Table of Contents



Acknowledgments

Introduction

Our Approach to This Subject

What You Will Find in This Book

A Note about Scientific Studies from the East

A Word about Taking Medicinal Mushrooms

Chapter One

Introducing Medicinal Mushrooms

Mushrooms in Western Culture

Mushrooms in Western Culture: The Hallucinogens

Medicinal Mushrooms in China and the East

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Fungi and Mushrooms in Nature

Are Fungi Intelligent?

Chapter Two

Strengthening the Immune System with Medicinal Mushrooms

An Alert, Awake Immune System: Medicinal Mushrooms as Immunoregulators

Importance of a Strong Immune System

How the Immune System Works

The Rise and Decline of the Immune System

A Look at Some Diseases of the Immune System

Understanding Polysaccharides and Beta-Glucan

Medicinal Mushrooms as Adaptogens

Terpenoids in Mushrooms

Medicinal Mushrooms and Prebiotics

Mushrooms and Free Radicals

Protective Effect on the Liver

The Trouble with Antibiotics

Why Not Get Mushrooms in the Supermarket?

Chapter Three

Reishi Mushroom The Mushroom of Immortality

Reishi in the Wild

Folklore of Reishi

The Reishi Mushroom in Chinese Art

Recent Studies of Reishi

Chapter Four

Cordyceps Sinensis: The Anti-Aging Mushroom

Introducing Cordyceps Sinensis

Folklore of Cordyceps Sinensis

Foraging for Cordyceps with Malcolm Clark

Cordyceps and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Cordyceps in the West

Cordyceps Cs-4

Recent Studies of Cordyceps

Chapter Five

Agaricus Blazei: Beta Glucan All-Star

Discovery of Agaricus Blazei

Problems in Cultivating Agaricus Blazei

The Beta Glucan in Agaricus Blazei

Recent Studies of Agaricus Blazei

Chapter Six

Maitake: The Cancer Slayer

Maitake in the Wild

Recent Studies of Maitake

Chapter Seven

Phellinus Linteus: New Superstar on the Block

A Quick Look at Phellinus Linteus

Recent Studies of Phellinus Linteus

Chapter Eight

Trametes Versicolor: The Mother of Krestin

Introducing Trametes Versicolor

A Look at PSK and Krestin

A Look at PSP

Chapter Nine

Hericium Erinaceus: A Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Travels with Hericium Erinaceus

Recent Studies of Hericium Erinaceus

Chapter Ten

Shiitake: Lentinan and HIV

Introducing the Shiitake Mushroom

Folklore of Shiitake

Lentinan and LEM

Recent Studies of Shiitake

Chapter Eleven

Real Stories and Healing Experiences

Chapter Twelve

Behind the Scenes

How Medicinal Mushrooms Are Cultivated

Controlled Cultivation and Analytical Chemistry

Cultivating Mycelium in the Laboratory

Shopping for Mushroom Products

A Word about Prices

Mushrooms in the Mainstream

The Story of the Orgasmic Mushroom

The Value of Multiple-Mushroom Formulas

Extract or Capsule Powder?

A Word about Cooking Mushrooms

The Innovators

Mushrooms and the Connection to the Earth

Recipes for Mushroom Dishes

Gourmet Mushroom Pot Pie

Exotic Mushroom Frittata

Gourmet Mushroom Chowder

Coconut Soup with Gourmet Mushrooms (Tom Kha Gai)

Gourmet Mushroom Tapenade

Bruschetta with Gourmet Mushrooms

Fabulous Porcini Risotto for Two

Producer’s List

References