Fungus That is Used in Medicine

Fungi are a vital part of human lives, found in the food we eat and the products we consume. Some fungi cause diseases and infect plants and animals, while others can be used to treat diseases and heal illnesses.

Identification

• A fungus is neither a plant nor animal but belongs to its own kingdom of species. One of their most identifying features is that they get their food by breaking down and absorbing nutrients from their surroundings.

Agarikon

• As far back as 65 B.C., Europeans have used Agarikon fungus to treat tuburculosis. Polish folk medicine also sites Agarikon as a treatment for lung conditions and rheumatoid arthritis.

Ganoderma lucidum

• Ganoderma lucidum is perhaps the first fungus used for medicinal purposes. Since the Chin Dynasty, the Chinese have been using Ganoderma lucidum to cure a wide variety of common ailments such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Better Health for Growers

• A pioneer in fungal medicine, Dr. Ikekawa, discovered in the late 1960s that families that grew mushrooms had a significantly lower cancer rate than their neighbors.

Antibiotics

• Penicillin, cephalosporin and other antibiotics are derived from fungi. These antibiotics work by breaking down the cell walls of bacteria that cause tuberculosis, leprosy and other diseases.

Cyclosporin

• The fungus Beauveria nivea is an immunosuppressant, which is the key ingredient in Cyclosporin, a medication vital to reducing the risk of transplant rejection.