Blazing Star Herbal School

Archive for July, 2009

For two millennia, medicinal mushrooms have been mainstream in Asia. Now, America is taking notice and interest is rapidly “mushrooming.” With the sprouting of this new industry follows issues of ethical quality claims between competing brands.

All species of medicinal mushrooms appear haunted by this issue. Particularly so, it seems, is red reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), the oldest medicinal mushroom in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Please note, however, that the information in this article applies generally to all medicinal mushroom species.

The first and perhaps obvious caution is to stay away from cheap mass-produced brands of medicinal mushrooms that may only contain dried and pulverized mushrooms, in which case the medicinal compounds are still inaccessible behind the mushrooms’ cell walls.

But even among the truly effective therapeutic brands, which are plentiful, there are important differences. Each seems to claim superiority over other brands, not surprisingly, because why else would anyone buy them? This article aims to clarify the confusion of conflicting and sometimes misleading information that is out there.

There are primarily three ways to extract the medicinal compounds from red reishi. Each method pulls out different compounds, all of which have been proven by scientific research to be therapeutically important.

1. Water (Hot) Extraction (polysaccharides, etc.)

2. Alcohol Extraction (triterpenoids, etc.)

3. Fermenting (arabinoxylanes, etc.)

The most important hot water extracted compounds are the polysaccharides. Studies have shown them to possess strong anti-tumor properties, help boost immune system and be powerful antioxidants. [1]

Triterpenoids include a large number of related medicinal compounds whose proven effects include stabilization of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood clotting. But most importantly, the triterpenoids are the anti-inflammatory compounds of reishi. [1] Inflammation is a serious component in asthma, allergies, arthritis and many more conditions.

Finally, by fermenting the red reishi, the original medicinal compounds break down to form new compounds with unique healing properties. These “secondary metabolites” have among other things been shown to be immune enhancing and help regulate blood sugar, as well as having unique anti-tumor properties. [2]

Since this article is not intended to elevate any one brand over another, no brand names will be mentioned. Nevertheless, the author does know of two highly reputed brands (American and Japanese) that claim only hot water extracted red reishi is of any value and that alcohol extracts are useless.

Naturally, the reason they say so is because they want to sell their own brand. However, those statements are scientifically untrue. Hot water and alcohol extractions both contain critical compounds.

When looking for the best reishi extract, find one that uses at least the first two extraction methods in combination: Hot Water and Alcohol Extraction. Even better may be a brand that includes all three methods listed.

An additional point to keep in mind is the form the reishi comes in. Reishi that dissolves completely in a water-based liquid such as coffee probably only contains reishi from hot water extraction. As a substitute for regular coffee, this would be a superb health-choice. However, it will not contain the water-insoluble triterpenoids so valued for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Surprisingly, though, alcohol tinctures may include both hot water extract and alcohol extract. You will know if the alcohol tincture contains polysaccharides because when the alcohol and hot water extracts are blended, the polysaccharides fall out of solution and the tincture becomes cloudy. (Just shake it before you take it.) A cloudy medicinal mushroom tincture is an indication of high polysaccharide content. Capsules and tablets may be either hot water extract or alcohol extract or both.

[1] Boh B, Berovic M, Zhang J, Zhi-Bin L. “Ganoderma lucidum and its pharmaceutically active compounds.” Biotechnol Annu Rev. 2007;13:265-301.

[2] Tang YJ, Zhang W, Zhong JJ, 2009. “Performance analyses of a pH-shift and DOT-shift integrated fed-batch fermentation process for the production of ganoderic acid and Ganoderma polysaccharides by medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum.” Bioresource Technol. Mar;100(5):1852-9.

“The best” can be tagged to a service if we get all the deals, offers and many more at the cheapest prices. I hope you will agree with me in this point. Shopping went digital with the advent of Internet.

We can find anything on the net from pin to flight. There are several shopping sites online. But most of them are inadequate and providing less choice for the shoppers with limited number of stores, since they charge bucks for placement of stores.

There are a few sites providing excellent service to shoppers with more choices, less prices and many more features at a click. ShopWiki is an online store with 30,000 stores at a place. They are offering free placement of stores so that users can compare price of an article in different stores and can get it at best price

ShopWiki clearly categorized goods and services. you can find not only mens collection but also mens winter style guide in the site. If you are thinking to surprise your mate with a gift, then don’t go to a single store; raher visit site like shopwiki and get the best gift at the best price by visiting a number of stores. There are many other products like watches, electronic goods that add glamour to your life.

As in any type of cooking in Mediterranean cuisine people use seasoning, Mediterranean seasoning really. Mediterranean cuisine is the food of the areas around the Mediterranean Sea, evidently. The fact is that the Mediterranean cuisine contains foods from varied cultures. Given the geography of the Mediterranean, these nation-states have influenced each other in time and the cooking process developed into sharing common rules. Flexibility and a broad range of ingredients and numerous regional varitions characterized the Mediterranean cuisine. The area has tended to favour the rearing of goats and sheep.

Although currently much of the fish is shipped from the outside since the fisheries of the Mediterranean sea are no longer what they used to be, fish dishes are still very common. Seafood is still outstanding in many of the standard Mediterranean dish recipes. It is quite evident that certain types of meats and fruit or vegetables, as it is the case with Mediterranean cuisine, demand for specific/typical seasoning, in this case, Mediterranean seasoning. Pita bread, barbecue or grilled meats, falafel and hummus are among the Mediterranean foods which commonly ask a special seasonings which are found in the area around Mediterranean seasoning evidently.

Talking of Mediterranean seasoning you must know though not necessarily a flavorer, that olive oi is made in the Mediterranean countries like Greece, Turkey, Italy, Portugal and Spain among others. An important ingredient in Mediterranean seasoning is represented by garlic, which is utilized a lot throughout Mediterranean cuisine. Adding to the distinctive taste of food are garlic and olive oil which are used in the Mediterranean seasoning and cuisine in general. Besides, it is unanimously believed that the ingredients in this kind of cooking and in Mediterranean seasoning, and we have in mind especially the olive oil, are a major contributor to the longevity and good health state of the Mediterranean people.

You will no doubt need Mediterranean seasoning if you are interested in making Mediterranean dishes, or you will not attain real Mediterranean food. You may easily buy different commodities which are labeled Mediterranean seasoning from stores around the country, however, my suggestion is for you to try to prepare your own Mediterranean seasoning because it is not hard at all.

To receive a good Mediterranean seasoning you only need the right ingredients and a true Mediterranean seasoning recipe, like the one below. This combo is what I call Mediterranean seasoning. It doesn’t matter how much you use ” just combine the ingredients in the following proportions in a bowl, whisk, and pour into a shaker. Place it in a container and then put in the refrigerator, there it is when you require to apply it for a cursory dusting on a grilled meat, or for a marinade:1 part cinammon, 1 part coriander, 1 part cumin, 1 part dried mint, and then 1 part Italian seasoning or oregano; Besides, put one part onion powder and 1 part garlic powder.