Colon Cancer Fighter, Brain Detox, and Fungi for Weight Loss

TODAY’S EDITION

Hi Shroomer. From cancer-fighting fungi to psilocybin’s role in depression and chronic pain, today’s issue unpacks the latest breakthroughs in health, sustainability, and cultivation, plus where to find peak burn morel season.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Colon cancer fighter 🥊 Polysaccharides from Stropharia rugosoannulata slow colon cancer growth by triggering cancer cell death and blocking tumor spread. These compounds activate apoptosis pathways, increasing pro-death proteins (Bax, caspase-3) and suppressing cancer survival proteins (Bcl-2), making them a promising natural therapy.

Brain health 🧠 Some wild mushrooms may help protect the brain and support detoxification by blocking enzymes linked to Alzheimer’s and toxin buildup. Researchers tested 64 species and found 7 slowed cholinesterases (linked to memory loss) and 24 blocked detox enzymes, showing both potential health benefits and reasons for caution when eating wild fungi.

Metabolism ♻️ Though making up just 0.01–2% of the microbiome, gut fungi play a key role in digestion, immunity, and metabolism. Species like Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae influence nutrient absorption, while Kazachstania slooffiae aids carbohydrate breakdown. Factors like diet and age shape these fungal communities, and imbalances are linked to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and obesity.

Weight management ⚖️ Polysaccharides from Scleroderma areolatum may help reduce obesity-related inflammation and improve metabolism. In a study on obese rats, these mushroom-derived compounds lowered body weight, balanced cholesterol levels, and boosted gut health by increasing short-chain fatty acids.

Liver support 💓 Polycephalomyces nipponicus may help protect the liver from alcohol damage and reduce hangover effects. In a study on mice, P. nipponicus extract boosted alcohol-processing enzymes, protected liver function, and maintained motor coordination after drinking.

Natural glow ✨ Mushrooms like reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are emerging as powerful skincare ingredients, offering anti-aging, antioxidant, and hydrating benefits. They protect against UV damage, reduce wrinkles, and fight inflammation, thanks to bioactive compounds that inhibit enzymes linked to skin aging.

Antiviral therapies 🌊 Researchers discovered fungi living on marine plastic waste that produce compounds with bone-regenerating and antiviral properties. Extracts from Aspergillus jensenii and Cladosporium halotolerans stimulated bone growth, while others showed strong activity against RSV and herpes viruses.

Immunity boost 🦠 Cordyceps militaris helps prime the immune system by activating dendritic cells, which act like bodyguards against infections. Researchers found that β-glucans in Cordyceps trigger key immune signals, boosting defense responses and inflammation-fighting proteins, meaning stronger immunity and better resilience against illness.

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PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Depression research 🧸 Psilocybin rapidly reduces depression symptoms, with effects lasting for up to six months. In patients with treatment-resistant depression, response rates were 67% after one dose, with 30% achieving full remission. It also eased end-of-life anxiety in terminally ill patients.

Chronic pain relief ❤️‍🩹 Psilocybin may help relieve chronic pain by activating 5-HT2A receptors, which play a role in pain perception. In mouse models, psilocybin reduced sensitivity to pain caused by nerve damage and inflammation, with effects lasting up to 14 days—far longer than conventional treatments.

Headache risk 🧢 A study of 11,000+ people found that those who had used classic psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin had 25% lower odds of frequent bad headaches. The effect was strongest in women, who had a 30% reduced risk. While this doesn’t prove psychedelics prevent headaches, it adds to growing evidence that they’re an option for migraine and cluster headache relief.

Moral injury 💘 Psychedelic-assisted therapy may help with deep emotional distress from violating personal values. Research on psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD shows benefits like increased self-compassion, self-forgiveness, and reduced guilt, suggesting potential for treating PTSD and trauma-related conditions.

Vision beyond 👁️ New research shows that psilocybin activates the same brain pathways as light exposure, rewiring the visual cortex even in darkness. This may explain its vivid visual effects and suggests the role psychedelics play in enhancing perception and brain plasticity.

