Woman By Host Defense MycoBotanicals Overview & Drug Interactions

Asparagus officinalis, commonly known as asparagus, is a perennial plant native to central and southern Europe, the Middle East, western Siberia, and northern Africa. It grows to heights of 30-150 cm and is widely cultivated as a vegetable. Asparagus has been part of the human diet for over 2000 years and possibly much longer. Its shoots or "spears," rhizome, root, and juice are used for food and medicine. Asparagus is a good source of fiber, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B6, as well as minerals like copper, iron, zinc, manganese, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorous. It contains flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, oligosaccharides, amino acids, carotenoids, sulfur compounds, steroidal saponins, sterols, and fructans. After ingestion, asparagus produces a distinctive odor in urine due to volatile organic components like asparagusic acid. Asparagus extracts have shown various effects in studies, including anti-allergy, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, diuretic, hepatic, hypotensive, immunostimulatory, and weight-modifying effects. However, some of its constituents, particularly saponins, can irritate mucous membranes and be cytotoxic.

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is a type of mushroom native to Asia. It is a relatively tough mushroom with a shiny, reddish-brown exterior and a bitter, woody taste. Reishi mushroom is popular in traditional medicine, with a history of use dating back several thousand years. It is purported to have a number of health benefits, including the ability to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve overall well-being.

Maitake mushrooms, also known as Grifola frondosa or "hen of the woods," are a type of edible mushroom native to Japan and parts of China and North America. They have a distinctive, fan-shaped appearance and are often found growing at the base of trees. Maitake mushrooms are known for their flavor and texture, as well as their purported health benefits. They are high in antioxidants and may have anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and blood sugar-regulating effects. In traditional Japanese medicine, maitake mushrooms have been used to treat a variety of conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Supplements containing maitake mushrooms often highlight the "D-fraction" of beta-glucan and a type of protein called "SX-fraction".