Introducing Two of the Best Medicinal Wild Mushrooms in Northern California!
Mushrooms are famously some of the most delicious things to forage for in the wild. Northern California is home to a great number of wild edible mushrooms. Whether you sauté them, add them to a soup, or use them in a dish as a meat substitute, there are plenty of ways to enjoy wild mushrooms.
With that being said, flavor isn’t the only reason to go mushroom foraging. Mushrooms have some very exciting nutritional benefits. In fact, some types of mushrooms are used primarily for their medicinal properties. Northern California has a few popular medicinal mushrooms, including the Lion’s Mane and the Turkey Tail.
Admittedly, neither of these mushrooms are widely known for their amazing flavor. What they are known for, though, is their amazing immune-boosting properties. Get into the habit of foraging for these miracle mushrooms and your body will thank you.
Lion’s Mane extract has anti-inflammatory effects that are good for both physical and mental health. Lion’s Mane mushrooms have also been proven to regenerate brain cells. Their extract improves the part of the brain that is responsible for processing emotional responses as well as memories.
While Lion’s Mane mushrooms are often powdered or made into an extract, they can also be enjoyed cooked, raw, or steeped as a tea. Their flavor is often compared to seafood. With a texture and taste that is similar to crab or lobster, there are plenty of culinary options out there if you happen to be interested in exploring this type of flavor. Use Lion’s Mane mushrooms to speed recovery from nervous system injuries, reduce the risk of heart disease, manage diabetes symptoms, and much more.
Meanwhile, the FDA has recently approved Turkey Tail extract for cancer patients. These mushrooms have been shown to boost the immune systems of those who are undergoing chemotherapy. In China, Turkey Tail mushrooms have been used for thousands of years as a medicinal tea.
This potent immune therapy has only recently started to become widely recognized in the West. It is called the Turkey Tail mushroom because its shape and colors resemble those of a turkey tail. These mushrooms grow abundantly on dead trees and stumps.
Both of these medicinal mushrooms have very distinct looks. This makes them excellent choices for those who are just starting to take up mushroom foraging. Since consuming the wrong mushrooms can lead to serious health complications, make sure you’ve taken all of the necessary precautions before consuming any kind of fungi found in the wild.
Hiking around Northern California is fun, great exercise, and relaxing. While you’re out there, why not get into the habit of keeping your eyes open for wild mushrooms? There are plenty of delicious wild edible mushrooms in the Northern Californian forests. All edible mushrooms are good for you, but Turkey Tail and Lion’s Mane mushrooms are world-renowned for their many health benefits.
Want to find your own? We have mushroom foraging classes all season in Marin, Sonoma, and the Santa Cruz Mountains.