A Gamble Into the Unknown: Orthodox Versus Alternative Medicine (Continued 2)

Mushrooms and Your Health:

They are also very rich in vegetable dish for many rural households in the developing world. They are also able to be touched. They are also able to distinguish which species would normally grow in which Which quite enthusiastically hunt around for theible varieties during rainy seasons.

Sometimes mistakes occurs in identification, where poisonous species may occasionally be confident forible ones leading to death. Yet poisonous mushrooms are in fact not few, One can actually guarantee the safety of farmed mushrooms for food, since poisonous species are included excluded in mushroom growing ventures .

Not many people are aware of the numerous nutritional benefits of the different species of mushroom. In fact, it is only a handful of people that a be aware of the tantalizingly high protein content of some mushrooms and of their wonderful nutritional balance.

More importantly, we now see a rapid increase in use of mushrooms as highly potent nutriuticals globally due to their already established enhancement effect on the body & # 39; s immunoresponce systems. The responsible agents for these types of cancers, some viral infections, and disease. These responses, these, have, unusually low toxicity even at unusually high doses. Mushrooms can improve improve quality of human health.

Studies on dietary supplements derived from medicinal mushrooms, such as Ganoderma lucidum, Coriolus, or Schizophyllum commune; and from edible mushrooms, such as Lentinula edodes or Auricularia auricular-judae together growing humans can very benefit from a regular diet of mushrooms and their and those who may need to regulate their blood cholesterol levels or blood pressure or even boost their body defense systems.

With the unlimited possibilities that mushrooms offer in enhancing human health, especially when used as dietary supplements, I would not hesitate even for a moment to emphasize the importance of having mushrooms on our daily menus. In a world where we are constantly plagued by human health crises, such as the HIV / AIDS pandaemic, the upsurge of hypertensive and cardiovascular disorders, incidents of cancer, etc, we have no choice but to seriously look into the possibilities of changing our choices of food and diet.

Once you are certain that that fleshy mushrooms on your kitchen table are safe, just do not hesitate to eat them or use their products. Indeed, millions of the world & # 39; s habitants today regularly enjoy wide spectrum of edible mushroom species, and They can be be treated, they can be treated, they can be pickled, they can be pickled, and they can be frozen for use on a later date Some can be farmed, and are indeed being farmed.

Some mushrooms have high, scientifically proven, medicinal potency. They can, and are indeed being used to improve health conditions of millions of individuals around the world afflicted by some of the most fearsome and devastating incurable diseases of our time. mushroom have restored good health to many despantent cancer and other dementia, and beyond any doubt, been proved to be very effective in enhancing the body & # 39; s immune system so raising clouds of hope among some 40 million people in the world living with HIV / AIDS.

Mushroom is in fact one of the largest producers of polysaccharide protein complexes which are highly likely to actively medicine, when used as dietary supplements, effective anti-tumor, antiviral, and are extremely useful as general body defense potentiators.

Nutritional Value of Mushrooms:

The protein level of some edible mushrooms, such as Pleurotus ostreatus or Agaricus bisporus, is impressively still more than the animal meat protein it contains all essential amino acids required in human diet, including lysine and leucine which are often lacking in some of the world & # 39; s most staple cereal crops such as maize. When you get your diet protein source through the mushroom route, you certainly need not worry about present day calamities such as mad-cow disease or Rift Valley fever.

Some of the polysaccharides are most commonly made in components of fungal hyphal walls, while others are constituents of fungal protoplasmic membranes. Some exist as storage polysaccharides, such as glycogen found in animal tissue, while some form complexes of a proteoaminoglycan nature with polypeptide chains - some of which are increasingly being shown to be medicinally potent against some forms of cancer.

Lipids found in fungal biomass is characterized by a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids and low cholesterol. In fact, in some cases, up to 78% of their fatty acid content is unsaturated; large due to high levels of linoleic acid, a dienoic essential Animal tissue, in contrast, contains high levels of saturated fatty acids - a harmful attribute indeed. Mushrooms, and fungi in general, are a good source of several vitamins which include thiamine (Vitamin B 1), riboflavin ( Vitamin B2), niacin (Nicotinic acid), biotin (Vitamin B7), and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Regular use of mushrooms as dietary supplements could be protected the body from common vitamin deficiency diseases, such as beriberi, pellagra, and scurvy .

