Most modern medicines originate in nature. Although some plants have been used as therapeutic agents for millennia, new healing properties hidden in them are still being discovered. Larch sponge is an unusual tree mushroom with unique properties. This unique plant will be discussed in our article. We will consider the general characteristics of the fungus, methods of preparing medicinal products from it, as well as contraindications.
general description
Agaricus (this is another name for the fungus) parasitizes on conifers, most often on larch. The distribution area coincides with the places of growth of this tree - North America (Canada, USA), Europe (alpine part of Slovenia) and Russia (Siberia, the Far East and the European part).
Agaricus (larch sponge) has two commonly found scientific names. The first - Laricifomes officinalis - refers to those species that live on larch trunks. The second - Fomitopsis officinalis - the so-called mushrooms that are found on the trunks of other conifers. It can be Canadian fir, spruce and tsugi.
The fungal mycelium penetrates deep into the wood, extracting useful substances from it and accumulating them in the fruiting body. The larch sponge grows to a diameter of 30 cm. The hat has a rough surface covered with tubercles. The outer crust is hard and often crack. At the bottom of the cap is a tubular layer that grows 1 cm per year.
Since conifers live for decades, and sometimes centuries, the mushrooms on their trunks are also long-livers. Larch sponge is no exception. A photo taken by American Dusty Yao in Washington, USA, recorded a specimen of agaricus about 40 years old.
For the preparation of therapeutic agents, young mushrooms are collected. Their flesh is soft, crumbling, in contrast to old specimens, in which it resembles dense wood in structure.
History
The ancient Greek healer Dioscorides described agaricus as an "elixir of longevity." The ancient researcher mentioned him in his work “On Medicinal Substances” - the first catalog in history, which describes more than 1000 different medicines for various diseases studied at that time. His contemporaries greatly appreciated this mushroom and exported it with whole caravans of ships from their colonies located on the Black Sea.
In Tsarist Russia, larch sponge was exported. Through the northern port of Arkhangelsk , up to one hundred thousand tons of this raw material were annually exported to Europe.
Russian peasants used this mushroom not only as a medicine, but also as soap or a means for dyeing fabrics in red. Young mushrooms were also eaten - they made a delicious soup.
Composition
The valuable properties of agaricus are due to the high content of resinous substances, higher fatty acids, polysaccharides and phytosterols in the pulp of the fungus. The main component that determines the therapeutic effect of agaricus is the agaricic acid contained in it. It has a sedative and hemostatic effect, and also affects the body as a laxative.
Scientists from the University of Illinois in Chicago (USA) found in the fungus two new types of coumarin - an organic substance that is highly active against tubercle bacillus.
Mode of application
The mushroom begins to be harvested in the spring months. The collection ends in mid-July. All fruiting bodies must be dried in a well-ventilated area. The basis for the preparation of a therapeutic agent is a dried larch sponge, the use of which is most effective in the form of decoctions and infusions.
For a decoction, it is necessary to grind the mushroom and put one tablespoon of the raw material in an enameled dish. After that, pouring 350 ml of water, it is required to bring the composition to a boil. Boil the mushroom on low heat for half an hour. After completion, the broth should stand for four hours. Then it needs to be filtered. The broth must be taken three times a day, one tablespoon.
To prepare the infusion, you need to put one tablespoon of agaricus in a thermos, pour 250 ml of boiling water. When our medicine is ready, it needs to be filtered and cooled. It is necessary to take the infusion in question 1/3 cup three times a day.
You can also make alcohol tincture. To do this, one glass of crushed raw materials should be poured with alcohol (0.5 l) and removed for 14 days in a cool place. As the infusion is saturated, you need to occasionally shake the container. It is necessary to take the drug before meals, 30 drops three times a day.
To soften the bitter taste of infusions and decoctions of agaricus, you can add mint, honey or lemon to them. This will not spoil the medicine, but only enrich it with useful components.
Healing properties
Larch sponge is not only an effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. Its extracts can be used as an antiviral agent.
Studies have shown that agaricus has a particularly strong effect against smallpox, swine and bird flu viruses, and herpes. This makes it a very valuable plant.
The solution prepared from the alcoholic extract of the fungus is ten times more effective against influenza viruses than the powerful antiviral drug Ribaverin. In this case, agaricus does not have a toxic effect on the human body.
An important property of this fungus used in folk medicine is the ability to adsorb toxins and remove them from the body. This is especially important for people with cancer. After a course of chemotherapy, larch sponge helped many patients. Reviews of people who managed to cleanse the body with its help, best speak of the unique properties of this tool.
Contraindications and side effects
Agaricus should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. It is not recommended to drink decoctions and infusions from the plant in question for problems with the liver and intestines. If allergic reactions occur, discontinue treatment.
A side effect when using agaricus can be the appearance of a rash, diarrhea, emetic reactions. These effects are caused by a violation of the recommended dosage of the drug.
Conclusion
A good alternative to conventional medicines, in which the active substances are artificially synthesized chemical compounds, is agaricus (larch sponge). Application, reviews, healing properties - all this is of interest to the followers of traditional methods of treatment when they are looking for information about this unique mushroom. Therefore, agaricus is exactly what will help in the fight against diseases in our time. Indeed, now viruses and bacteria mutate, ceasing to respond to drugs and methods of treatment of traditional medicine.