Strengthening Women's Hormone Health With 10 Medicinal Mushrooms
By Peter Orpen, Co-Owner, Teelixir
For a comprehensive overview of reishi, see our Reishi Mushroom Benefits Guide.
Did you know that our hormones are like the superheroes of our bodies, controlling everything from our moods to our metabolism? They play a role in how we feel day to day.
In fact, our hormones have a hand in almost every aspect of our health and wellbeing, including our digestion, stress levels, sleep cycle, ability to reproduce, and even our general wellbeing.
When our hormones are imbalanced, it may affect various aspects of wellbeing. Supporting hormonal balance has been traditionally valued in wellness practices.
For women, hormonal changes are a natural part of life that have been traditionally supported through various wellness approaches. Traditional wellness practices have long incorporated natural approaches to support women's health.
One such supplement is mushroom products. Certain mushrooms have been traditionally used to support women's wellbeing, and we're going to explore them in more detail. So, let's dive in and learn about the best mushrooms for women's health!
Medicinal Mushrooms Significance In Women Health
Mushrooms have been traditionally valued in women's wellness practices for their nutritional properties.
Mushrooms have been traditionally used to support general wellbeing. They have been traditionally used to support the body's natural processes and help maintain hormonal balance. Xeno-estrogens are everywhere in our environment, from the cosmetics we use to the foods we eat, so supporting the body's natural processes has been traditionally valued.
But that's not all – mushrooms have been traditionally used to support metabolic health. And when it comes to specific types of mushrooms, there are some real standouts for hormone balance.
Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used to support general wellbeing.
Other mushrooms like Maitake, Cordyceps, and Shiitake have been traditionally used in wellness practices.
Traditional wellness approaches have valued metabolic support. Mushrooms have been traditionally used in wellness practices.
Support During PMS Symptoms
The term PMS is frequently used to describe women's emotional reactions, regardless of whether it is the appropriate time of the month or not. PMS is characterized by a combination of symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, fatigue, and anxiety. Mushrooms like Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, and Reishi have been traditionally used to support women's wellbeing.
Cordyceps has been traditionally used to support energy levels. Lion's Mane has been traditionally used to support nervous system wellbeing. Reishi has been traditionally used to support relaxation and wellbeing.
PCOS & Endometriosis Treatment
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that occurs in females when there is an increased level of androgens or male hormones in the body. This hormonal imbalance leads to irregular or absent periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, facial hair, acne along the jawline, difficulty in conceiving, and a higher risk of developing metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Maitake mushroom has been traditionally used to support women's health. Maitake mushroom has been traditionally used to support women's health. Maitake mushroom has been traditionally used to support metabolic health, which may contribute to overall wellbeing in women with PCOS.
Endometriosis is another condition that affects women, causing tissue growth in abnormal places within the uterus. It can lead to severe pain, painful and irregular periods, and infertility. Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used to support women's wellbeing.
Mitigates Menopause Symptoms
As women, we are forced to deal with many life and hormonal changes, and menopause is one of those times that we cannot avoid. It is an inevitable part of our evolution and ageing process, but it doesn't have to be all bad if you incorporate medicinal mushrooms for menopause.
Menopause is associated with a decline in sex hormones, which causes a wide range of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability. Traditional wellness practices have incorporated mushrooms during times of change.
Cordyceps mushroom has been traditionally used to support wellbeing.
Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used to support relaxation and liver health. In traditional practices, supporting liver health has been valued during times of change.
Memory can be affected during menopause, along with mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and depressive states. Lion's Mane has been traditionally used to support nervous system wellbeing. Lion's Mane has been traditionally used to support nervous system wellbeing.
Boost Libido
Cordyceps has been traditionally used in wellness practices.
Various factors may influence wellbeing. Cordyceps mushroom has been traditionally used to support energy levels. Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used to support relaxation and wellbeing.
Wellbeing encompasses many aspects of life.
Improve Fertility
Infertility is a topic that is becoming more openly discussed among couples, and IVF is becoming increasingly common. This is thought to be due to changing lifestyles and increased exposure to stress. Mushrooms have been traditionally used to support women's health.
Cordyceps sinensis has been traditionally used to support women's health. Cordyceps has been traditionally used in women's wellness practices. This traditional use supports overall wellbeing in women, including those experiencing menopause.oms. Supporting bone health has been traditionally valued.