Some kind of mushrooms, also used as dietary supplements, also supply the body with such potassium, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus. Additionally, they providing valuable fibers; which, unduly, have significant health benefits. singular fitness when used as dietary supplements. Substances with both medicinal and nutritional value extracted from such mushrooms and packaged as capsules, or as tablets, and regularly used as tonic are usually referred to as nutriceuticals Where medicinally potent or nutritionally valuable, mushrooms are consumed directly as part of the normal diet; and as functional foods, they are referred to as nutraceuticals.

Selected mushrooms that show greatest promise for use in promoting and sustaining general body fitness, increasing disease resistance, and enhancing the body & # 39; s immunoregulatory balance:

(a): Ganoderma Lucidum:

According to Chinese mythology, Ganoderma lucidum mushrooms are "the elixir of life and are celestial in their power". I am not talking of mushrooms as hallucinogenic agents. Of course, yes! Hallucinogenic mushrooms indeed do exist. Psilocybe cyanensis is such a type. Ganoderma mushrooms are actually consumed worldwide as a health tonic and a dietary supplement. Millions of people take it everyday simply to just enhance them vitality, to improve their digestion, or sleep better. prevention and treatment of health problems that require a balanced immunoresponse and a healthy cardiovascular system.

There are two important groups of organic compounds in the Ganoderma mushroom which appear to be responsible for its medicinal potency - triterpenoids (triterpenes), and polysaccharides. Among the most important triterpenes are the ganoderic acids A, C, I, J; lucinedic acid A , D, I; and lucidone A, C; all of which are liable for Ganoderma & # 39; s bitter taste. Ganoderic acids T, U, V, W, X, Z have a cytotoxic effect on cancerous cells, while ganoderic acids R , S and ganosperic acid have a liver protection effect (hepatoprotective effect). Ganoderal A, ganoderols A, B, and ganoderic acids K, S have an inhibitory effect on the angiotensine-converting enzyme so lowering blood pressure. Some oxygenated triterpenes with 7- oxo and 15-hydroxyl groups have a hypolipidemic effect on body tissue. Ganoderic acids C, D have an inhibitory effect on histamine release, thus releasing allergy and possibly asthma.

The most important polysaccharides in Ganoderma lucidum include glucans, heteropolysaccharides, and proteoglycans which have antitumor, anticancer, and anti-HIV characteristics due to their immunomodulatory effect. Ganoderans A, B, C and glucans have a blood sugar lowering (hypoglycemic) effect, while Numerous other compounds in Ganoderma lucidum include LZ-8, a fungal immunomodulatory protein that is also antihypertensive, anti-autoimmune, and anti-hepatitis B. There is also organic germanium, which has has antitumor effects on hepatoma cells in the liver, bladder cancer, and Lewis lung carcinoma, while promoting blood circulation.

Within the human body, we have an immune system which depends on white blood cells, cytokines, lymphokines, and chemokines to defat us against invading bacteria, viruses, and other harmful micro-organisms. Since we live in open-air conditions where we are If you want to leave fitter, healthier, and, you are to be heavily polluted environment, it is obvious that we are a constant target to these unwelcome and highly dangerous micro-organizations as long as they can find weak points in our body defense mechanisms. Eat MUSHROOOMS! They are superior immune enhancers. They are superior immune enhancers. It is like a situation with a good orchestra where each member shares something with his own instrument for greater effect than what could otherwise be achieved thro ugh solo performance using a single instrument.

Ganoderma Products:

These include:

The dose is usually six capsules or tablets (of 220 mg strength) daily in three divided doses taken before meals.

Dried and pulverized mycelia harvested from submerged liquid cultures grown in fermentation tanks.

Dried and pulverized preparations of the combined substrate, mycelia, and mushroom primordia, following inoculation of a semisolid medium with fungal mycelia and incubation until the primordia appear.

Hot water extracts of mycelia harvested from submerged liquid cultures grown in fermentation tanks that have been evaporated to dryness and made up into capsule or tablet form.

