A new medicinal mushroom from Korea is gaining reputation around the world at record pace. Most commonly known by its Latin name as Phellinus linteus, it is also sometimes referred to as Mesima (Japanese), and rarely by its English name, Black Hoof Fungus.
Common to southern United States and Southeast Asia, Phellinus linteus is a polypore on hardwood trees such as poplar, oak and mulberry. [1]
Unlike most medicinal mushroom species, which were originally used in China or Japan, Phellinus linteus first became popular in Korea as a complement to traditional cancer therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy.
From there, the fame of Phellinus linteus has spread across the globe. Doctors all over the world now use it as an immune enhancer [2-11], particularly to prevent cancer metastasis. [5,10,12-17] In addition to Korea, Phellinus linteus is today also increasingly popular in the U.S., Japan, and the Middle East from Turkey to Israel.
It may have all began when a'96 Korean study reported that Phellinus linteus extract exhibited a broader range of immune enhancing and anti-cancer properties than the extracts from other species of medicinal mushrooms. [4]
World renown American mycologist Paul Stamets took this a step further when he published research in 2003 which compared seven of the world's most popular medicinal mushroom species, including Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, Chaga, Lion's Mane and Agaricus blazei. [18]
In this study, Phellinus linteus turned out to have the most powerful effect on enhancing the activity of macrophages, a type of white blood cell that's an important part of the immune system. Macrophage activity was increased 5,700% by the Phellinus linteus extract. The dose used was equivalent to 3,750 mg for an average (165 lbs) adult. [18]
It should be noted that macrophages may promote cancer growth as well as fight cancer. The research that has been published about Phellinus linteus extract indicates that it enhances the anti-cancer properties of macrophages. [8,14,19,20]
In addition to these studies, there are at least three published cases of spontaneous regression of cancers after patients of their own accord used Phellinus linteus extract:
1. A 2004 paper out of Japan reported "a hormone refractory prostate cancer patient with rapidly progressive bone metastasis who showed dramatic response to intake of an extract from the mushroom, Phellinus linteus." [15]
2. A Korean journal published a paper in 2005 which reported on a "spontaneous regression of a large hepatocellular carcinoma with skull metastasis." The 65-year-old patient had "ingested mushroom called Phellinus linteus for one and a half years." [17]
3. Finally, an article published 2006 in the Japanese journal Radiation Medicine told of a "patient with hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple lung metastases in whom malignancy spontaneously regressed after taking Phellinus linteus Mycelium." The 79-year old patient reportedly "took extract from Phellinus linteus Mycelium for one month, and 6 months later the tumors appeared to be in complete regression." [16]
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The mushroom Phellinus linteus has not been approved by the FDA for medicinal use. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb or mushroom medicinally. - 31370
Common to southern United States and Southeast Asia, Phellinus linteus is a polypore on hardwood trees such as poplar, oak and mulberry. [1]
Unlike most medicinal mushroom species, which were originally used in China or Japan, Phellinus linteus first became popular in Korea as a complement to traditional cancer therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy.
From there, the fame of Phellinus linteus has spread across the globe. Doctors all over the world now use it as an immune enhancer [2-11], particularly to prevent cancer metastasis. [5,10,12-17] In addition to Korea, Phellinus linteus is today also increasingly popular in the U.S., Japan, and the Middle East from Turkey to Israel.
It may have all began when a'96 Korean study reported that Phellinus linteus extract exhibited a broader range of immune enhancing and anti-cancer properties than the extracts from other species of medicinal mushrooms. [4]
World renown American mycologist Paul Stamets took this a step further when he published research in 2003 which compared seven of the world's most popular medicinal mushroom species, including Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, Chaga, Lion's Mane and Agaricus blazei. [18]
In this study, Phellinus linteus turned out to have the most powerful effect on enhancing the activity of macrophages, a type of white blood cell that's an important part of the immune system. Macrophage activity was increased 5,700% by the Phellinus linteus extract. The dose used was equivalent to 3,750 mg for an average (165 lbs) adult. [18]
It should be noted that macrophages may promote cancer growth as well as fight cancer. The research that has been published about Phellinus linteus extract indicates that it enhances the anti-cancer properties of macrophages. [8,14,19,20]
In addition to these studies, there are at least three published cases of spontaneous regression of cancers after patients of their own accord used Phellinus linteus extract:
1. A 2004 paper out of Japan reported "a hormone refractory prostate cancer patient with rapidly progressive bone metastasis who showed dramatic response to intake of an extract from the mushroom, Phellinus linteus." [15]
2. A Korean journal published a paper in 2005 which reported on a "spontaneous regression of a large hepatocellular carcinoma with skull metastasis." The 65-year-old patient had "ingested mushroom called Phellinus linteus for one and a half years." [17]
3. Finally, an article published 2006 in the Japanese journal Radiation Medicine told of a "patient with hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple lung metastases in whom malignancy spontaneously regressed after taking Phellinus linteus Mycelium." The 79-year old patient reportedly "took extract from Phellinus linteus Mycelium for one month, and 6 months later the tumors appeared to be in complete regression." [16]
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The mushroom Phellinus linteus has not been approved by the FDA for medicinal use. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb or mushroom medicinally. - 31370
About the Author:
Dr. Markho Rafael currently focuses on research on medicinal mushrooms, after working with natural health since the mid-90's. He partners with Cordyceps Reishi Extract, LLC, a business offering premium grade medicinal mushroom products including Phellinus linteus extract. For references to this article, go the Phellinus linteus reference page.
