By Hania Opienski, BA Hons, BSc, LicAc, BHSc, MBAcC
There are many differing opinions about how you can naturally optimise fertility, which can be confusing and time consuming to navigate. A few key focus areas standout (however you choose to address them), such as getting good nutrition and quality sleep, managing stress, and regulating your hormones. What if there was one type of functional food that could help with all of these?
A Historical Legacy: Mushrooms as Medicine
For hundreds if not thousands of years, cultures across Asia have revered medicinal mushrooms, also known as functional mushrooms, for their ability to promote health and longevity. Today, science is catching up to ancient wisdom, revealing the potential of these fungi to enhance fertility and reproductive health.
Ancient Chinese texts document the use of mushrooms such as Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) for their health-enhancing properties. Reishi was known as ‘the mushroom of eternal youth’ and reserved for royalty and warriors long before it was cultivated for the masses. It was known for its capacity to enhance vitality, delay the signs of aging and reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body, as well as calming the mind and emotions (2020).
Modern Science Validates Ancient Practices
Recent research is shedding light on the traditional uses of medicinal mushrooms. Studies are demonstrating their potential to improve fertility in both men and women through various mechanisms.
Beyond Basic Nutrition: The Power of Medicinal Mushrooms
Though there is some crossover of culinary mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms are prized for their potency and often unique bioactive compounds. These include antioxidants, polysaccharides, terpene and other substances that offer a range of health benefits. They can support the immune system, reduce inflammation and oxidation, and, importantly for fertility, balance hormones.
Beyond Hormones: The Power of Antioxidants and Anti-Inflammatories
Medicinal mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, which help shield reproductive tissues from oxidative stress and inflammation. Research by Zhao Y et al. (2016) showed that Reishi’s antioxidant properties reduced stress markers in reproductive tissues, promoting a healthier reproductive environment.
Enhancing Vitality and Stamina with Cordyceps
Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), is a medicinal fungus found in the Himalayas. Historically valued for its health benefits, including boosting energy, libido, and immune function, modern research now explains its actions. Discovered by herders who noticed increased vigour in their livestock after they grazed in fields where it grows, Cordyceps is used in traditional medicine to enhance stamina and vitality, and support reproductive health and virility. Its potential benefits for women include balancing hormones, reducing fatigue, enhancing libido, providing immune support, reducing inflammation, and improving blood circulation (2016).
Reishi: A Friend to Hormonal Balance
Reishi mushrooms are another potent option for fertility support. A study by Chen H et al. (2017) explored its impact on women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of infertility. The research showed that Reishi helped balance hormones by lowering testosterone and increasing estradiol levels, potentially promoting ovulation.
Maitake: Encouraging Ovulation
Maitake, another medicinal mushroom, has been investigated for its role in stimulating ovulation. Chen JT’s study (2010) found that Maitake extract effectively induced ovulation in women with PCOS. Additionally, combining Maitake with clomiphene citrate, a common fertility drug, demonstrated even higher ovulation rates.
Stress Less, Conceive More: Reishi and Stress Management
Chronic stress can wreak havoc on fertility by disrupting hormonal balance. Reishi is a potent adaptogen (a substance which helps the body adapt to stress more effectively). Wu J et al. (2016) demonstrated that Reishi reduced stress markers and improved reproductive outcomes in stressed animals. Reishi has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and promote more restful sleep (2021).
Cautions and Considerations
Medicinal mushrooms are generally safe for consumption and have a long history of use with minimal side effects. However, it’s crucial to source them from reputable suppliers to ensure purity and avoid contaminants. While generally safe, there are a few considerations:
- Allergies: If you have a mushroom allergy, unfortunately, functional mushrooms cannot be used.
- Reishi and blood thinners or hypoglycemic drugs: Due to Reishi’s potent blood thinning and blood sugar lowering effects, if you take any of these types of medications, consult a healthcare provider before use.
Mushrooms: Nutrient powerhouses
As well as some good quality functional mushroom supplements, it’s worth including some organic mushrooms in your daily diet. Even the common button mushroom and Asian mushrooms like shiitake can contribute to improving your nutritional intake. They are full of prebiotic fibre to support your beneficial gut bacteria, vegan protein, vitamins and minerals as well as some mushroom-specific compounds.
Functional mushrooms work best when taken consistently for a few months. It’s ideal to give yourself at least three months to make positive diet, lifestyle and supplement changes before trying to conceive for optimum results. This allows time for your body to build up nutrient and energy reserves, and for your hormones to balance so you can grow healthier eggs.
Nature’s Wisdom, Modern Elegance
For the discerning woman seeking to enhance her fertility journey, functional mushrooms offer a sophisticated and natural approach. By promoting hormonal balance, managing stress, and supporting overall vitality, well-being and immunity, these gifts from the earth can empower you to embrace your innate reproductive potential.
About Hania Opienski:
Hania is passionate about empowering women to work with their bodies to self heal. Her aim is to inspire and educate women so that they can harness the healing power of nature and find holistic health and harmony.
Hania is an internationally sought-after holistic wellbeing practitioner, mentor and educator. Over the past 20 years, she has helped thousands of individuals with their healing journeys through 1-1 sessions, health retreats, and workshops on 3 continents as well as via online webinars and summits for a wide range of clientele. She has consulted and mentored clients focusing on areas including holistic health, naturopathic detox, emotional and hormonal balance, stress and burnout management and healing trauma.
As well as bachelor’s degrees in traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture and naturopathic nutrition, Hania has qualifications in healing modalities such as Life Alignment, Shiatsu, Vortex Healing, HeartMath, Reiki and Chi Nei Tsang. As well as spending years as a wellness consultant and resident master of wellness at five star spa resorts from Thailand to the Maldives, she has worked as brand ambassador and educational lead for leading supplement and medicinal mushroom companies. She has written the first degree level medicinal mushroom course for the College of Naturopathic Medicine and continues to consult with health supplement brands and individual clients as well as running programs and retreats as founder of Super Natural Health and co-founder of TriLiving.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21034160/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24716152/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36734035/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34444885/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31418664/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34211003/