Hot water and alcohol extracts of fruiting bodies, mycelia, or spores that have been evaporated to dryness and made into capsules or tablets.

Other forms of Ganoderma preparations made as mixtures with other medicinal mushrooms or herbal products.

Classification:

Should Ganoderma products be classified as "health foods", nutriceuticals, or pharmaceuticals? Traditionally, Ganoderma products have always been looked upon as being medicines and not food. Some producers label them as "health food". Traditional medicines can therefore be sold and distributed only under the classification of " food ". In the strictest sense,

Ganoderma lucidum is not a kind of medicinal mushroom, and it may not be proper to classify its products as "health foods". For that reason, for Gododerma products can not be classified as a pharmaceutical active ingredient must have exclusively tested and tested for controlled and tested. to sell as drugs or pharmaceuticals since they have still drugs control and regulatory. Yet, going by their long time therapeutic effects and observational experience; let alone the numerous systematic studies and trials carried on on animals and otherwise for the past twenty years,

Ganoderma products (especially those extracted with hot water and alcohol) polysaccharides and triterpenes, which have a great potential as superior nutriceuticals for enhancing human immune responses. It is very important to note that Ganoderma products have repeatedly been proved In China, they have been used as dietary supplements for over 4000 years.

But the general public still remains cautious about treatment and therapies have been over known. That is a known fact that at least one out of three people around the world use unconventional therapies for In the developing world, 70% of medical practitioners would, at some point in their practice, refer some of their patients to alternative medicine. In present times, most nations are heterogeneous societies. There is no doubt about the fact that Ganoderma products can serve as superior nutriceuticals.

Some thing worth noting at this they are not standard protocols for guaranteeing uniform products. Some Ganoderma products marketed in some quarters are so far enjoying public credibility. Standardization is really important. Fortunately, a number of sources of tested high quality Ganoderma products do exist and are known.

Mushrooms and HIV / AIDS:

As strategies evolve to offer treatment to economic disadvantaged population worldwide, antiretroviral (ARV) therapy has greatly become more than number of infected individuals. HIV patients warrants the use of chemoprophylactic regimens in pregnancy and during labor, Included understanding of the pharmacokinetics of single-dose prophylaxis such as Nevirapine, therefore, may help to clarify how selective pressure in a minority of women results in the emergence of resistant virus in breast milk and how short course combined therapy may significantly reduced maternal viral load, limit exposure of the newborn, and preventive rapid emergence of resistant virus.

More studies are there before needed to understand the impact of maternal antiretroviral treatment on breast-feeding HIV-1 transmission, infant toxicity, and HIV-1 resistance mutations among infected infants; bearing in mind that persistence of minor variants or proviruses with Nevirapine mutations in breast milk could potentially limit the use of Nevirapine or other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors for the subsequent treatment of HIV-1 infection in the infected mother and infant.

Infection with the AIDS virus The infected with the AIDS virus often takes many guises. Initially the virus would replicate abundantly, and free virus appearing in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord and in the bloodstream.

Yvers the virus is still present It can now be found not only in the T4 lymphocytes, but also in other classes of immune system cells, in cells of the central nervous system and intestine, and probably in some bone marrow cells. From two to ten years after the start of this asymptomatic period, replication of the virus flares again and the infection enters its final stage.

The virus behaves differently depending on the kind of host cell and the cell & # 39; s own level of activity. In T cells it can lie dormant indefinitely, inextricable from the cell When other cells, such as the immune system cells are called macrophages and their precursors, the monocytes, The virus grows continuously but slowly, sparing the cell but probably altering its function. HIV and its destructive consequences? The answer is to be found in the life cycle of the virus, and in the tiny package of genetic instructions that controls it. HIV governs the life cycle in novel and intrigueing ways, and their studies may hold the key to the control of AIDS.

Apart from three genes that encode the viral proteins of the core and the envelope that surrounds the virus, the HIV genome includes One regulator speeds up viral protein synthesis, another speeds the production of only some type of viral proteins, and a third gene represses protein synthesis. Since the regulatory genes themselves encode proteins, each one affects not only the structural genes but also the regulatory genes, including them.

