammation, supporting liver health and combatting certain forms of cancer. Reishi is also widely believed to help with insomnia as its natural sedative effects promote deeper and more restful sleep.
At Rritual, we use only premium-grade Reishi for our tea blends. Reishi is combined with cacao, cinnamon and ashwagandha to produce delicious flavors while offering support to the immune system and antioxidant protection.
Home remedies can make Reishi tea easily by boiling dried mushrooms for 5-10 minutes in hot water. This method breaks down tough cell walls of mushrooms, releasing their water-soluble components more readily for absorption by your body and providing easy access to the health benefits they contain. You may add sugar or ice for an even sweeter treat!
Chaga Mushrooms
Chaga mushrooms can be found growing primarily on birch trees, though they can also be found on hardwoods such as oak. Due to their unique growth pattern and properties, these mushrooms are popular among alternative health practitioners as an immune booster and potential cancer fighter. Recently however, scientific research has begun shedding more light onto this unique natural resource.
Chaga tea is one of the most commonly consumed forms of chaga, typically consumed as a hot beverage. It boasts an exceptional flavor that many find enjoyable – some even compare its aroma and taste to black coffee with cream! Other descriptions describe it as slightly bitter with earthy mushroom notes; sweetness or plant-based milk can further improve its savor.
Chaga contains antioxidants which provide crucial protection from oxidative stress, an essential element for overall health and wellbeing. Therefore, its inclusion is ideal in recipes intended to promote anti-ageing or boost energy levels; research into its adaptogenic properties remains highly significant as a potential means to balancing hormone levels is ongoing.
Chaga mushroom contains polysaccharides that may help strengthen the immune system, stimulating production of white blood cells – our body’s first line of defense against infections and inflammation. Furthermore, triterpenes found within Chaga are known to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Studies have also revealed that chaga is rich in betulinic acid, an agent known to suppress tumors and induce cancer cells to self-destruct. Furthermore, it contains several other antioxidant compounds with potentially anti-cancer activity and potency.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that chaga may not be suitable for everyone and should be used with caution by those suffering from certain medical conditions like autoimmune disorders, diabetes and kidney disease. Furthermore, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not consume chaga as well.
When purchasing chaga mushrooms for use in tea-brewing, look for vendors with third-party testing credentials to assess the quality and potential chemical treatments of their product. Furthermore, inquire as to where and how your desired chaga was harvested/grown.
Cordyceps Mushrooms
Cordyceps mushrooms have seen tremendous gains in health and wellness circles since HBO’s hit show The Last of Us (and its accompanying video game) made them mainstream. In The Last of Us’ post-apocalyptic world, cordyceps is the primary threat; getting bit by an insect carrying cordyceps or breathing its spores could turn you into a mindless zombie-ant-like creature and set off global pandemics.
However, in reality, this parasitic fungus has an opposite impact. Its extracts are used for everything from increasing energy to strengthening immunity – it’s one of the most potent herbal dietary supplements on the market and can often be found as tea or capsules.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) employs cordyceps mushrooms to promote vitality and strength, both of which are closely tied to immune health. Modern research is beginning to back these traditional uses; studies show cordyceps increases markers of immunity while helping prevent infections during flu season.
Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis mushrooms are among the most commonly sold in the US, both having similar properties but differing cultivation methods and locations of growth. Cordyceps sinensis grows predominantly in Tibet and China and cannot be widely grown outside Asia, making it hard to source. By comparison, cordyceps militaris can be grown on a larger scale in China as well as widely available tea bags, capsules and powder form.
Cordyceps can be enjoyed easily at home by creating mushroom tea. It’s quick and simple – all it takes is dried mushrooms in hot water for 30-60 minutes until their orange hue begins to turn white! When this process has completed, your tasty beverage is ready for consumption!
Add an extra delicious dimension and depth of flavor to your mushroom tea by including turmeric root, orange peel or lemongrass in its creation. These additions will produce an irresistibly savory beverage perfect for anyone seeking to enhance energy levels and endurance.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are an amazing food to promote brain health and make an exquisite tea. Commonly found growing wild on tree trunks in mountainous forest regions and widely cultivated throughout East Asian cultures for centuries, these mushrooms contain bioactive compounds including hericenones and erinacines that may promote neuroprotection while also strengthening immunity – in fact hericenones may help restore nerve cells damaged from stroke or Alzheimer’s disease!
Lion’s mane not only offers cognitive advantages, but is also a proven antidepressant and anxiety reducer in humans. It may ease depression by balancing serotonin levels; and may help stimulate memory retention through its stimulating effects on your hippocampus – further improving memory and mood! Furthermore, studies have also demonstrated its anti-inflammatory qualities which inhibit H. pylori, the bacteria which can cause ulcers.
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses lion’s mane as an all-over tonic for the entire body, providing digestive health support and strengthening all five internal organs. It can be used to treat conditions related to a deficiency in life energy such as insomnia and muscle weakness as well as fortify both spleens and guts as well as fight cancer.
Mushrooms are an excellent source of protein, potassium, calcium and iron – plus high amounts of vitamin D which is crucial for bone health. Furthermore, mushrooms contain beta-glucans which have been shown to support cell health and immunity function.
Native Mind tea from Bravo Tea is a refreshing blend of lion’s mane mushroom, rose hips, rhodiola and peppermint that can help enhance memory, focus and clarity at any time of day. Try it alone or pair it with green tea for an additional caffeine-free boost! We are delighted to present this functional blend based on Traditional Eastern Herbalism; an ancient holistic health practice used for over four millennia. Amy Leigh wrote this blog post!