Agaricus Blazei mushroom is a fungus, originated in Brazil. The plant contains some chemical compounds that have medicinal properties and are extracted and used in making medicines. It has been used to treat arteriosclerosis, hepatitis, high cholesterol, diabetes, and cancer in traditional medicine. Heart illness, weakening bones (osteoporosis), and stomach ulcers are among the other applications of the plant. It’s also used to treat physical and mental stress, as well as to enhance the immune system. Extracts of the agaricus fungus have been authorized as a food additive in Japan. According to laboratory research, agaricus may boost the immune system or have anticancer properties, such as stopping cancers from developing blood vessels. Human research, on the other hand, are few. Some evidence suggests it may enhance cancer patients’ quality of life, but bigger, well-designed clinical trials are necessary to assess its effectiveness and safety. Chemicals found in the agaricus mushroom may help patients with type 2 diabetes better utilize insulin and reduce insulin resistance. It may also be able to improve the immune system, combat metastasis, and act as an antioxidant, according to some emerging studies.
Applications
1. Arteriosclerosis,
2. Cancer : Some studies have shown that it helps reduce some of the side effects of chemotherapy and hence improve the quality of life. However more research is needed to show whether it can cure cancer or not.
3. Diabetes : Some data suggests that agaricus has anti-diabetic and blood sugar lowering effects.
4. Hepatitis : Agaricus is used in traditional medicine to cure hepatitis. Clinical studies showed that agaricus helps improve liver health in patients with hepatitis B.
5. High Cholesterol : Agaricus was found to lower cholesterol levels in healthy people in some clinical trials.
6. Chemotherapy side effects,
7. Osteoporosis prevention,
8. Stomach ulcer prevention,
9. Digestive issues,
10. Boosting immunity.
There is sufficient evidence to show that agaricus is possibly effective to treat type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is common in people with type 2 diabetes. This is the inability to appropriately use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that permits sugar to enter cells and be converted to energy. The majority of diabetic medicines work by decreasing insulin resistance. According to certain studies, when some medicines are combined with agaricus mushroom extract, they are more effective at reducing insulin resistance.
Clinical Data
It has been used to treat arteriosclerosis, hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, dermatitis, and cancer. Antidiabetic, antiangiogenic, apoptotic, and antiproliferative effects have been observed in preclinical research.
Only a few human studies have been conducted. Several studies have found that agaricus extracts improved insulin resistance in people with diabetes, decreased weight, body fat, glucose, and cholesterol levels in healthy people, and enhanced quality of life in ulcerative colitis patient.
In gynaecological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, an oral agaricus extract enhanced natural killer cell activity and quality of life.
Other early evidence suggests that daily agaricus powder use enhances quality of life in cancer patients during recovery.
Even though an agaricus extract did not enhance survival in multiple cancer patients, it did exhibit immunomodulatory benefits. A short research study found that agaricus extract improved liver function in hepatitis B patients.
Side effects
- When used for up to 12 weeks, agaricus mushroom extract appears to be generally safe. When consumed for up to 6 months, powdered agaricus appears to be generally well tolerated. In certain people with diabetes, agaricus products can induce hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- Itching, nausea, and diarrhea are other possible side effects.
- A small number of patients who took agaricus mushrooms as part of their cancer therapy had significant liver damage, while a few others experienced allergic responses. Cancer patients should always consult their physicians before taking it.
