Have you ever wondered just what the deal is with the rumors around mushrooms? Aren’t they just something to throw into a stew, or fried up with some onion to serve on a steak?
Mushrooms have a history that is surprising. With over 2,000 varieties to choose from, ancient tribes collected them for much more than a nutritional food source.
As people responded to some of the healing potions handed to them, mushrooms became the central ingredient to treat many of their ailments.
But despite much of this knowledge lost in time, modern researchers are now catching up with a lot of the history that has been forgotten.
But while modern science still needs verifiable evidence to the true health benefits in mushrooms, many already use the powerful properties daily.
Several methods exist that turn the fungus into simple-to-use products, tailored to extract the potent nutrients and vitamins contained within.
One variety, tinctures, is proving to be growing in popularity as more and more people discover the magical potions for themselves.
What is Tincture?
Put simply, a tincture is any part of an animal or plant, mixed with either alcohol or vinegar. The alcohol or vinegar extracts the active ingredients from the material it’s mixed with and concentrates it into a liquid for you to use.
Although modern research still doesn’t support a lot of the claims made by people, many believe that some tinctures made from specific materials have incredible healing properties.
Many people create their own tinctures, mixing their ingredients together with things purchased from their local supermarket. It’s not difficult and the results can be incredibly effective.
The potency of some tinctures varies between 25 to 60%, although some can be as high as 90%.
Take mushroom tinctures as a dietary supplement, in conjunction with a healthy diet. They are not meal replacements, nor do they replace medication you already use.
Always ensure you follow instructions carefully. Side-effects vary anything from slight to extreme, so use caution when using your tincture the first few times.
More details for mushroom tincture benefits are below but include a broad range of ailments that tinctures may aid with.
How can I use a mushroom tincture?
How to take mushroom tincture once you have a bottle is as simple as using an eye-dropper. Add small quantities of the solution to whatever you’d like it in, whether it’s a drink or a meal.
Fancy a little extra flavor in your smoothie? Some drops in your coffee? Place the tincture underneath your tongue for the simplest method. If you don’t like the mushroom taste, mix the tincture with just about anything else to mask it.
Put a few drops into a glass of water or your morning tea or coffee. The mushroom tincture benefits will still be just as potent when mixed with your soup as it will if taken alone. Remember to not overdo it, though.
Always read the label if using mushroom tincture for the first time. The potency can be a lot stronger than other supplements, so ensure you aren’t susceptible to any side-effects before using them at full strength.
If you need to know how to use the mushroom tincture in other ways, many recipes exist to help provide simple ways to incorporate the tincture into your everyday life.
There are a few listed below to help get you started with your own journey to the many health benefits of the mushroom tincture.
Are all mushroom tinctures the same?
With over 2000 varieties of edible mushrooms, the health benefits they contain as a collective are too many to list here.
Therefore, this list will include 5 of the most popular mushroom tinctures, each harboring a variety of vitamins and nutrients which aid in many ailments.
- Chaga Tincture
- Reishi Tincture
- Lion’s Mane Tincture
- Maitake Tincture
- Turkey Tail Tincture
Many mushroom tincture benefits exist in the list above, and for some, are all they need for their daily routine.
There are quite a number of mixed mushroom tinctures available as well, but the benefits of each mushroom are less than those tinctures created from a single product.
You may decide that the benefits from one particular mushroom may suit your lifestyle more than those benefits from another mushroom.
Everyone has different needs and you should decide which are more relevant to you. To give you a better understanding of the incredible benefits of each mushroom, let’s look at the mushrooms individually.
Chaga Tincture and its benefits
The Chaga mushroom is one you will likely not forget if you find one in the wild. They are very distinctive, their black casing looking like a bulb of charcoal.
You will find this fungus clinging mostly to Birch trees, although it will also grow from Elm, Beech, Alder, and Ash trees.
If you live in the northern hemisphere, in a colder climate, then your chances of finding one are much better.
Chaga mushroom contains very high levels of anti-oxidants and their list of health benefits reads like an encyclopedia. They are fantastic for building up your immune system, particularly after a bout of sickness.
