Agarikon (Fomes officinalis) - Oldest Medicinal Mushroom Nearly Extinct
The medicinal mushroom Agarikon (Fomes officinalis) can live for 50 years or more, making it one of the longest living perennial mushrooms in the world. This is even more impressive in light of the fact that it starts growing on trees that are already old to begin with. In other words, Fomes officinalis can only survive in old growth forests.
The earliest written record of any mushroom used medicinally can be found in the Materia Medica from 65 B.C., where Fomes officinalis was listed by Greek physician Dioscorides as a tuberculosis remedy. [25] Other oral and written traditions from Poland and elsewhere in Europe indicate that Fomes officinalis was the most important medicinal mushroom in ancient Europe.
However, Agarikon (Fomes officinalis) is now practically extinct in Europe because of its dependency on old growth forests. Its current habitat in the wild may be entirely limited to unlogged land in Washington State. Fortunately, though, this is one mushroom that can be cultivated. Two companies that grow Fomes officinalis commercially are Paul Stamets' Fungi Perfecti out of Washington State, and the Ohio based Mushroom Harvest.
There is little modern research on the medicinal use of Agarikon extract but traditional use of this medicinal mushroom included tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and pneumonia (Bacillus pneumoniae and others). It's also been used topically as a poultice to relieve muscle and skeletal pain.
Supporting this information is a Polish article from 2001 by K. Grzywnowics titled Medicinal mushrooms in Polish folk medicine. While it was still common in Poland, Fomes officinalis was used to treat lung conditions like coughing and asthma, and skeletal conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, but also open bleeding and infected wounds. In Polish tradition, Fomes officinalis tea was considered a life prolonging elixir. [147]
Native Americans were also aware of the medicinal properties of Fomes officinalis. Oral traditions among certain tribes hold that it was used as a remedy against diseases brought by the Europeans, including smallpox. One such tribe was the Haida of the American Northwest, who even incorporated Agarikon into their spirituality where it was associated with the female creator spirit Raven, and by extension to female sexuality and fertility.
Two mentions in modern scientific literature include Agarikon extract with other mushrooms that elicit a strong immune enhancing effect in subjects. [148, 149]
Finally, it should be noted that in spite of its common name synonyms "Quinine Fungus" or "Quinine Conk," Agarikon does not contain the compound quinine and is not effective in the use against malaria.
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never use any medicinal mushroom or herb without prior approval by medical doctor.
Credit to Paul Stamets for research and source material. - 17268
The earliest written record of any mushroom used medicinally can be found in the Materia Medica from 65 B.C., where Fomes officinalis was listed by Greek physician Dioscorides as a tuberculosis remedy. [25] Other oral and written traditions from Poland and elsewhere in Europe indicate that Fomes officinalis was the most important medicinal mushroom in ancient Europe.
However, Agarikon (Fomes officinalis) is now practically extinct in Europe because of its dependency on old growth forests. Its current habitat in the wild may be entirely limited to unlogged land in Washington State. Fortunately, though, this is one mushroom that can be cultivated. Two companies that grow Fomes officinalis commercially are Paul Stamets' Fungi Perfecti out of Washington State, and the Ohio based Mushroom Harvest.
There is little modern research on the medicinal use of Agarikon extract but traditional use of this medicinal mushroom included tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and pneumonia (Bacillus pneumoniae and others). It's also been used topically as a poultice to relieve muscle and skeletal pain.
Supporting this information is a Polish article from 2001 by K. Grzywnowics titled Medicinal mushrooms in Polish folk medicine. While it was still common in Poland, Fomes officinalis was used to treat lung conditions like coughing and asthma, and skeletal conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, but also open bleeding and infected wounds. In Polish tradition, Fomes officinalis tea was considered a life prolonging elixir. [147]
Native Americans were also aware of the medicinal properties of Fomes officinalis. Oral traditions among certain tribes hold that it was used as a remedy against diseases brought by the Europeans, including smallpox. One such tribe was the Haida of the American Northwest, who even incorporated Agarikon into their spirituality where it was associated with the female creator spirit Raven, and by extension to female sexuality and fertility.
Two mentions in modern scientific literature include Agarikon extract with other mushrooms that elicit a strong immune enhancing effect in subjects. [148, 149]
Finally, it should be noted that in spite of its common name synonyms "Quinine Fungus" or "Quinine Conk," Agarikon does not contain the compound quinine and is not effective in the use against malaria.
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never use any medicinal mushroom or herb without prior approval by medical doctor.
Credit to Paul Stamets for research and source material. - 17268
About the Author:
Dr. Markho Rafael, an passionate mushroomer since childhood, has spent his entire professional career in the natural health field. He currently focuses on medicinal fungi, working in particular with the certified organic line of Fungi Perfecti. For scientific references to this article, please visit the Fomes officinalis extract page and click on any number indicating a reference.
posted by X - Men at
5:18 PM
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