NEW STUDIES CONFIRM MUSHROOMS ARE ANTI-CANCER POWERHOUSES
This article by: Donna Lorenz
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide – for humans and dogs. Current stats say 1 in 3 dogs will have cancer in their lifetime and that narrows to 1 in 2 over the age of 10. Many dog lovers are looking to novel and natural medicines to complement their conventional oncology care, and many more are choosing not to wait until their dog is one of those stats and boosting their dog’s immune system with supplements every day.
The oncology toolbox hasn’t changed much for generations and basically includes chemo, surgery and radiation. While there are some recent advancements in chemotherapeutic drugs, such as immunotherapy, they are still fairly marginal in terms of eradicating or slowing disease and extending life overall, plus they have some terrible side effects.
The search for effective anti-cancer agents with little or no side effects has led researchers over many years to consider natural compounds. This research has ultimately found time and again, what ancient healers have known for hundreds if not thousands of years, that many medicinal mushrooms are really effective in many cancer contexts.
In 2022 the International Journal of Molecular Sciences published findings from researchers in Korea who reviewed numerous current and earlier human clinical studies assessing the anti-cancer potential of various mushrooms and their proposed mechanisms of action (Park, H-J, 2022).
Polysaccharides are the heroes
Their reviews found that polysaccharides are the ‘most potent mushroom compounds with anti-tumour and immunomodulatory properties’, with beta-glucan particularly ‘stimulating the immune system’. ‘Mushroom polysaccharides stimulate natural killer cells, GT cells, B cells, and macrophages, leading to an increased immune response’, with special mention of compounds in turkey tail, cordyceps and reishi for their effect on apoptosis in some studies.
Alleviate symptoms of cancer and side effects of conventional treatment
Studies also found that many mushrooms, across many studies, showed positive effects on some symptoms of cancer, such as tiredness and nausea (leading to improved quality of life), as well as amplifying the positive impacts and reducing the side effects of conventional oncology treatments, such as chemo and radiation.
Good prebiotics and probiotics / creating healthy gut biota
Polysaccharides were shown to also have a role as prebiotics that enhance the growth of ‘beneficial microbiota’. They noted it was therefore ‘possible that prebiotic effects of medicinal mushrooms could enhance quality of life during and after cancer therapy’.
They concluded that their review had shown the latest, rigorous science demonstrates the potential beneficial use of mushrooms in cancer treatment. Mushroom-derived compounds ‘activate or regulate the immune system by affecting the maturation, differentiation, and proliferation of immune cells, thereby inhibiting cancer cell metastasis and growth’.
A similar review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2020 that looked at 8 randomised control trials (RCTs) found results showed beneficial effects of mushrooms in cancer treatment, particularly quality of life and reduction of adverse effects of conventional therapies’ (Jeitler et al, 2020). Studies also found ‘positive effects on anti-tumour activity and immunomodulation’.
Both groups of researchers call for more research (of course) but they were both very rigorous in their study selection and evaluation of methods and findings and then very clear on their interpretation. That is, ‘medicinal mushrooms appear to facility improvements in 1) quality of life, 2) a reduction in side effects of conventional therapies, 3) hematologic parameters [blood markers], and 4) overall survival, anti-tumour activity and immunomodulation’. Furthermore, and super importantly, mushrooms are safe.
This is such great news, especially for those looking for the confidence of science over traditional healers across thousands of years. However you approach it, medicinal mushrooms are both safe and effective in many cancer contexts. It’s not a panacea, but it’s hugely promising and already really positive.
Which mushrooms help with cancer?
Among the 14,000 different species of mushrooms, approximately 700 have been reported to ‘exhibit medicinal properties’. The most common mushrooms to be mentioned in these reviews were turkey tail, reishi and cordyceps.
Turkey Tail
Coriolus or Trametes Versicolor aka Turkey Tail is an immunity powerhouse. Its polysaccharide is unique and is known as PSK and is widely studied in cancer treatment. In Japan, PSK is an approved mushroom product used to treat cancer in conventional medical settings and the FDA is undertaking clinical trials with it in the US.
You’ll find it in our:
Immunity Blend | PURE Turkey Tail
Reishi
Ganoderma Lucidum aka reishi has long been known by ancient Chinese healers as the ‘immortality mushroom’. It has been extensively studied in clinical trials for cancer treatment with such great results that even the super conservative cancer institution, Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, lists its benefits in ‘immune support, anti-inflammatory properties’, kidney and liver protective benefits (especially important if taking heavy pharmaceuticals or chemo), improving urinary tract function, mild antidiabetic benefits, enhances chemo and radiation benefits and reduces unpleasant side effects. If MSKCC is saying all that you know the evidence is in!
You’ll find it in our:
Immunity Blend | Mobility Blend | Puppy Power Formula | Super Veggie Mix
Cordyceps
Dongchong Xiacao aka Cordyceps is a diverse variant of mushroom that has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 1,500 years. It includes many bioactive compounds the most significant of which is Cordycepin. The most researched of the species are Cordyceps Sinensis and Cordyceps Militaris, which have featured successfully now in numerous clinical trials for various cancers including liver, colon, bladder, renal, lung, breast, prostate and leukemia cancers. Results of increased apoptosis (killing cancer cells) and slowed proliferation (spreading/metastasising). Cordyceps is being further studied as a potential ‘combinational therapeutic drug for cancer’ evaluating its benefits working with conventional treatments, especially in slowing cancer metstasis which has low survival rates relative to primary tumours for both dogs and humans.
You’ll find it in our:
Immunity Blend | Mobility Blend | Puppy Power Formula
Nutrients & Nutraceuticals
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Our Mushroom products
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Where can you find them?
Reishi and cordyceps are included in each of our 3 mushroom blends: Immunity, Mobility and Puppy. These formulas are then adapted to suit each of those ailments or life stages.
REFERENCES:
Please Note:
Although dogs can be prescribed various types of chemotherapeutics the dosage is generally quite minimal compared to our expectation as humans, whereby they dose people just before killing them to kill the cancer. With dogs it’s considered unethical to purposely make them sick to try and help them so chemo dosing is more aligned with what can be tried to minimize likelihood of it spreading without awful side effects.
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However, we bring this information to you in good faith, after lots of research, with an open heart and good healing vibes. Our mission is to help you and your dog. Feel free to get in touch. Wishing you both much health, happiness and belly rubs.
