Medicinal mushrooms are mushrooms, or mushroom extracts, that are used or studied as possible treatments for diseases. Lentinula edodes (shiitake), Grifola frondosa

Grifola frondosa

Grifola frondosa is a polypore mushroom that grows in clusters at the base of trees, particularly oaks. The mushroom is commonly known among English speakers as Hen-of-the-Woods, Ram's Head and Sheep's Head...

(maitake), Ganoderma lucidum (mannentake), and Cordyceps

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi that includes about 400 described species. All Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, mainly on insects and other arthropods ; a few are parasitic on other fungi. The best known species of the genus is Cordyceps sinensis, first recorded as yartsa gunbu in...

, have a history of medicinal use spanning millennia in parts of Asia. Research has indicated mushrooms have possible cardiovascular, anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, and glycemic, activities.