Otherwise, use them to build up your defense system before anything nasty comes along. Chaga may also reduce your cholesterol, researchers finding level reductions in lab rats.
Scientists exposed certain cancer cells to nutrients from Chaga mushrooms and found some to shrink while others began to self-destruct. Continuing research continues with hopes of continued positive results.
The Chaga mushroom benefits include-
- Reducing Inflammation
- Reducing High blood pressure
- Lowering Blood Sugar levels
- Cancer Prevention and Growth reduction
- Building Up Immunity System
- Combat Ageing Process
- Lowering Cholesterol
The Chaga mushroom tincture health benefits that this mushroom shows for sufferers of the above conditions is reason to include it on our list. The dosage varies between dietary requirements but recommendations suggest up to 3 ml per dosage, 3 to 5 times per day. Take the tincture either directly under the tongue or in any beverage or meal.
Chaga mushroom tincture recipe to try
Preparing some tinctures can take months to perfect, but some methods are ready in as little as a few days.
Print
what you'll need
Chaga chunks or dried powder (3 ounces)
Vodka (min. 40% pure) 500ml
Water (Same amount as alcohol) 500ml
Jar with a tight seal
2L bottle
Saucepan
Choose an alcohol that you enjoy, like Vodka or Rum. Whichever alcohol you choose, you must have the same quantity of water when preparing it.
🍄 directions for chaga mushroom tincture
- Place your chosen Chaga into the saucepan.
- Add the water only (no alcohol) to the saucepan and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat once your mixture is boiling and simmer uncovered.
- Allow to simmer until half the water has evaporated. For a stronger solution, allow to simmer until most of the water evaporates, but take care not to dry-boil the Chaga.
- Set aside and allow to thoroughly cool.
- Pour into a jar and fill with alcohol.
- Seal the lid tight and shake vigorously.
- Store in a dark place for 1 week.
- Strain the liquid and pour it into tincture jars.
The recommended Chaga mushroom tincture dosage is up to 3 ml between 3 to 5 times a day. If you have never used Chaga tincture before, start with a small amount to make sure you have no negative reactions from it.
Reishi Tincture and its benefits
The Reishi mushroom is best known for its many health benefits instead of its bitter taste. They are hard to find in the wild and are more readily available in dried or powdered forms, as well as ready-prepared tinctures. If you happen to live in an area where Reishi grows naturally, dry the fungus before using it to increase the potency of its healing properties by up to ten times.
Reishi mushroom tincture benefits are far more potent than the fresh variety, due to tinctures prepared with dried Reishi. The powdered form is more common to locate, thus easier for home-herbalists.
Because the mushroom contains so many health properties, the Reishi mushroom tincture health benefits number more than most other mushrooms in this category. Japanese doctors prescribe Reishi mushroom supplements for cancer patients, the fungus used together with modern medicine.
The Reishi mushroom benefits include fighting the effects of-
- Respiratory diseases such as Asthma, Bronchitis, Emphysema, Lung cancer, Pneumonia
- High cholesterol
- Kidney disease
- AIDS/HIV
- Stamina
- Liver disease
- Fatigue
- Cancer, including treatments during chemotherapy
- Shingles, both during and after
- Cardiovascular disease
- Viral infections
- High blood pressure
- Strength building
With so many benefits to you, there’s a reason why this mushroom is here. The astounding properties it contains, makes it one of the true super-foods of the world and one you shouldn’t discount.
Reishi mushroom tincture recipe to try
Reishi mushrooms contain so many beneficial ingredients that they require not one, but two methods to extract them all. This recipe will help you extract the maximum amount of goodness from your mushrooms.
what you'll need
Jar with tight seal
Alcohol (highest alcohol available)
Saucepan
For this recipe, you’ll want the highest-proof alcohol you can get. If you have whisky or Vodka, either is good.
🍄 directions for Reishi mushroom tincture
- Place you Reishi mushrooms or powder into the jar.
- Fill the jar with the alcohol
- Seal the jar tight and make sure it’s air-tight.
- Place in a dark spot and leave for 2 weeks. Give the jar a daily shake.
