Talk About It
A new medicinal mushroom from Korea is gaining reputation around the world at record pace. Most commonly known by its Latin name as Phellinus linteus, it is also sometimes referred to as Mesima (Japanese), and rarely by its English name, Black Hoof Fungus.
Phellinus linteus grows on hardwood trees such as oak, poplar and mulberry. The species is common in Southeast Asia and southern parts of the United States. [1]
Most medicinal mushroom species used today in America came to us via China or Japan. Phellinus linteus is a break from this trend, as it first became popular in Korea where it’s commonly used to complement traditional cancer treatment.
From Korea, its reputation has spread like wildfire around the world. Doctors across the globe are now beginning to use it as an immune booster [2-11], and especially for preventing cancer metastasis. [5,10,12-17] Apart from Korea, Phellinus linteus is particularly popular in Japan, the U.S., and the Middle East from Israel to Turkey.
It may have all began when a’96 Korean study reported that Phellinus linteus extract exhibited a broader range of immune enhancing and anti-cancer properties than the extracts from other species of medicinal mushrooms. [4]
Seven year later, in confirmation of the Korean finding, America’s best known mycologist Paul Stamets published a paper which compared Phellinus linteus to several of the most highly regarded species of medicinal mushrooms: Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Maitake and Agaricus blazei. [18]
In this study, Phellinus linteus turned out to have the most powerful effect on enhancing the activity of macrophages, a type of white blood cell that’s an important part of the immune system. Macrophage activity was increased 5,700% by the Phellinus linteus extract. The dose used was equivalent to 3,750 mg for an average (165 lbs) adult. [18]
Macrophages as part of the human immune system can be a two-edged sword. They may devour cancer cells, but can also stimulate cancer growth. The published research on Phellinus linteus indicates that it activates the cancer-fighting properties of macrophages, not the cancer-stimulating properties. [8,14,19,20]
Three additional papers have been published with reports of patients using Phellinus linteus extract and experiencing “spontaneous” regression:
1. A 2004 paper out of Japan reported “a hormone refractory prostate cancer patient with rapidly progressive bone metastasis who showed dramatic response to intake of an extract from the mushroom, Phellinus linteus.” [15]
2. In 2005, a Korean paper related the case of a 65-year-old patient with liver cancer and skull metastasis who experienced “spontaneous regression” after one and a half years of using Phellinus linteus. [17]
3. A Japanese article from 2006 reported the case of a 79-year-old man with malignant liver cancer and lung metastases who exhibited complete regression of the tumors six months after using an extract of Phellinus linteus Mycelium. [16]
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The mushroom Phellinus linteus has not been approved by the FDA for medicinal use. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb or mushroom medicinally.
Dr. Rafael currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms research, having worked in the natural health field since’96. He partners with Cordyceps Reishi Extract, LLC, a business offering premium grade medicinal mushroom products including Phellinus linteus extract. For article references, go the Phellinus linteus reference page.
Tags: Biology, cancer, disease, Diseases, healing, herbal, herbs, medicine, mens, nature, nutrition, prostate cancer, research, Supplements, wellness
Posted in Diseases · November 16th, 2009 · Comments (0)
Retractable awnings are a great way to add value and function to your home. Adding retractable awnings to you external doors and windows keeps you home cooler in summer.
You can add a number of different types of shading device to your home to keep you home cooler in summer, like patio covers or awnings. And if you’re considering awnings there are different types of awnings to choose from. What are the benefits of retractable awnings compared to fixed awnings.
It sounds silly but you need to remember that a fixed awning is fixed in one place so you can’t move it at all. This is the cause of a number of problems. Firstly it needs to be fixed in place and usually an arm or post of some kind is used. This can look a little ordinary. Worse, once your awning is fixed it cannot be taken down, at least not without a lot of trouble, so having fixed awnings is a real problem in bad weather, like storms. At best they will bang and thrash, at worst break or tear or even get torn down. In times like these fixed window covers are not a good idea.
Of course it is possible to remove the awning cover before the winds get up, but who thinks of that or does it? Damage is quite common.
A fixed awning is out in the weather all the time. They get wet and dry out, wet again and dry out again, and so on. Most are made of some type of canvas or vinyl, which rots and deteriorates. And sun will make this worse.
And of course if you get new ones they will rot and fade as well.
So it gets more expensive over time replacing awnings, and of course it’s a hassle to do so.
And if the arms of the awnings are made of steel they rust and need to be replaced as well.
But of course there are also positives to fixed awnings compared to retractable awnings, because they are quite a bit cheaper to install initially.
A retractable awning, on the other hand, is much more expensive to buy, but it is more user friendly. Retract it when it’s windy. Keep it in when it’s raining and it stays dry. Keep the material out of the sun except when it’s needed and dramatically extend the life of the awning from avoiding sun damage.
And although they keep your house cool on a hot day they can be retracted on cool days. And if there is a stormy day and you’re not at home you can protect your awnings with motion or even rain sensors to retract them automatically.
And there’s no fixed arms or poles to rust or rot.
Retract it when it’s a low light day for maximum light in the house making the house more livable.
Retractable awnings are definitely more expensive to install initially, but over time the cost evens out compared to fixed awnings, and there’s so many other advantages to having awnings you can retract.
Head over to Peters website Awnings Explained to find out more about retractable awnings as well as patio awnings
Tags: aluminum awnings, awnings, garden, Home, home and garden, Home Improvement, house, mens, patio awnings, refurbishing, renovating, retractable awnings
Posted in Home · November 15th, 2009 · Comments (0)