Can medicinal mushrooms be taken to help fight candida and other fungal infections, or will they aggravate the condition?

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Can medicinal mushrooms be taken to help fight candida and other fungal infections, or will they aggravate the condition?

Expert Answer

Isaac Eliaz, MD is a respected author, lecturer, researcher, product formulator, and clinical practitioner. He has been a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine since the early 1980s. Eliaz is a frequent guest lecturer on integrative medical approaches to health, immune enhancement, and cancer prevention and treatment. For more information, visit www.dreliaz.org.

I recommend medicinal mushrooms formulas that contain the whole mycelium of the mushroom, and not the fruiting body. Formulas that contain whole mycelium are excellent immune modulators that can be effective against Candida albicans and other fungal infections. Several medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi (Gandoderma lucidum), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), and Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) have been shown to exhibit powerful anti-fungal properties. Reishi and Shiitake have compounds that specifically destroy and inhibit Candida. The mycelium of the mushroom contains all the medicinal properties without the spores found in fruiting bodies, and is safe for people with mushroom and fungus sensitivities.