- Strain the mushroom from the liquid and set the liquid aside. (This is your tincture)
Once you have your alcoholic tincture set aside, it’s time to start on the second extraction process.
second extraction
- Place your strained Reishi mushroom into the saucepan.
- Cover the mixture with water and bring to the boil.
- Allow the water to evaporate until about I to two cups is remaining.
- Strain the liquid and dispose of the Reishi.
- Carefully pour the water into the alcohol. Allow to cool.
- Pour your Reishi mushroom tincture into the tincture jars.
The recommended Reishi mushroom tincture dosage is 2 to 3 ml, 2 to 3 times per day. If you are prone to allergies or have had a negative reaction to fungus in the past, use the tincture sparingly in the beginning, in case of any reactions.
Lion’s Mane tincture and its benefits
If you have never seen a Lion’s Mane mushroom then you are in for a treat. The mushroom has a spectacular appearance that resembles, well, a lion’s mane, but white. The taste of this unique mushroom is similar to seafood, but this article is about the tincture that this mushroom creates.
The mushroom is popular in all forms due to its many health benefits and you’ll find Lion’s Mane available in dried and powdered forms, as well as a pre-made tincture. What are the Lion’s Mane tincture health benefits of this unique-looking plant, I hear you ask?
The list is quite extensive, but if you fancy some real health-boosting power, then this is the mushroom for you.
A lot of the Lion’s Mane tincture benefits have little conclusive research to substantiate the claims made by so many, and yet the historical evidence is clear-cut. Research is fighting to catch up with thousands of years of historical medicinal knowledge.
Lion’s Mane-
- Boosts the Immune System
- Reduces Inflammation
- Fights Oxidative Stress
- Fights Cancer
- Helps with the symptoms of Diabetes
- Reduces the risk of Heart Disease
- Protects the Digestive System
- Aids recovery of the Nervous System
- Helps fight Depression and Anxiety
- May help to prevent Dementia
Lion’s Mane mushroom tincture recipe to try
To get every last beneficial molecule extracted from your mushroom, use a dual extraction process to create your own Lion’s Mane tincture.
what you'll need
Alcohol (high-content)
Water
Saucepan
Jar with sealable lid
Although this tincture does take a month to complete, the end result will be a perfect bottle of the finest Lion’s Mane tincture you can get.
🍄 directions for lion's mane mushroom tincture
- Place half of your Lion’s Mane mushroom into the jar.
- Fill the jar with the alcohol.
- Seal the jar and make it’s airtight.
- Store the jar in a dark place for a month and shake daily.
- After a month, place the rest of the mushroom into the saucepan.
- Half fill the saucepan with water.
- Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
- Allow enough water to evaporate so that about a cup remains.
- Strain the mushroom from the water and return to simmer.
- Remove from heat when about a cup of liquid remains.
- Strain the alcohol-infused mushroom from the jar and discard the mushroom.
- Mix the alcohol and water and allow to cool.
- Pour the cooled liquid into tincture jars.
The recommended Lion’s Mane mushroom tincture dosage is 2-3 ml up to 3 to 4 times per day, depending on your own needs. Always ensure you start with a small amount to gauge any reactions you may have. Use the tincture on its own or in any beverage or meal.
Maitake mushroom tincture and its benefits
Maitake mushrooms are also known by another, more endearing name, and it’s this name that will make you wonder why it isn’t its proper one. Known as the “Hen of the woods”, the mushroom looks a lot like the rear end of a hen with ruffled feathers.
But while its appearance may seem unique, wait until you read about Maitake mushroom tincture health benefits.
While also available in dried and powdered forms and pre-made tinctures, you can enjoy the many benefits this mushroom provides with your own tincture recipe, found below. The mushroom may help-
- Fight against cancer
- Lower cholesterol
- Help with Type-2 Diabetes
So many people are discovering the hidden properties of this amazing plant and thanks to modern technology, is now available for you to create your very own Maitake mushroom tincture.
