Medicinal Mushrooms and Menopause: all the benefits of Mycotherapy for women's well-being

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Menopause is considered a new phase in a woman’s life, which allows her to maintain her vital essence and energy for longer. When the menstrual cycle stops, blood is no longer lost monthly, but reaches the heart, nourishes the spirit more (Shen) and brings new potential. That's why in Eastern culture Menopause is considered the age of wisdom.

The role of Medicinal Mushrooms in Menopause is fundamental: in China and Japan women, but also doctors and health professionals, pay great attention to supporting and keeping the female apparatus in its proper equilibrium in the transition towards Menopause. This search for equilibrium is based on a series of factors: nutrition, phytotherapy, acupuncture, physical exercise and also Medicinal Mushrooms, which provide precious support.

Mycotherapy in Menopause and beyond: Reishi and Cordyceps, valid allies for women

In the East TCM has been using Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) for thousands of years to support the functions and health of the female genital system in the different phases of sexual life, from fertility to pregnancy, and also during breastfeeding. Medicinal Mushrooms are useful and are used both for prevention, in order to consolidate well-being, and for therapy, to treat some female pathologies such as premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea and polycystic ovary. Finally, Medicinal Mushrooms relieve some symptoms of pre-menopause and menopause.

Reishi and Cordyceps contain substances rare in nature, able to normalize the production of estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries. They also support the pituitary-ovarian hormonal axis in the various phases of the female menstrual cycle.

In a study, prof. Shimizu has shown that Reishi, thanks to the action of some terpenes, is able to increase the production of estrogen and progesterone but also the sensitivity of the cell receptors of the sexual apparatus to hormonal stimuli, making the action of estrogen more effective (Shimizu K, 2009).

In another study, prof. Huang has shown that Cordyceps contains cordycepin, a substance unique in nature, capable of increasing the production of estrogen and progesterone (Huang BM, 2004).

Reishi and Cordyceps increase blood flow, thanks to adenosine, a substance which has useful vasodilation properties. Therefore, not only the sexual apparatus but also the brain, heart and muscles, fundamental in the production of energy, benefit.

Moreover, Reishi and Cordyceps reduce anxiety, insomnia and stress thanks to the adenosine, a molecule with an anxiolytic effect, they contain. They also help to fight depressive states and tiredness, thanks to their ability to strengthen the action of two brain mediators (nor-adrenaline and dopamine), exerting a double effect: anti-depressant and anti-fatigue.

In detail, Cordyceps increases the body's mental and physical energy, because it increases blood oxygenation by 4.8% which, in turn, leads to a greater synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy molecule with which cells produce energy . So the brain, muscle, heart and all organs receive more oxygenated blood and more ATP.

With menopause, we know that the production of progesterone, the pregnancy hormone, is interrupted, but not that of estrogen, which is produced in small quantities in the adrenal glands. Reishi and Cordyceps support this small but important presence of estrogen and counteract the onset of some typical symptoms of menopause, generally related to the lack of estrogen: lack of energy, poor mood, irritability, insomnia, osteoporosis and weight gain. Finally, Reishi and Cordyceps strengthen bones and make nails and hair more beautiful, because they protect their mineral content. Hence, we can deduce the importance and the beneficial effect of Medicinal Mushrooms in Menopause.

Reishi and Cordyceps: how to use these Medicinal Mushrooms in Menopause

For menopause, it is advisable to use 2000 mg per day of Cordyceps and Reishi in tablets. It is important to associate vitamin C to improve the absorption of the active ingredients of Medicinal Mushrooms in the intestine.

There are no known side effects of Medicinal Mushrooms in Menopause; they can be used in combination with conventional medicine. It is advisable to take them for at least three months or for longer periods, in order to consolidate health and well-being and protect the body, obtaining an effective preventive effect.

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