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MAITAKE |
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Alternative names: |
Griffola
frondosa |
| Scientific studies show that Maitake mushrooms have been successful in treating: |
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| Description: |
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The mushroom has a dark gray color. It is a
very large and fleshy polypore. When its young it is a dark brown
color. The mushroom is comprised of multiple overlapping layers of caps
that are 2 to 10 cm in diameter. Branching stems proliferate from a
common base, the pores on the underside are white in color. Maitake
mushrooms contain 25% to 27% protein, vitamin B1, B2, Niacin, vitamin
C and D, and magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. B-glucans are 12 to
14%. |
| Medicinal Properties: |
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The National cancer institute tested the acid extracted fraction on the
HIV virus. The results showed significant effect in
killing the virus. In 1991 the National Institute
for Health in Japan announced similar findings. It
was reported that the mushroom was found to have no negative side
effects to the patients, but was comparable in efficacy to AZT.
This mushroom contains b-(1,6) glucans which is its active immune
modulating ingredient. It is this chemical which
stimulates the bodies immune system to produce natural killer cells in
great abundance. The glucans were first
characterized by Ohno in his
study in
1985. His work showed strong anti-tumor activity in
mice against solid tumors. In his clinical trials,
one-third to one-half of the tumors showed complete remission.
In another invitro study conducted by Lovy et al., 1999, a water
extract of the Maitake mushroom significantly slowed the growth of T-4
leukemia and Hela cervical cancer cells. |
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Disclaimer |
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This Web site reports
information from scientific journals on medicinal mushrooms.
No claims are made. The contents of this site
have not been evaluated by the FDA. Health decisions
are much too important to be made without the advice of a doctor or
other health care practitioner. We invite and
encourage you to share this information with your doctor.
Be informed, seek medical advice by a licensed authority, and
then make the right decisions for your health.
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