Common Medicinal Mushrooms Part Three: Maitake
Debra Hultgren
For today’s installment of Common Medicinal mushrooms, I will be talking about Maitake (Grifola frondosa), sometimes known as Hen of the woods, “cloud mushroom”, rams head, or sheep’s head mushroom. The Maitake mushroom is a choice edible if you happen to be a mushroom forager. Found in North America - mainly Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, however, they are not exclusive to these parts - Maitake is also found indigenously to the northeastern regions of Japan as well as the temperate hardwood regions of both China and Europe.
As for their habitat, Maitake can be found on stumps or at the base of dead or dying deciduous hardwoods, especially oak, elm maple, blackgum, beech, and occasionally on larch. If you’re trying to find these mushrooms in the wild - prime time is from September - November. Maitake are anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-viral help relieves the effects of chemotherapy, and in addition to all that Maitake is also used as a treatment for hypertension due to data shown in trials on the mushroom extracts hyperglycemic effect.
There is early research showing that Maitake can be used as treatment to an array ailments or diseases: Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Hepatitis, Hay Fever, High cholesterol, weight loss/weight control - also may improve ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). For more information on Maitake mushrooms, check out the links below, and be sure to check out Debra’s delicious Maitake sauté too.
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/maitake
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-maitake-mushroom-extract-5419.html
http://www.m.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-560/maitake-mushroom
http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/maitake-mushroom.html#sthash.fqsuVEXJ.wicWhntE.dpbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0SxhSDOmHc