Try this Maitake mushroom tincture recipe
To reach into the deepest parts of this incredible plant, use a dual-extraction method. This guarantees you to capture as much of the powerful health properties contained in your mushroom. You won’t want to waste a single molecule.
what you'll need
Alcohol (High content)
Water
Jar with sealable lid
Saucepan
The method you use to extract the most from this mushroom is determined by the time you have available. While you can boil the mushrooms in water and then add the alcohol once the mixture is cooled, you will benefit more from storing the initial alcoholic liquid for as long as possible.
🍄 directions for maitake mushrooms tincture
- Add your choice of Maitake mushroom to a jar and fill with your choice of alcohol. The higher proof alcohol the better.
- Seal the jar and make sure it’s airtight. To confirm this, draw a line of the glass where the liquid finishes and recheck in a few days. If the liquid is lower then the alcohol has evaporated.
- Store the liquid for up to a month, giving it a good shake daily.
- After a month, strain the mushroom from the alcohol tincture and put it in a saucepan.
- Fill the saucepan with water and bring the mushrooms to the boil.
- Reduce the heat and let simmer until most to the water evaporate.
- When there’s about half a cup of liquid left, strain the mushroom out and discard them.
- Add the water solution to the alcohol and allow to cool.
- Pour the cooled tincture into your tincture jars and enjoy your very own Maitake mushroom tincture benefits.
As with all the previous recipes, start using the tincture sparingly to begin with, to make sure you have no adverse reactions. The daily maitake mushroom tincture dosage can be up to 3 ml up to 2 to 3 times a day, or as needed.
Turkey Tail Tincture and its benefits
Of all the mushroom varieties that I have seen, none have fascinated me more than the Turkey Tail mushroom. Just like the name implies, it resembles the beautiful fan of a turkey’s tail perfectly, complete with some amazing colors.
But if you thought appearance was everything, then this little mushroom is about to amaze you with its list of surprises. The turkey tail mushroom tincture health benefits that make up this health sheet are high on my priority list because of one item. This amazing little plant fights the dreaded common cold. I know, not one of the world’s worst disease, I know, but it’s so annoying.
The turkey tail mushroom may-
- Fight and prevent the common cold and flu
- Assist in the recovery of Chemo patients
- Help in the fight against cancer
- Treat Papilloma Virus
- Help fight against symptoms of HIV/Aids
- Help with Digestion
The turkey tail mushroom benefits in this list offer incredible hope to those enduring these nasty diseases. Let’s hope for researchers to extract these incredible effects and create medicines to help the millions of sufferers. There are pre-made tinctures of turkey tail
A Turkey tail mushroom tincture recipe for you
With the turkey tail mushroom so easily available from online retailers, now is a perfect time for you to try and create your own tincture.
what you'll need
2 Cups Water
Jar with sealable lid
Vodka or Rum
Saucepan
There isn’t much variation for this mushroom variety, the steps simple to follow as in previous recipes.
🍄 directions for turkey tail mushrooms tincture
- After chopping up the mushroom, place it into the saucepan.
- Add water and bring to the boil
- Reduce heat and simmer until half the water is evaporated.
- Remove from heat and strain out the mushroom.
- Once the water is cooled, place in jar and add the same amount of alcohol so the mixture is 1:1.
- Store for a minimum of 2 weeks in a dark place, shaking the mixture up daily.
The recommended Turkey tail mushroom tincture dosage is up to 3 ml, taken 2 or 3 times a day, but will depend on your body’s reaction to the mixture. If you sense any side-effects, consult your healthcare professional before continuing. If everything feels normal, then you are ready to enjoy the turkey tail tincture benefits from your very own creation.
Final Thoughts
Although medical science still won’t acknowledge the incredible power of some of the mushrooms mentioned above, the evidence is rapidly growing to support them.
If only we could access the years of knowledge that lie within some of the ancient cultures who’ve used the mushrooms for thousands of years. Imagine what they could tell us?
Despite science needing a helping hand to catch up with history, there really is very little to lose trying the mushrooms for yourself. Keeping in mind that side-effects are possible, and using them sparingly to begin with, who knows what benefits you can discover for yourself.
Discover more about making mushroom tinctures here: Learn How to Make Mushroom Tincture in 9 Easy Steps
