Can functional mushrooms really help treat cancer?

The use of mushrooms in medicine goes back centuries, but there’s still a lot to learn about the bioactive compounds in fungi.

There are many claims surrounding 'functional mushrooms' – types of mushrooms thought to have medicinal properties beyond simple nutrition.

These include lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, shiitake and turkey tail.

Norman and Tegan forage through the evidence for using mushrooms against cancer, to boost the immune system and to amplify cognition.

We're doing a live show! Catch What's That Rash? at the World Science Festival Brisbane on March 30th. 

References:

• Aboriginal use of fungi
• Medicinal Mushroom Supplements in Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies
• Fungal beta-glucans as adjuvants for treating cancer patients – A systematic review of clinical trials
• A review of the effects of mushrooms on mood and neurocognitive health across the lifespan
• Mushrooms magnify memory by boosting nerve growth - University of Queensland