Mushrooms Battle Skin Cancer, Eczema, and Menopause

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 1️⃣ Microdosing for menopause

• 2️⃣ An inside look at the Mushroom Parade Costume Contest

• 3️⃣ 5 mushroom jobs hiring

Hi Shroomer 🍄 Happy Mushroom Month! It’s always fungi-funky around here, but the U.S. designates every September to the power of the mushroom.

IN CONVERSATION

Linda Conroy, MSS, MLSP, is a Bioregional Herbalist, Educator, and Community Organizer. Inspired by plants and the feminine, she is the founder of Moonwise Herbs, Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference, & Mycelium Mysteries, the one-of-a-kind Women’s Mushroom Conference, that takes place September 20-22, 2024, in Almond, WI.

Conroy was on Zoom for this interview from her farmstead in Wisconsin while she was on tornado watch when writer Vivian Kanchian wondered whether they should reconvene at another time. Conroy graciously offered to continue and said, “If I disappear, you’ll know why.” ➡️ Read more.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Marine fungi to the rescue 🌊 Mortiamide-D, a peptide from marine fungi, shows promise against drug-resistant melanoma to enhance cell penetration, according to a recent study in Peptide Science. The peptides even selectively targeted melanoma cells without harming noncancerous cells.

Apoptosis activators 🤖 Morchella mushrooms (Morchella conica, Morchella esculenta, and Morchella delicosa) demonstrate anti-cancer effects by actively triggering apoptosis in breast and colon cancer cells, as detailed in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death in which cells intentionally die as a part of natural growth, development, or in response to damage.

Eczema relief 🧴 Eczema affects over 30 million Americans, causing persistent itchiness and inflammation. Functional mushrooms like reishi, chaga, and tremella are a natural way to manage symptoms through effects like enhancing skin hydration.

Not every body responds the same 🚧 A 43-year-old woman with metastatic colorectal cancer experienced severe liver damage after self-medicating with a mushroom powder containing lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) and Agaricus blazei Murril. This highlights the critical need for careful communication regarding complementary alternative medicines (CAM).

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

One or two 🍫 A new study found that both one and two doses of psilocybin effectively treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Although the research shows a lot of benefits for both dosing strategies, it doesn't conclusively favor one over the other.

Menopause relief ❤️‍🔥 Microdosing psychedelics, specifically around 0.3 grams of psilocybin which is still a subperceptual dose, is emerging as a potential relief strategy for menopause symptoms, which can span an average of 17 years. Communities like Moms on Mushrooms discuss the practice in a safe space and DoubleBlind has an educational course on microdosing.

Potent meditation 🧘 Fire Kasina advanced meditation can produce profound experiences like those induced by high doses of psychedelics and near-death experiences. A pilot study reveals that participants, through sessions lasting up to 14 hours daily, reported mystical experiences comparable in intensity to psilocybin and LSD, with MEQ scores averaging 85%.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Solving crime 🕵️ Forensic mycology has been instrumental since the 1950s. Whether linking a suspect to a specific location through unique spores or determining time of death by the growth of fungi on decomposed tissues, forensic mycologists provide crucial insights into criminal investigations.

Coffee to mushrooms ☕️ Dutch startup GRO is revolutionizing sustainability by using coffee waste to cultivate oyster mushrooms, transforming your morning coffee grounds into a key ingredient for eco-friendly dining solutions. They collaborate with local cafes and restaurants to repurpose coffee waste, closing the loop with minimal ecological impact.

Soybean suitor 😘 Fermenting soybeans with oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus ostreatus) enhances their nutritional value by increasing antioxidant activities, among other things. This study also found that the presence of ergothioneine—a notable antioxidant not found in unfermented soybeans—peaks around day 20 to 30 of the fermentation process.

COOKING WITH MUSHROOMS

Here are 10 recipes I’m thinking about the weather cools down…

1. 🐔 Chicken of the Woods Stroganoff

2. 🍵 Vegan Reishi Golden Milk 

3. 🫓 Mushroom Shawarma Pitas

4. 🧅 Copycat Texas Roadhouse Mushrooms

5. 🍕 Puffball Pizza Crust

6. 🍄 Toadstool Thumbprint Cookies

7. 🍳 Butter-Poached Golden Oyster Mushroom Toast

8. 🍤 Buttermilk Fried Mushrooms

9. 🥖 Mushroom Duxelles

10. 🥣 Wild Mushroom Bisque

FORAGED FINDS

📺️ What to watch

The Mushroom Parade at Telluride Mushroom Festival is the events’ crown jewel with the homemade costumes taking the cake. Hamilton’s Mushrooms’ “FEST IN SHOW: Dethroning The Kin,” documentary dives into the competition that really kicked off in 2018 thanks to Jessica Langley, Ben Kinsley, and Riitta Ikonen.

🎡 Festival firsts

The first-ever Montreal Mushroom Festival is less than 6 weeks away and is shaping up to be an awesome international event.

WORK IN MYCOLOGY

Passionate about mushrooms?

Here are a few open jobs in the mycology world:

• Fungi Perfecti is looking for a DTC Marketing Manager.

• Om Mushrooms is looking for a Director of Human Resources and a Sales & Marketing Coordinator.

• North Spore is looking for a Product Prep Specialist, a Fulfillment Specialist, and a Production Assistant.

• Hernshaw Farms is looking for a Mushroom Farmer.

• MycoWorks has 8 positions open around the world.

MUSH MORE

• Howdy! 🤠 Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here.

• New look 😎 We launched a new website! Check out our new tags to find what you need.

• Stay in the know. 📰 Bookmark our U.S. Psilocybin Legislation Database.

• What else? 🗒️ Reply to this email! It goes right to my inbox.

SPREAD THE SPORES