Health Applications

• Immune system support
• Cardiovascular health
• High cholesterol

History and Traditional Use
Maitake is known in Japan as "the dancing mushroom," because, according to legend, mushroom hunters who found the rare fungus were said to dance for joy. For centuries, the mushroom has been valued for its unique culinary and medicinal properties. During the feudal era, maitake mushrooms were worth their weight in silver and were used as a form of currency.¹

Chemical Composition
Maitake contains a complex polysaccharide compound known as beta-D-glucan, which is believed to be responsible for the mushroom's physiological activity.

Contemporary Uses
While maitake remains a popular culinary mushroom, medicinally it is used as a general tonic to strengthen the immune system and promote cardiovascular health. Animal studies indicate that maitake may help reduce high blood pressure levels^2,3 and high cholesterol levels,^3-5 apparently by improving lipid metabolism. Other studies suggest that maitake may help protect the liver against certain toxins,⁶ and may also have an antidiabetic effect.⁷ Several studies indicate that beta-D-glucans from maitake have antitumor activity in mice^8-14 however, most of these effects were produced with injected forms and were not observed with oral administration.^13,14 One study conducted on laboratory mice suggests that consuming maitake may protect against developing bladder cancer, but this has not been demonstrated in human subjects.¹⁵

Dosage/Toxicity
Maitake supplements are available in a variety of potencies, with dosage recommendations printed on the labelling. Maitake mushrooms are consumed in large quantities as food, and are not associated with any toxicity.