Reishi mushroom is also beneficial for fertility. Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used to support relaxation. Reishi has been traditionally used to support wellbeing. Women who are stressed about conceiving may find Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used to support relaxation and wellbeing.
Lion's Mane has been traditionally used to support nervous system wellbeing. Supporting overall wellbeing has been traditionally valued. Maitake has been traditionally used to support metabolic health.
Support During Pregnancy
According to Taoists, pregnancy requires a significant amount of Jing, our primordial life force energy that serves as the foundation for our overall well-being.
Jing can be likened to our energy reserve, and it is crucial that we nourish, protect, and foster this valuable substance. We have pre-natal Jing, which is determined in-vitro and influences our constitution. Therefore, it is essential to take care of our Jing so that we can pass it on to our children and provide them with the best possible health and strength.
As women, we tend to deplete our Jing (known as leaking Jing) in our daily lives, managing families, businesses, friends, and ourselves. Traditional practices have valued nourishment during pregnancy.
Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used to support wellbeing.
However, it is important to note that there is limited evidence supporting the safety and usage of medicinal mushrooms during pregnancy and breastfeeding, making it difficult to evaluate the risks and benefits of their consumption. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any medicinal mushrooms during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Support post-pregnancy
Incorporating Cordyceps, Chaga, and Reishi into a post-pregnancy and breastfeeding routine has been traditionally used to support recovery and overall wellbeing. Supporting wellbeing has been traditionally valued.
Chaga mushroom has been traditionally used to support general wellbeing. Mushrooms have been traditionally used in postnatal wellness practices. Prevention is always better than treatment.
Improves Breast Health
Supporting women's health has been traditionally valued throughout life. Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used in wellness practices.
Reishi contains compounds that have been traditionally valued.
Reishi has been traditionally used to support wellbeing.
These mushrooms contain compounds that have been traditionally valued. Mushrooms have been traditionally used in wellness practices.
Agaricus blazei has been traditionally used in wellness practices.
Mushrooms contain compounds that have been traditionally valued. Turkey Tail has been widely studied.
Fight Candida
Mushrooms contain compounds that have been traditionally valued.
Candida is responsible for various health issues, including thrush, UTIs, IBS, IBD, gut dysbiosis, and autoimmune conditions like Crohn's and UC.
These mushrooms contain compounds that have been traditionally valued. Mushrooms contain various compounds that have been traditionally valued.
Mushrooms for Women’s Health
Women often prioritize the needs of others or work towards achieving their own goals, often neglecting their health and well-being.
To truly embody our feminine energy and pursue our dreams, it's crucial to nurture and balance our hormones. Incorporating medicinal mushrooms into our daily routines, whether in our morning coffee, tea, smoothies, or cooking, can help support our health and well-being. Mushrooms have been traditionally used to support women's wellbeing.
Eliza is the millennial nutritionist– a health, mindset and abundance enthusiast obsessed with helping millennial's experience living at a higher level. Her relaxed new age approach and understanding of nutrition and wellness sees her empowering and coaching individuals to understand that their health is the ultimate asset. Upon experiencing first hand the power and place of tonic herbalism and medicinal mushrooms in everyday life, Eliza’s become an adaptogen fangirl and feels their utilisation in today’s world is essential for abundance and wellbeing.
Website: https://themillennialnutritionist.com/
Instagram: @themillenialnutritionist
References:
Powell, M, Medicinal Mushrooms - A Clinical Guide. Mycology Press. Kindle Edition.
Wolfe, D 2012, Chaga: King of the Medicinal Mushrooms, North Atlantic Books.
Weed, S “Herbal Allies for Pregnancy Problems” http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Pregnancy_Problems.htm
Zhao, H, Zhou, L, Shangguai, AJ, Bulun S.E 2016, “Aromatase expression and regulation in breast and endometrial cancer”, J Mol Endocrinol., vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 19-33, doi: 10.1530/JME-15-0310
Springer, S ‘Menopausal symptoms: Time of change - Beginning of a new phase of life: With medicinal mushrooms easier through menopause!’ Healing Mushrooms http://www.omundernaehrung.com/media/documents/en/Springer_Sabine_Menopausal_symptoms_Time_of_change.pdf
Potential of a novel polysaccharide preparation (GLPP) from Anhui-grown Ganoderma lucidum in tumour treatment and immuno-stimulation. Pang X, Chen Z, Gao X, Liu W, Slavin M, Yao W, Yu L.L. J Food Sci. 2007;72(6):S435-42.
