Medicinal Mushrooms

Seeking treatment for Nicholai's lymphoma, my top concern has always been his daily welfare rather than his longevity. Perhaps if I had been told that a difficult and expensive course of treatment – such as chemotherapy and radiation – were likely to affect a cure, I might have weighted the benefits over the costs. But as it was, the chemo/radiation route promised only probable remission with likely recurrence, making the short term side effects, long term health problems, and economic burden tip the scales away from this "standard of care."

With the help of a holistic veterinarian, a treatment plan was shaped. It included Western herbs (herbs from this part of the world), a natural diet, digestive enzymes, anti-oxidant vitamins, natural hydrocortisone, and a mushroom complex. Familiar with all of the components except the mushroom complex, I set out to do a little learning and found myself diving into the world of mycology.

Mycology is the study of fungi, and mushrooms are the reproductive structure of a fungus, so first I discovered that I was treating my dog with the same family that creates slime mold – still; maybe it's a good thing, as its kissing cousin, penicillin, has been a great boon to medicine.

Cancer Research UK published a study that demonstrated notable positive effects of mushrooms in the prevention and treatment of cancer. While bigger studies need to be conducted to more accurately define the effects of mushrooms, the doses necessary, and any possible negative effects, this initial study showed great promise for the therapy.

The UK study showed that mushrooms appear to enhance the normal actions of the immune system. In the lab, they can be seen to stimulate interferons, interleukins, and to marshal the activity of t-lymphocytes and macrophages. These immune players fight off bacteria, viruses, and tumor cells.

Nicholai takes a daily dose of dried mushroom complex, combined into capsules. The complex is made of Coriolus hursutis, Cordyceps, Maitake, Reishi, and Shiitake mushrooms. Together these members of the fungi family help to boost immune cell action, inhibit tumor activity, combat infections, and reduce inflammation.

I'm no expert on mushroom therapy. What I know is Nicholai's still plugging along, well past anyone's expectations that he would even be here. I know when he and Kelley contracted salmon poisoning; it was Nicholai – the older and arguably sicker dog – who fared better. What I know is I will continue to provide him this simple and non-toxic care. In fact, impressed at his robustness and the promise of these mycological wonders, I too, have begun to swallow a few capsules each day.

It's interesting to note that often when a new pharmaceutical drug is pioneered and shows this kind of promise, it can be sped through the approval process and marketed widely. The lowly fungus, with so much to recommend it, languishes in the background, waiting for wider discovery. One has to wonder about motivations.