Post 151

Medicinal Mushroom Preparation Instructions

Mushrooms can be prepared as a food medicine many ways.  The following material explains how to prepare them using powder, capsules, extracts, tinctures, or tea.  If any of the methods are too involved for your needs, simply use a powder and take your selected mushroom in the daily dosage recommended in Post 151.  Post 151 covers each type of Medicinal Mushroom we offer, the dosages, and what they are useful for.

Using Powders, Capsules and Extracts

Powders: by the teaspoon, dissolved in water, ginger tea, green tea, or sprinkled into miso, soup broth, stir fry dishes or rice.

Capsules:  using “00” size;  Each capsule will yield about 400 mg average.  For mild to moderate conditions; 2 capsules AM and 2 capsules PM.  For more serious conditions or for autoimmune or immune deficiency, 2-3 capsules 3 times per day or approximately 4 grams daily average

Extract Preparations:  Simmer mushrooms in water in a covered pan for about hour.  Strain tea and set aside. Replace with another batch of fresh water and simmer covered for 30 minutes.  Strain this new tea, adding it to the first decoction, combining them together.  Simmer the tea for several hours until it is reduced to a thick paste.  Remove from the heat and cool slightly.  Scrape paste from the pan and knead it into organic rice flour to a dough-like consistency.  Roll between your fingers to form pieces that will fit into the “00” capsule.  Take 1 pill each AM and again in the PM.  The second option is to take the “dough” and spread it out, placing it in a food dehydrator or an oven on its lowest setting.  The extract dough when completely dried, can be powdered in a blender or coffee grinder. The powder can then be packed into capsules or sprinkled onto food or soup.

Mushroom Tea:  Using Pieces

1. Break up the mushroom into smaller pieces, about 1 inch in size.
2. In a 1 liter pot of water, drop in 1 handful of chunks.  Bring water and mushrooms to a boil. Allow it to simmer until the water turns a reddish brown color, or, at least, 1 hour.  It requires 1 hour in order to extract more of the bioactive ingredients.
3. Strain the tea into a mug and add some maple syrup or honey to taste.

Reuse the mushroom chunks several times in order to extract all of the value. Store in a glass jar uncovered, in the refrigerator, between uses.

2-Part Processing;   Tincture and Water Extraction– Process for Making a Professional Product at Home

(which most of you will not want to do– but if you do- here is how)

Tinctures use an alcohol extraction method, and water extraction is simply water.  Both have purposes and different compounds that can be extracted out of the mushrooms.  Components such as phytosterols or betulinic acid are water-insoluble and cannot be extracted with water alone. Hot water can break down another ingredient, chitin. Chitin cannot be extracted with alcohol but rather with water. A combination of both methods is time consuming and a bit complicated but ideal for maximum benefits of the process.  If using this combination method, maintain the same amount of alcohol to water in your finished product.

Mushroom Tincture

1. Break up the mushroom pieces into smaller chunks, roughly 1 inch in size. If available, use powder.
2. Grind the pieces into a powder using a coffee or spice grinder or high quality blender/processor.
3. Fill a mason glass jar with the prepared mushroom powder, allowing 2 inches of headspace at the top or just to the shoulder of the jar.
4. Pour over and fill the jar with either 100 proof vodka or better yet, Everclear for the best shelf life
5. Let it sit for at least 8 to 12 weeks.  Shake the jar every day during the first couple of weeks, then a few times weekly thereafter.
6. Strain off tincture into amber glass bottles for storage and dropper bottles for immediate use or refilling.

Hot Water Extraction

1. After at 8 to 12 weeks, strain out the alcohol into another glass jar using a cheesecloth lining a mesh filter.
2. Put the chaga into an enamel or stainless steel pot.
3. Measure an amount of water equal to alcohol that was strained off.
4. Next pour the water into the pot over the mushroom pieces and then, using a wooden chopstick, measure the water level. Using a sharp knife, mark the exact water level on the chopstick. This measurement is where you want the final water level to be after your decoction is completed. Fill the pot with twice that amount of water.
5. Bring the pot to a boil and let it simmer on low heat.
6. Keep checking the water level with the chopstick you have marked. When the water level is the same or less than the mark on the chopstick, take it off the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.
7. The following day, add more water and do another decoction. Repeat for a total of 3 decoctions.
8. Once the third decoction is finished, let it cool. Then mix the finished decoction product into the alcohol saved from earlier and store in a glass jar.
9. You now have a Mushroom Tincture–  1 teaspoon is enough to prepare a single 8 oz drink.

Combining any most important mushroom for your individual needs is usually most effective when combining it with at least one other compatible mushroom.  Herbs are also compatible with any mushroom because these are in their complete whole state.  Vitamins and minerals can be taken as directed along with these Medicinal Mushroom products at meals or other times during the day as instructed. Choosing a single mushroom for your individual needs should always be predominant. When adding the second mushroom, select one which is most descriptive of your concerns.  If you are unsure which second one to choose, add Reishi or Maitake, which is a default for all general applications.