The shiitake-mushroom has been growing wild in Japan and China for thousands of years. Today it is grown all over the world. Its favourite habitat is cut down oak logs that are watered regularly.
Shiitake is not only a great delicacy - it is used in recipies in many cookbooks and vegetarians use it as a replacement for meat - but it also has outstanding medicinal qualities.
The mushroom contains a fair amount of carbohydrates, all the essential amino acids, enzymes, vitamins - B vitamins particularly - minerals, soluble fibres, and different polysaccharides etc.
Some of these polysaccharides (various sugars) has immune strengthening qualities. For instance, the polysaccharide lentinan stimulates the body's T-lymphocytes and macrophages (the white blood cells) that are important in the combating of disease. Lentinan has also been produced as a medicine for the treatment of stomach cancer.
Beta glucan is another comparable polysaccharide which is found in shiitake. This drug is also used isolated for immune diseases.
The high protein contents of shiitake also play a role for the combating of diseases.
AIDS patients use shiitake, because it is believed to obstruct an early development of the AIDS virus.
That the mushroom is believed to be good for viral infections like herpes or the flu is said to be due to its positive effect on the body's production of interferon. Interferon is an immune substance which is produced by some of the white blood cells when the body is attacked by virus.
Substances in shiitake are good for fungal- and bacterial infections, and people who suffer from fibromyalgia eat the mushroom to improve their vigour and energy level.
Shiitake also contains a substance which binds fat and as such furthers weight loss.
The mushroom also contains an alkaloid called eritadenin. Scientists believe that this is one of the reasons why shiitake has been able to lower the blood pressure and cholesterol level in animals and counteract blood clotting.
Side effects
Normally, shiitake has no side effects. The intake of large doses of more than 4 g. of a concentrate can in some cases cause diarrhoea or intestinal bleeding.
Dosage
Shiitake can be obtained in many forms. You may eat the mushrooms or take them dried or powdered in capsules. Shiitake is also available as an extract and as a tea.
