Agaricus Mushroom Extract Powder

Description

Medicinal Use of Mushrooms Throughout History
For the past century, many scientists from Eastern European countries studied medicinal mushrooms and their effects on health. The existing data proves the Chinese have been using mushrooms for over 3000 years, but there is some evidence that their use may go as far back as 7000 years! Chinese Pharmacopeias document the use of over 100 different types of medicinal mushrooms by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for a wide range of ailments. The use of mushrooms date back hundreds of years in Japan . The most known and widely used medicinal mushrooms are Agaricus blazei Murrill, Reishi, Maitake, Shitake, Cordyceps, among others. In Western Medicine, many clinically important drugs have been derived directly or indirectly from mushrooms, such as, anti-biotics (Tetracycline & Auereomycin), penicillin (and Griseofluvin), steroids and hormones (Progesterone), pain medication (Morphine, Cortisone), anti-fungal and anti-cancer drugs. The first chemotherapy drug approved by the FDA in the 1980’s was derived from a mushroom. In Japan , the Japanese government approved 3 different anticancer drugs extracted from mushrooms.

For the most part, the studies on the health benefits of mushrooms have been focused on its immune-stimulating properties. They offer great merit to the body in preventing illness, maintaining health and promoting healing. Mushrooms work naturally and gently with the body. The polysaccharides in mushrooms, which are a high molecular complex sugars, and their derivatives are able to stimulate cytokine production, which mobilize the immune cells resulting from bone marrow production.

Discovery of Agaricus Blazei Murill (ABM moshroom)
The Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) mushroom, a Basidiomycete fungus, is native to the Atlantic Rainforest region in southeastern Brazil , where it has been part of the regular diet of the residents of the area for many generations. Researchers in the late sixties discovered a very low incidence of chronic illness, among the local people, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and heart disease. This discovery led them to believe the ABM mushroom was a contributing factor. ABM mushroom samples were sent to the Pharmacological Department at Tokyo University and the National Cancer Center in Japan , for further evaluation and to establish its effect on cancer. The research primarily focused on the anti-tumor properties of the beta-glucans found in the ABM mushroom and its pharmacological effects. The positive results of the research were presented at the Japan Pharmacological Association and the Japan Cancer Association in 1970 .

ABM mushroom Nutritional Composition
ABM mushroom food supplements are a nutritionally well balanced valuable health food. The mushroom contains valuable ingredients, such as essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, vegetable proteins, anti-oxidants, enzymes, dietary crude fibers, natural sterols, Triterpenes, Saponins and polysaccharides which stimulate the immune system. The ABM mushroom consists of a total of 192 nutrients. ABM mushroom have no known side effects and toxicity studies have confirmed its safety. Hence, for many years, ABM is used in hospitals as adjunct nutritional therapy for cancer patients in Brazil , Europe , Japan and other Asian countries. It is the most widely used medicinal mushroom for health maintenance, prevention and for adjunct treatments for a wide range of health concerns.

Health Benefits of ABM mushroom
Over 40 years of research worldwide suggest that the Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom may have the following health benefits:

 • Boost immune system
 • Modulate blood sugar levels
 • Helps boost and modulate immune system
 • Modulate blood pressure
 • Modulate blood sugar levels
 • Cholesterol Modulator
 • Cardio Vascular support
 • Digestive Support
 • Adjunct to chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments
 • Liver and kidney tonic
 • Anti-viral
 • Anti-inflammatory
 • Anti-bacterial
 • Anti-tumor
 • May be helpful for auto-immune disorders
 • May improve the efficacy of DNA vaccines

The Immune System
Living organisms have an immune system whose function is to eliminate pathogens, chemical toxic substances and mutation-induced cell proliferation. It is thanks to this function, which we know as immunity, that the body stays healthy. It combats dangerous organisms by preventing them from penetrating the tissue, and therefore the body as a whole.

Compared to the other commonly used Oriental mushrooms – including Maitake, Reishi, and Shiitake – the ABM mushroom demonstrated far superior Immune Enhancing Effects. Various studies attribute this effect to the much higher levels of key polysaccharides, mainly beta glucans, ergosterol and other components which are unique to ABM mushroom. At present ABM is considered the most potent mushroom in supporting the immune system. So successful are the studies and the popularity of the ABM mushroom in Japan that they are now buying over 90% of the available Agaricus from Brazil.

[Further Information: Lymphocytes are key components of the Immune System. About 15% of them are called Natural Killer (NK) cells. These cells provide the first line of defense for dealing with any form of invasion to the body. Each cell contains several small granules which act as ammunition. When an NK cell recognizes a cancer cell, for instance, it attaches itself to the cells outer membrane and insert these granules directly into the interior of the cancer cell. More specifically, natural killer cells or NK cells play a critical role neutralizing outside organisms such as viruses and bacteria that enter the body. Through a process called phagocytosis, the NK cells engulf foreign agents and release toxic chemicals that destroy them.

In cancer patients, the NK cells and cancer cells constantly battle one another. The NK cells attempt to destroy cancer cells while at the same time cancer cells try to neutralize NK cells before they can harm them. If the NK cells are weak or if there are not enough NK cells in the body, the cancer spreads throughout the body resulting in death. Several factors contribute to the weakening of the immune system: most notably stress, age, poor diet, pollution, and smoking. It is widely held that cancer develops through a weakening of the immune system through aging or other factors. This is one of the reasons why attention is focusing more and more on ABM. The mushroom contains large quantities of polysaccharides, which have been attributed an immunity enhancing effect. In addition, it reduces hyper-reaction of the immune system and thus contributes to establishing an equilibrium in the system as a whole.]

Beta-D-Glucan
The Beta-D-glucan is found in the cell walls of the Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) mushroom.*7 Subject of extensive scientific research for several decades, beta-D-glucan is a non-digestible polysaccharide (long chain carbohydrate) that is one of the most important substances responsible in the body for creating a defense system against viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic or neoplastic invaders.*3,6 It not only bolsters immunity but also reduces excessive immunological reactions to maintain a healthy immune system balance.

New evidence reveals an even higher level of B-glucans activity in the Agaricus blazei mushrooms, suggesting that this mushroom may soon surpass the traditional mushrooms used for this purpose to date. In Brazil , Japan and other Asian countries, ABM is used in hospitals as adjunct nutritional therapy for cancer patients.

Ergosterol
Another important component in AbM is Ergosterol, a natural anti-angiogenesis substance shown to inhibit the production of substances that originate in the tumor . These properties stimulate neogenesis of the capillaries. By inhibiting the growth of the tumor through the circulatory system, it becomes smaller in size and consequently more responsive to chemotherapy and surgery. Ergosterol combined with Beta-D-Glucan account for innumerable successful therapies, such as, immunotherapy . AbM also has the highest levels of Ergosterol compared to other mushrooms . Other tumor fighting components found in the AbM mushroom are: xyloglucan, acid heteroglucan, ribonucleic acid protein compounds and lectin, which augment macrophage activity.