Seizures Reduced 99%

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IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 💜 | Epilepsy breakthrough

• 🎯 | Long-lasting brain reset

• 🌽 | Boosted crop growth

Hi Shroomer. From a staggering 99% seizure reduction to psilocybin’s untold role in maternal care, this week’s findings push the boundaries of what mushrooms can do.

TELLURIDE MUSHROOM FESTIVAL

Last year’s 44th Telluride Mushroom Festival was unforgettable—we made this video to capture the magic that returns every August. Early bird tickets for the 45th TMF go on sale Feb. 4, 2025, at 9 a.m. PST.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Epilepsy breakthrough 💜 A 10-year-old girl with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy experienced a 99% reduction in seizures after starting daily supplementation with Naturealm Sacred 7 Mushroom Extract Powder, containing chaga (Inonotus obliquus), cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), maitake (Grifola frondosa), reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and turkey tail (Trametes versicolor). Once having up to 50 seizures a day, she now experiences a drastic reduction, no adverse effects, and remarkable cognitive progress.

Asthma potential 🫁 A compound from tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) reduced asthma symptoms in mice by decreasing airway inflammation and mucus production. The treatment lowered key inflammatory cells by nearly 40% and reduced allergy antibodies by more than 70%. Three major inflammatory proteins were also reduced by more than half, marking the fungi’s potential as a natural asthma treatment.

Diabetes help 🧪 Extracellular polysaccharopeptides (ePSP) from turkey tail were found to significantly reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic rats by improving liver function and altering liver enzymes. The highest dose of ePSP also substantially decreased liver fat and cholesterol and could be a natural option for managing type 2 diabetes, working effectively without relying on traditional diabetes medications.

Block diabetic enzymes 🧫 Phenolic compounds from endophytic fungi show promising results as inhibitors of α-glucosidase, an enzyme linked to type 2 diabetes management, and could reduce current medicinal side effects linked to liver and intestinal issues.

Parkinson’s defense 🚧 Ergothioneine, a compound found in mushrooms like reishi and oyster, offers protection against Parkinson's disease by blocking harmful protein clumps and reducing stress on brain cells by slowing down the buildup of these damaging proteins.

The gut-brain connection 🧠 Reishi and lion’s mane influence mood and brain function by interacting with gut bacteria with their bioactive compounds that enhance key brain proteins like BDNF, which supports neuron growth and repair and is linked to improved mental well-being.

Youthful skin 🧴 Bioactive gels made from cordyceps are being used in skincare for their anti-aging and skin-healing properties. These gels contain compounds like cordycepin, which boosts collagen production to help reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity and fights oxidative stress, which can lead to premature aging.

Radiation protection 🩻 Polysaccharides from mushrooms like white button (Agaricus bisporus) and king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii) helped protect male mice from radiation-induced reproductive damage. White button mushroom extract reduced harmful oxidative stress by 62% and boosted key antioxidants by nearly 50%, while white blood cells increased by 58% and hemoglobin by 30%.

Tumor growth 🧫 A fucogalactan from Ganoderma tsugae, known as GTP-a2, demonstrated anti-colorectal cancer properties in mice by inhibiting tumor growth and modifying immune responses.

A powerhouse 🔥 Pleurotus mushrooms, including species like P. ostreatus and P. eryngii, produce ergostane-type steroids that show diverse biological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Targeted therapy potential 🥼 Cordyceps shows strong potential for fighting infections and lung cancer. Its extract neutralized 80% of free radicals, reduced inflammation markers by 40%, and inhibited a key sugar-processing enzyme by 37%. It also blocked bacterial growth, with E. coli being the most affected. A specific compound, Indolizine-2-(4-methylphenyl), directly interacted with a lung cancer-related gene (RET).

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Psilocybin parenting research 🍼 Mothers of the Mushroom surveyed 411 mothers, with 57% using psilocybin while breastfeeding and 43% during pregnancy. Reported benefits included reduced anxiety, improved mood, and stronger parent-child bonds, with birth data from 14 participants showing no major health deviations. The group advocates for integrative, evidence-based maternal care amid stigma and legal risks.

Easing stress 🐁 In a study with 22 stressed rats, early psilocybin treatment helped reduce signs of despair, improved memory, and balanced stress hormones.

Brain reset 🎯 Psilocybin reshapes brain circuits by boosting plasticity in excitatory neurons early on and supporting energy health in other cells later, which could explain its lasting mental health benefits.

