Be careful about what you are buying...
Making Tea...Mushroom tea is like any other tea...hot water...I like to cut the mushroom up into small pieces and then put them into a small crockpot for 8 hours. You do not want to boil it because it can destroy the benefits you are seeking. When I have an abundance of mushrooms, I dehydrate them, put them in my chopper, and make a powder for tea at another time.
Tincture...Cut up mushrooms in small pieces and place in a jar with 100 proof alcohol. I usually put a piece of parchment paper over the lid to prevent any rusting. Put the mixture in a cool, dry, dark place for 2 months. Strain the mixture, and place the liquid into dropper bottles. Dual Extraction...at this point, people mix the water extraction (tea) with the alcohol extraction; however, this is where I believe people lose the full benefits of the polysaccarides. The alcohol breaks it down, reducing the strength. I just drink the tea, and take the tincture separately. |
The problem with any supplement you buy, do you know what you are really getting? As you can see from the first article above, you can do a simple iodine test to find out if there is any polysaccharides (the main compound that gives mushrooms their medicinal punch) in the product. I have found from my testing that the water extraction is great for polysaccharides, however; when placed in alcohol, the carbon chain breaks down, reducing the amount of polysaccharides. When I confronted these companies that advertised a "dual extraction," only one responded. Above, you can see they are aware of the issue but as it is now, to be able to sell their tinctures, they will continue to use this process. I also questioned powders and capsules. To get the full benefits from mushrooms, the chitin needs to be broken down to release the polysaccharides. This is usually accomplished by a slow simmer in water for hours. If they just deydrated the mushrooms, and grinded it up, you will not be receiving any benefits, with the exception of fiber. The problem is that the best method for extraction is not cost efficient and would not be profitable. Solution: Make your own!
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