Mushroom Must-Knows

The actual mushroom itself is referred to as the fruit or fruiting body, which produces spores. The fruiting body is what you visually see as the mushroom and grows above ground and is made up of the stem, gills and cap. The fruiting body acts as the reproductive components of the fungal system, which “gives birth” to the spores. These spores germinate and create the mycelium (think of it as the roots of the mushroom).

The mycelium is what “feeds” and nourishes the mushroom. Mycelium grow underground and is responsible for taking in nutrients through the soil and ground, which also absorb the nutrients and “feed” the mushroom. 

We try to use both fruiting bodies with mycelia as there

are extreme camps saying why one is better than the other. We cover grounds on both and both are therapeutically effective.

There is a feasibility and sustainable aspect to mycelia over fruiting body. There is not an abundant enough supply on some to even get the fruiting bodies or they are difficult to grow. Chaga fruiting body does not exist, as they do not really produce the mushroom. It is all mycelia. Cordyceps are in short supply and extremely expensive. When using the mycelia, it is important to keep the rice substrate, in which is grows, to a minimum.

Attachment shows where we use mycelia vs mushroom; we get the fruiting bodies as whole mushrooms and process into powder.

All are Certified Organic and grown in Washington State, USA except: -Chaga Mycelia Wildcrafted (from China and Russia) and COG -Reishi Mushroom cog (China) -Maitake Mushroom cog (Oregon)

Mycelia are grown on organic rice substrate. We get current lots weeks to months after they are grown. Fresh material.

While the liquid mushroom products we manufacture are hot water extracted followed by an alcohol secondary process, the powders used in the capsules do not go through heat. It really depends on the liquid. Some are hot water decoction and then secondary alcohol maceration like Reishi; some like mushroom immune are just hot water decoction. We only do the secondary alcohol process if the mushroom is known to have non water-soluble actives that are medicinal.

All are tested for ID to genus and species by HPTLC plus microbiological and heavy metal testing for purity. The fruiting bodies are identified by morphology since they are whole.

We use pullulan capsules in order to meet the requirements for the certified made with organic; Pullulan is made from tapioca.