Cytotoxic triterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum. Cheng CR, Yue QX, Wu ZY, Song XY, Tao SJ, Wu XH, Xu PP, Liu X, Guan SH, Guo DA. Phytochemistry. 2010;71(13):1579-1585.
Triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum induce autophagy in colon cancer through the inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK). Thyagarajan A, Jedinak A, Nguyen H, Terry C, Baldridge L.A, Jiang J, Sliva D. Nutr Cancer. 2010;62(5):630-40.
Ganoderic acid T inhibits tumour invasion in vitro and in vivo through inhibition of MMP expression. Chen NH, Liu JW, Zhong JJ. Pharmacol Rep. 2010;62(1):150-63.
Inhibitory effects of Ganoderma lucidum on tumorigenesis and metastasis of human hepatoma cells in cells and animal models. Weng CJ, Chau CF, Yen GC, Liao JW, Chen DH, Chen KD. J Agric Food Chem. 2009;57(11):5049-57.
Cytotoxic lanostanoid triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum. Guan SH, Xia JM, Yang M, Wang XM, Liu X, Guo DA. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2008;10 (7-8):705-10.
The anti-invasive effect of lucidenic acids isolated from a new Ganoderma lucidum strain. Weng CJ, Chau CF, Chen KD, Chen DH, Yen GC. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007;51(12):1472-7.
Lucidenic acids P and Q, methyl lucidenate P, and other triterpenoids from the fungus Ganoderma lucidum and their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation. Iwatsuki K et al. J Nat Prod. 2003 Dec;66(12):1582-5.
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides: immunomodulation and traditional wellness applications. Xu Z, Chen X, Zhong Z, Chen L, Wang Y. Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(1):15-27.
Polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum have been traditionally used in wellness practices. Joseph S, Sabulal B, George V, Antony KR, Janardhanan KK.Acta Pharm. 2011 Sep 1;61(3):335-42.
Triterpenoids isolated from Ganoderma lucidum have been traditionally used in wellness practices. Wu GS, Guo JJ, Bao JL, Li XW, Chen XP, Lu JJ, Wang YT. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2013 Aug;22(8): 981-92.
Triterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum and their cytotoxic activities. Li P, Deng YP, Wei XX, Xu JH. Nat Prod Res. 2013;27(1):17-22.
Suppression of the inflammatory response by triterpenes isolated from the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. Dudhgaonkar S, Thyagarajan A, Sliva D.Int Immunopharmacol. 2009;9(11): 1272-80.
Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients. Gao Y, Zhou S, Jiang W, Huang M, Dai X. Immunol Invest. 2003;32(3): 201-15.
Effects of water-soluble Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on the immune functions of patients with advanced lung cancer. Gao Y et al. J Med Food. 2005;8(2):159-68.
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment. Jin X, Ruiz Beguerie J, Sze DM, Chan GC. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Jun 13.
Potential Role of Medicinal Mushrooms in Breast Cancer Treatment: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Petrova RD, Wasser SP; Mahajna JA, Denchev CM, Neva E. Intl J Med Mush. 2005;7(1-2):141-153.
Hormone conditioned cancer chemotherapy for recurrent breast cancer prolongs survival. Sugimachi K, Inokuchi K, Matsuura H, Ueo H, Kumashiro R. Jpn J Surg. 1984 May;14(3):217-21.
Immunochemotherapies versus chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment after curative resection of operable breast cancer. Iino Y, Yokoe T, Maemura M, Horiguchi J, Takei H, Ohwada S, Morishita Y. Anticancer Res. 1995 Nov-Dec;15(6B):2907-11.
Reishi mushroom has been traditionally used in wellness practices. Chen AW, Seleen J. Int J Med Mushr. 2007;9(1):29-38.
Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Ahn WS, Kim DJ, Chae DJ, Lee JM, Bae SM, Sin JI et al. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer: 2004;14(4):589-594.
Antidepressant-like effects of a water-soluble extract from the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia in rats. Matsuzaki H et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Dec 26;13:370
