Rss

SHROOMS: (macro- and micro-) Biology & Ecology

Reishi Mushrooms Edgar and I were at a party tonight, where we met several entrepreneurs. A couple of them were super laid-back people with whom we have something deeply in common: The prized REISHI mushroom. Anyone who has taken our Longevity Community Questionnaire knows that of ALL of the organic superfood ingredients in our product, each one in its own right, are AMAZING for our health. But there is ONE ingredient we specifically highlight: The Reishi Mushroom. It’s known for boosting the immune system, but my holistic Dr. Marcey Shapiro taught me a dozen years ago that Reishi is known for boosting DEEP immunity, which is different than the effects of echinacea and other immune boosters which are more quick and stimulating. Reishi supports healthy nerve function, and also enhances mood and promotes restful sleep.

Well, tonight I learned from UC Berkeley microbiology graduate Monica Neff that several of her customers are cancer patients using the Reishi mushroom for immune support during chemotherapy. It is significant to me, that like our Akea company’s product, Monica’s company’s products are organic, vegan, gluten-free, grown in the U.S. and kosher. While I was at it, I learned a few other things of interest about fungi that I’ll share, just to whet your appetite for the miracles of mycology: Cordiceps shrooms are known for boosting energy; Turkey Tail shrooms are known for detoxification; and Lion’s mane shrooms are known for memory enhancement.

I had the opportunity to talk with Monica about my secret fascination with a WHOLE SEPARATE quality of mushrooms… their mysterious ability to transform human-invented, chemically toxic, and ecologically devastating waste materials — toxic sludge — into bountiful, healthy eco-systems. To me, it’s a sign of God, and his incredible love, and mercy for humans and our sins and foibles. Even when we think we’ve really done it, we’ve irreparably despoiled our only livable planet, … along come empirical examples of God’s forgiveness and his infinite strength, wisdom and capacity to be a great Father — a rescuer, a provider, in our times of deepest need, when we’ve really screwed up and don’t necessarily “deserve” any better. He gives us another chance. He offers us SHROOMS to show us it’s okay to not know everything.

Monica told me there is a group that has some of my same fascination with the “contamination transformation” that mushrooms provide with “no sweat”. It’s called Bay Area Radical Mycology. Wild. Perhaps I’ll check it out.

For those of you interested in pet health… I haven’t even scratched the surface here, but there are some good signs that the Power Shrooms are helping in cases of Valley Fever, a fungal infection of horses and dogs.

And on that note: Good night. Sleep tight. And get your daily Reishi right!

Organic Nesting

If you wanted to surround yourself in purely organic materials, and avoid synthetic chemicals, you would probably already be wearing natural fibers, from your little piggies to your sombrero.  Which would take care of 2/3 of the job… so then how about over night?  You have cotton or silk sheets, too, right?  But how about the off-gassing from the materials of your bed?  That’s 6-8 hours a night of exposure — roughly 2500 hours a year.  As a Longevity Consultant, I am always checking if people are getting their 6-8 QUALITY HOURS of OVERNIGHT SLEEP.  But hey, what are we BREATHING during those hours?

Next time I purchase a bed, I’m going organic.  I happened upon a company that provides all-organic-materials beds.  http://www.theorganicbedroom.com  It’s a family owned company, and they deliver coast to coast.  In fact, Vicki and Joey, the couple who owns and runs the company have 5 kids, and both parents gave up the 9-5 administrative and tech employee life to become entrepreneurs that provide 1/3 of your healthy environment.

The Organic Bedroom

Vicki took some time to satisfy my curiosity about which materials are used in their beds.  Apparently, since 2007, all mattresses must pass a flame test and have flame retardant, but most people in organics want to eliminate the chemicals in their environment… so one material The Organic Bedroom uses is organic wool:  wool acts as natural flame retardant; organic wool cannot contain chemicals; it must be washed in all natural waters and soaps.  Other wool is treated with chemicals.

When I’m in their neck of the woods later this year — I hope to meet them, and get my horizontal on!  Maybe they’ll be part of our Longevity Community, so we can help everyone with organics, 24-7-365.

Update: We DID meet Joey in January of 2013, and we enjoyed his very thorough approach to our questions.