Antioxidant & antibacterial 🌞 Psilocybin extracted from Psilocybe cubensis showed strong antioxidant activity, neutralizing free radicals similarly to vitamin C. It also demonstrated antibacterial effects, with the highest inhibition against E. coli and Bacillus cereus. These findings highlight psilocybin’s potential beyond mental health, suggesting roles in cell protection and fighting infections.

Cognitive flexibility 🌊 In a rat study, psilocybin temporarily impaired learning and decision-making but led to long-term improvements in cognitive flexibility. Using a touchscreen-based reversal learning task, researchers found that rats initially struggled to adapt to new information after psilocybin, but over time, their learning speed improved.

Meditation effects 🧘‍♂️ A study of 863 meditators found that psychedelic use, especially when done intentionally, enhances meditation practice. Frequent users, those who set intentions, and those exposed to N,N-DMT were most likely to report benefits.

Psychedelic healing or just another product? 🌿 A critical review of psychedelic therapy warns that "integration"—the process of making sense of a psychedelic experience—is becoming overly individualized, formulaic, and commercialized. Traditionally, psychedelic healing was community-based, but modern Western approaches often reduce it to self-improvement checklists and expensive coaching programs. True healing should address social and systemic issues, not just personal reflection, and caution against the rapid commodification of psychedelic integration services.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Find more burn morels 🔥 The GeoForager app helps foragers locate burn morels using burn severity, elevation, precipitation, and forest type. The app includes burn ratings for top fire zones, morel probability maps, and real-time snowpack data, making it easier to predict prime hunting spots.

Protecting pine roots 🌲 Ectomycorrhizal fungi help Pinus massoniana survive toxic aluminum exposure, reducing metal uptake and strengthening root cell walls. Inoculated seedlings had lower stress markers, better root growth, and improved hormone balance, showing fungi as a natural tool for forest restoration in acidic soils.

Soil cleanup 🌱 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) help plants survive toxic cadmium and salt contamination, making phytoremediation more effective. In cadmium-saline soil, AMF boosted plant growth by 30%, strengthened antioxidant defenses, and improved water absorption, reducing stress from pollution.

Selenium detox 🌽 Mycorrhizal fungi help maize thrive in selenium-contaminated soil by reducing toxic selenium in shoots and grains by up to 72% while increasing root accumulation. The fungi also convert harmful selenium into less toxic, volatile forms.

GROWING & GOURMET

Reishi yogurt 🥣 Adding reishi extract and powder (Ganoderma lucidum) to probiotic yogurt boosted antioxidants, phenolics, and probiotic bacteria growth. Yogurts with reishi saw a 1.4 log increase in probiotics, stronger prebiotic effects, and improved texture and taste, making them a functional food for gut and immune health.

Mushroom-fortified cookies 🍪 Adding 5% mushroom powder (not mushroom extract powder) to cookies increased protein, fiber, and antioxidants while maintaining good texture and taste. The cookies remained shelf-stable for 90 days.

Sustainable farming 🧺 Lung oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus pulmonarius) thrive on spent mushroom substrate (SMS), reducing waste while maintaining high yields and nutrient content. The best results came from Agaricus marmoreus SMS, producing 63.47% efficiency. Mushrooms grown on SMS had high ergothioneine (2.17 mg/g) and adenosine (7.71 mg/g).

Recycling mushroom waste 🦪 Researchers found that spent king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) substrate can be reused to grow Pleurotus florida with high yields, strong nutritional value, and antioxidant benefits. The best results came from a mix of 50% spent substrate, 40% wheat straw, 9.5% wheat bran, and 0.5% CaCO3.

Grow mushrooms in the classroom ✏️ A new teacher’s manual guides educators through hands-on mushroom cultivation using spent coffee grounds. This EU-funded resource covers sustainability, bioeconomy, and circular agriculture, with step-by-step instructions, lesson plans, and mushroom-based recipes.

FORAGED FINDS

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