Some resting cells may simply lack the protein needed for host cell RNA initiation, so that the infection remains quiescent. In other cells the Thus the host cell, through its array of transcription factors, creates a molecular environment that influences the working of HIV ' s own regulatory mechanisms.

It is the molecular population of T4 cells and may also kill their precursors in the thymus gland and the bone marrow. Moreover, the virus is just as common in other cell populations, such as macrophages and monocytes, and yet it kills relatively few of those cells.

There are has not accelerated, worldwide effort to develop effective treatments - an effort that is not quite producing encouraging results so far. A variety of alternative treatments have been tried already that ARVs do or fight some of the microbes that cause the opportunistic infections seen in HIV / AIDS.

If you were to to have some stages of HIV disease. If you were to to have treatments that will be safer and optimally effective. While to diagnose of HIV / AIDS may certainly not be anyone & # 39; s idea of ​​good news, it is not necessarily an instant death sentence. AIDS has not proved fatal for many years.

It is there before crucial to seek thought medical advice from a personal physician you There are no hard-and-fast rules on how quickly. along side conventional ARVs, help fend off the disease and the accompanying opportunistic infections plus possible complications emanating from conventional ARV treatment for a longer life. In general, alternative therapies are cheaper compared to ARV regimens. Balanced nutrition through the use of seaweeds or mushrooms, as we have seen earlier, may play a wonderful role in healing for many individuals as their body defense mechanisms are bolstered and subregibly repaired.

With the present well-established fact that Ganoderma lucidum has potent anti-HIV activity, it becomes imperative that this mushroom be included as a dietary supplement to HIV / AIDS victims.

As indicated earlier Ganoderma, other known as Reishi, has been well used and documented as a medicinal treatment through China for over 4000 years. The Chinese refer to it as "spirit medicine", and use it to promote longevity. In ancient times, this It is often used as as much as rared and hard to come by. Now, thanks to the advent of modern technology, this mushroom can be farmed, making it more affordable and accessible to the average person. a tonic against any possible future health problems due to its immune body defense mechanisms, and is actually prescribed to people suffering from cancer and currently undergoing chemotherapy to fend off hair loss, lethargy, vomiting, and lack of appetite.

A large number of mushroom products to be helpful to some of the signs of aging, including skin appearance to affect the human immune system and can therefore be used to treat a variety of disease conditions. Apart from Ganoderma, some of the medicinally active mushrooms available in a variety of forms, such as whole, dried, treatment, cancer, immunodeficiency diseases such as HIV / AIDS, and for general treatment. powdered, tinctures, capsules, tablets, and tea include Grifola frondosa (Maitake) and Lentinus edodes (Shiitake).

In Japan Grifola frondosa is known as the "dancing mushroom" while for the mushroom hunters it is called the "hen of the woods". An extract from Grifola frondosa known as D fraction is marketed in Japan and the USA as a dietary supplement. D Unfollowing of the effects of immune cells and Difraction helps prevents the spread of cancer (metastasis) and slows the growth of tumors. Unlike other mushroom extracts, D fraction is effective not only in injectable form but orally as well.

As an HIV / AIDS alternative treatment, Grifola frondosa may help prevent destruction of T-cells. In animal studies, Grifola frondosa extracts have Grifola frondosa mushrooms, fresh or preserved, taste good and may be used in a variety of preparations. A liquid extract of Grifola frondosa D -fraction is available to health professionals.

Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) extract can be used to boost the immune system, protected the body from cancer and even shrink existing tumors, lower blood cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure and combat viruses and bacteria. Lentinus edodes contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, Following the discovery that cancer patients given lentinan have increased their survival times and a more positive prognosis, the Japanese have recently begun prescribing The polysaccharide as an adjunct to chemotherapy. Lentinus edodes extracts may help in the treatment of HIV / AIDS. Therapeutic daily amounts may be between 3 - 7 gms per day of Grifola frondosa and 1.5 - 9 gms daily of the crude discharged Ganoderma lucidum.

There are no reported side effects with Grifola frondosa, while continued use of Ganoderma lucidum for over 3 - 6 months may precipitate dizziness, despite, admittedly, such side effects are very rare. Lentinus edodes is safe and non-toxic, even in large large doses.