Many pets with chronic health issues are great candidates for medicinal mushroom therapy! Read on to learn more about this powerful natural remedy!
Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, and modern research has verified the healing powers of these fungi. Edible mushrooms are also delicious food and contain many nutrients. There are several varieties of medicinal mushrooms that can be used for pets.
Reishi Mushroom
These medicinal mushrooms contain high levels of beta glucans and triterpenes. These powerful compounds can have anti-cancer and anti-viral effects by strengthening the immune system. They can be adaptogenic and help mitigate the effects of stress. They are also known to regulate allergic responses high blood pressure.
Reishi mushrooms can be helpful for treating bronchitis, asthma, immunodeficiencies such as FIV, infections such as upper respiratory infections or parasites, Cushing’s disease, cancer, and other inflammatory diseases.
Cordyceps Mushroom
This species of mushroom has a long history of medicinal use in treating respiratory diseases and cancer. It contains several beneficial polysaccharides and amino acids (including tryptophan). These compounds can have calming effects, strengthen the immune system, and combat oxidative damage to cells.
Cordyceps is often used for pulmonary diseases such as bronchitis and asthma, respiratory infections, and lung cancer. This mushroom can also be helpful for weak, anemic, or geriatric patients.
Shiitake Mushroom
These well-known edible mushrooms contain many enzymes, animo acids and minerals. They are widely used in Asia for their medicinal properties. Shiitake mushrooms can improve circulation, strengthen the immune system, regulate high blood pressure, and reduce incontinence.
These therapeutic benefits can aid in the treatment of cancer, chemotherapy side effects, Cushing’s disease, allergies, infections, and incontinence.
Turkey Tail Mushroom
This powerful mushroom contains the medicinal compounds PSP, PSK and ergosterol. Research has proven the efficacy of these compounds in treating different types of cancer including splenic hemangiosarcoma in dogs. The results are compelling and show significant improvement in survival times compared with conventional therapy alone.
Turkey tail mushrooms are also used to treat inflammatory diseases, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, and immunodeficiencies.
Maitake Mushroom
Maitake is another powerful edible and medicinal mushroom. It contains beneficial polysaccharides (such as beta glucan) and phospholipids. Some of the therapeutic effects include regulation of blood sugar and blood pressure, and enhanced immunity.
Maitake mushrooms are a great adjunct therapy in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, and inflammatory disease.
Chaga Mushroom
These mushrooms are well known to be helpful in preventing and treating cancer. They contain bioactive triterpenes which can have anti-tumor properties, that will help the body destroy tumor cells while leaving normal cells alone. They also contain potent antioxidants, enzymes, minerals and vitamins. Chaga’s actions include regulating the immune system which can also make it helpful in treating autoimmune disease and immunodeficiencies. It can reduce blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. It can even have analgesic or pain relieving effects.
Chaga is often used in treatment of cancer, allergies, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, viral infections, stomach pain, diabetes, hypothyroidism, infections and immunodeficiencies.
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Hopefully this brief review of some medicinal mushrooms for pets has helped you understand how powerful these fungi are for natural healing! Different types of mushrooms can even be used together for synergistic effects!
Mushrooms are most easily administered by mixing a powdered form of the mushroom with a small amount of melted butter to mask the taste, and then mixing the mushroom butter into their food or a meatball.
The dose or amount used depends on the size of the animal and the intended treatment.
If you have more questions about how you can use mushrooms for your pet, contact Dr. Barrett for guidance.
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