Pharmacokinetic insights 📊 A new study systematically reviews the behavior of psilocin, the active component of psilocybin, in the body. Understanding how psilocin is absorbed, distributed, and metabolized helps refine dosing and improve safety for its use.

Market demand 🛒 The psychedelic mushrooms market is set to grow from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $3.3 billion by 2031, driven by research, regulatory changes, and growing interest in psilocybin for mental health.

Charting progress 📈 The "Psychedelic Drug Development Tracker" by Psychedelic Alpha outlines the progress of key psychedelic drugs from discovery through to approval, highlighting companies involved and targeted disorders like depression and PTSD.

Diversity in trials 💊 A systematic review shows significant underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic/Latino participants in psychedelic therapy trials, with poor reporting on sexual orientation. This calls for more inclusive recruitment and comprehensive reporting for the trials' relevance across diverse populations.

Sensitivity differences 🫂 Psilocybin affects rats differently by age and sex. Adults show strong head twitch responses, while adolescents show none, indicating developmental differences. Female rats react more during the follicular phase, suggesting hormonal influence on sensitivity.

Users vs. non-users 🎇 A study of 222 people—196 psychedelic users and 26 non-users—found no significant differences in memory, attention, or spatial perception.

Petitioning the EU 📜 PsychedeliCare's petition urges the European Commission to legalize psychedelic-assisted therapies, requiring 1 million signatures. The petition has collected 11,276 signatures so far.

False advertising 📑 A lawsuit has been filed against Eugene-based Mandala Journey Work LLC for allegedly falsely advertising a tranquil forest retreat but instead providing a cramped Airbnb and city park walks.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Farming sustainability 🌾 Mushrooms improve soil, recycle tons of farm waste, and naturally control pests. They produce more protein with 90% less water than livestock and help fight climate change by storing carbon and cutting methane emissions from crop waste.

Sunflower cleaning crew 🌻 Fungi helped sunflowers absorb 20 times more copper from contaminated soil than plants without fungi. Sunflowers with fungal support absorbed 18.55 ppm, while untreated ones took in less than 1 ppm.

Restoring the soil 🧡 Rot fungi break down pesticides, recycle nutrients, and improve soil structure. After wildfires, they speed recovery by decomposing burnt plants, and in mining zones, they absorb heavy metals—reducing lead by up to 90% and improving soil fertility by 30%.

Substrate waste for good 🌱 Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) cuts land use by 86% and fossil resource use by 95% compared to synthetic fertilizers. While it requires more water, SMS boosts soil health, stores carbon, and reduces chemical dependence, making it a powerful tool for sustainable farming.

Oil-polluted soil 🛢️ Using organic waste and microbes made cleanup 37% more eco-friendly, while chemical fertilizers released as much CO₂ as driving 200 miles per ton of soil and worsened contamination.

GROWING & GOURMET

Crop growth 🌽 A fungus grown on sugarcane waste produced 4x more gibberellic acid (GA3), a natural plant growth booster. When applied to corn, it increased plant height from 10.6 inches to 26.4 inches, strengthened roots, and improved stress resistance. This method turns farm waste into a low-cost, eco-friendly way to grow bigger, healthier crops.

Burnout alert ⚠️ Repeated subculturing weakens straw mushroom strains, slowing growth and eventually stopping fruiting. By the fourth and fifth generations, the mushrooms failed to grow, likely due to gene changes affecting nutrient absorption and stress response.

Cutting emissions 🍚 Rotating rice with Stropharia rugosoannulata mushrooms reduced greenhouse gas emissions, boosting soil carbon by 30% and rice yield by 16%. 

Farm waste to food 🥘 Oyster mushrooms grew fastest and produced the most fruiting bodies on 100% wheat straw, while a 75% rice, 25% wheat mix was also effective.

MUSHROOMS & MAINSTREAM MEDICINE

For centuries, medicinal mushrooms have supplemented healing traditions across cultures, yet Western medicine is only beginning to integrate them. In Japan, turkey tail extract (Polysaccharide-K) has been an approved cancer therapy since the 1970s, used alongside chemotherapy to support immune function. Traditional Chinese medicine has long integrated reishi, shiitake, and maitake for their anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic benefits. The real question isn’t whether mushrooms work—it’s why they’re still sidelined in conventional care.

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