5 Tips If You Are Looking Into Growing Medicinal Mushrooms
If you have seen the benefits of mushrooms, you may have considered growing medicinal mushrooms. However, it can be intimidating and there are a few things to know before you start.
First, what are medicinal mushrooms?
In short, medicinal mushrooms are those that have some therapeutic properties. Mushrooms have been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and can be found in many classic books on herbs and oriental medicine.
Today, mushrooms have become popular because they can be added to teas, tinctures, or eaten as food.
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And what exactly do medicinal mushrooms do?
This is a good question that has been studied for years. Mushrooms act as nootropics, which are medical and nutritional compounds that can improve cognitive function. Some other nootropics include caffeine, Ginkgo Biloba, and ginger.
Mushrooms, on the other hand, are also rich in nutrients. Some of these nutrients are vitamins, antioxidants, and aromatic terpenes. Along with this, mushrooms have many complex polysaccharides called beta-glucans that increase the body's ability to fight disease, oxidative stress, and more.
These are the 5 tips you need to know if you want to start growing medicinal mushrooms:
Tip #1: Not all mushrooms are medicinal
While all mushrooms are healthy and nutritious, not all have medicinal properties. Some of the most common medicinal species that you can grow at home are Lion's mane, Shiitake, and Oyster.
Tip #2: Growing Lion's mane needs some work
Lion's mane grows on sick or dying trees, logs, or on a specialized substrate in grow bags. The texture and appearance of these mushrooms are very similar to crab meat, making them excellent substitutes for vegetarian meat.
This mushroom may be the most powerful as it has powerful regenerative effects on brain cells. Consuming lion's mane can be a way to combat oxidative stress, prevent dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and stop the progression of cell damage.
These mushrooms are native to North America, Asia, and Europe. To grow them at home, you will need to purchase the lion's mane spawn and a special spawn bag to allow the mushroom to feed properly.
Tip #3: shiitake mushrooms require you to use logs
While this mushroom is extremely popular, it is not so easily grown at home either. To grow shiitake mushrooms, you will need a chopped log of wood. These mushrooms have a mild flavor but a meaty texture, which is why they are often used in many vegetarian and meat dishes.
In addition to being umami, shiitake can boost your immunity and help lower blood cholesterol.
To grow these mushrooms at home, you need a hardwood log with the bark, it should be an oak or poplar for ideal conditions. You should inoculate your logs in winter when the temperature is below freezing.
You also need shiitake mushroom plugs, which are used to inoculate the logs. Its trunk should remain for 2 to 4 weeks in a dry and shady environment.
After this period, insert the shiitake plugs into the logs and place the log on top of the newspaper to retain the melted wax. After the logs are melted and waxed, the mushrooms are ready to grow. They take about 6 months, but generally longer, to produce any shiitake.
Tip #4: Oyster mushrooms can grow on logs or substrate
This popular mushroom can be grown at home without much work. The name comes from the appearance, but the taste is a bit bland and has a scallop flavor. This is another reason why oyster mushrooms are used in seafood and Asian broths or soups.
These mushrooms are known to be antiviral, antitumor, antioxidant, and can lower blood sugar levels. Oyster mushrooms grow in temperate regions, usually on dead logs or dying trees.
To grow them at home, you can use a dead log or buy a specialized substrate for bagging. You can buy gray oyster spawning online, as well as starter kits for home cultivation.
Tip #5: Always do your research and check your mushrooms
While having medicinal mushrooms at home seems like an amazing thing, it can be tricky to grow these mushrooms.
Research the right tools and conditions, always making sure your mushrooms are healthy. As always, be careful when eating new foods.
We hope you enjoy this video about Medicinal Mushrooms:
Source: PARAGRAPHIC
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Last update on 2025-03-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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