Course 17 | Medicinal Mushrooms
Learn basic skills of mushroom identification and explore the medicinal benefits.
This course is only available with the following program:
Meet your course instructor
Rogers | Ethnobotanist, Clinical Herbalist, Mushroom Mentor
Robert Dale Rogers has been an herbalist for over fifty years and is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, where he is presently an assistant clinical professor in Family Medicine. He is also an adjunct professor in Graduate Studies at York University in Toronto, and presently teaches plant and mushroom medicine, aromatherapy and flower essences in the Earth Spirit Medicine faculty at the Northern Star College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Robert is past chair of the Alberta Natural Health Agricultural Network and Community Health Council of Capital Health. He is a Fellow of the International College of Nutrition, past chair of the North American Mycological Association, and previously on the editorial board of the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. He regularly posts articles of interest in Fungi magazine. The author of 52 books on medicinal plants and fungi of the boreal forest, Robert authored the must-have book The Fungal Pharmacy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms and Lichens of North America. Another of his acclaimed books: A Cree Healer and His Medicine Bundle, was released in June 2015 by North Atlantic Books, and it documents the tenth generation passing down of over sixty traditional indigenous boreal plants and their medicinal benefit. Robert was honoured as an Herbal Elder of Canada in 2015. Today, Robert guest lectures and conducts walks throughout North America on plant and mushroom medicine, and continues to release must-have books on Mushrooms.
Course description
There are over five million species of fungi on the planet, and approximately 500 of these are macrofungi that have health benefits. Macrofungi, which we commonly refer to as mushrooms, have extensive historical use as both food and medicine, and their recognized medicinal properties have given them a rightful place in contemporary medicine.
This course covers mushroom basics, including, and not limited to, the definition of a mushroom, how fungi evolved, and insights regarding their relationship with plants. It explores the differences between a fruiting body and mycelium, and their respective medicinal qualities; whether to wildcraft or cultivate mushrooms depending on their type; and the importance of organic practices in mushroom cultivation.
Additionally, this course explores twelve of the top medicinal mushrooms on the market. The most recent scientific research related to each of these mushrooms is shared, along with tips for proper identification in the field. When relevant, any cautions or contraindications with pharmaceuticals drugs are provided.
Mushrooms can be consumed as food or through various medicinal preparations. This course provides tips about which mushrooms to add to your diet and how to choose good quality mushroom products. And you can follow along with easy steps on how to prepare mushroom medicines at home.
There are many misconceptions about medicinal mushrooms, and this course offers explanations to dispel common myths and leads you on a virtual forest walk to identify mushrooms along the way. The stories and research covered in this course are deeply intriguing, hopefully enough to inspire you to add medicinal mushrooms to your herbal practice.
Upon completion of this course, you will have the ability to:
- Identify a large variety of medicinal mushrooms and look-alikes
- Understand various medicinal mushroom preparations and actions
- Understand how various mushrooms are used for health conditions
- Distinguish between fruiting body and mycelium products
- Understand the differences between wildcrafted vs. cultivated mushrooms
- Know the difference between organic vs. conventional cultivation
- Prepare mushroom medicines at home
