Testing, Testing: Medicinal Mushrooms

A regular dose of this warm, comforting mushroom elixir saw me through winter without so much as a sniffle

This post comes to us from Natalie Shukur.

I first came across medicinal mushrooms when I was living in Byron Bay, on the east coast of Australia. I happened to live across the street from one of (in my humble opinion) the best and most progressive cafés in the world. The Roadhouse is run by a bunch of switched-on young misfits who schooled themselves in permaculture, organics, fermentation, herbal tinctures, super foods, bone broth, sustainable seafood and seasonal produce, and are sharing it with the local community via their lively neighborhood spot that dishes out three meals a day (and a cocktails at night, because: moderation). It’s at The Roadhouse that I became acquainted with reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane and some of the 17 lesser-known medicinal mushrooms with which they spike their hot cacao-based Magic Mushroom drink.

A regular dose (alternated with their golden milk) of this warm, comforting elixir saw me through winter without so much as a sniffle, and I became sold on the immune-boosting, energy-giving powers of mushrooms.

Mushrooms are adaptogenic plants, meaning that they can survive harsh conditions and, in turn, pass that same resilient quality on to those that imbibe them. If you’re new to mushroom extracts, start with reishi; known as the “queen healer”, it helps to relieve stress, strengthen the immune system, support longevity and improve mental clarity — an ideal pick-me-up on those days when you’re feeling run down. Cordyceps, another good gateway mushroom, is a yang tonic that elevates oxygen levels, improves energy and heightens athletic performance. Introduce them into your diet slowly, beginning with once or twice a week, working up to five or six. Take a note of how your body feels. Medicinal mushrooms (especially when blended with cacao) are a clever way to wean off coffee, too.

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Leading up to fall, I stocked my cupboard with a variety of mushroom powders to get my system armed for the cooler months. I put Moon Juice’s Action Dust in my morning smoothie and Spirit Dust in my afternoon hot cacao drink. For a concentrated mushroom shot, I’ll go straight for Sun Potion’s Reishi and Cordyceps powders. I’ve even gotten into applying fungi topically, with Dr Alkaitis’ Organic Beautifying Mask, which contains a “magical forest mushroom complex”, consisting of snow tuckahoe, hedgehog and immortality mushrooms.

Here, The Roadhouse shares their Magic Mushroom elixir recipe to keep you humming all through winter.

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The Roadhouse Magic Mushroom Drink

1 tbsp 100% raw cacao

1 tsp mesquite

1 tsp vanilla tincture (or pure extract)

1 tsp medicinal mushroom tincture (try Moon Juice’s Action Dust, Spirit Dust or 1/2 tsp each of Sun Potion’s Reishi and Cordyceps)

Jelly bush (or other raw honey) to taste

Dash of cayenne pepper

1 cup coconut milk

Dash of cocoa powder to finish

Mix powders and tinctures in a splash of warm milk or water to blend. Add steamed warm coconut milk and honey to taste. Finish with a dash of cocoa. Alternatively, you can make this in a blender or with a whisk for a creamier finish.

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Carlen Altman
7 years ago

I CAN’T WAIT TO TRY THIS! SORRY FOR THE USE OF ALL CAPS BUT I AM EXCITED!

Zoe
7 years ago

So cool reading this! I study Botany and have just finished studying a module based around Fungi!! They are so amazing and diverse. Cool to see you are getting the word out there