Laricifomes officinalis - Agarikon Mushroom 101
Laricifomes officinalis (Agarikon) Frequently Asked Questions
Agarikon has strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that may provide a natural bioshield against infection and disease.
Curious about Laricifomes officinalis (Agarikon mushroom) extract? Check out these resources and scroll down to find answers to common questions.
Do you sell Laricifomes officinalis (Agarikon mushroom)?
Yes! You can order Agarikon as an all-natural herbal supplement from our online store as an extract or as one of six powerhouse extracts in our proprietary ShieldsUp! Immune Support Kits.
Is Laricifomes officinalis called Agarikon?
Yes! It also goes by the names Agarikon, Agarikon mushroom, Bread of Ghosts, Fomitopsis officinalis, Laricifomes, quinine conk, and tree biscuit.
Why is it called the “Elixir of Long Life”?
Agarikon mushroom is a strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, and it has demonstrated antiviral properties. Inflammation helps to protect the body against different harmful stimuli, such as infection, chemical exposure, tissue damage, trauma, and bacteria exposure. However, excessive inflammation may harm tissues and organisms and has been associated with the development and onset of such inflammation-related diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer.
Agarikon is active against viruses and bacteria, suggesting that it may provide a natural bioshield against potential infection and disease transmission.
What are its antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties?
Agarikon extract shows evidence of a broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral activity. A recent study in Mycology states that Agarikon mushroom is “recognised as medicinal for millennia all over its distribution range, particularly against pulmonary diseases. … {Its use has} been documented on Alps, Central and Eastern Europe, Urals, Siberia and North America, where it sometimes acquired mythic and ritual significance. Far beyond the folk superstition, bioactive molecules have been recently isolated from this fungus and proved to show remarkable antimicrobial effect.”
Studies suggest that it produces antimicrobial effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis attacks the lungs and causes TB, which can be fatal if not treated early enough. Consuming an extract made from the mushroom may support allopathic treatment of TB and support the immune system in combating an intitial TB exposure.
In 1947, the U.S. experienced a major smallpox outbreak that resulted in thousands of deaths. Vaccines have been manufactured, studies have revealed that the efficacy rate of these vaccines is 95%. Laricifomes supports antiviral activities against the variola virus that causes smallpox disease. The mushroom may also stimulate antiviral immune response against viruses such as herpes, influenza B, and influenza A.
What are its anti-inflammatory activities?
First, let’s break it down. Glycosides are naturally occurring substances in which a carbohydrate portion is combined with a hydroxy compound. Glycosides are often used in the treatment of heart diseases. Phenolics may work as antioxidants that prevent cellular damage due to free-radical oxidation reactions and promote anti-inflammatory conditions in your body.
Agarikon mushroom contains a wide range of bioactive compounds that have shown antiviral, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activity. They include:
- Polysaccharides
- Proteins
- Phenolics
- Flavonoids
- Alkaloids
- Tocopherols
- Organic acids
- Glycosides
What respiratory support does Laricifomes officinalis extract provide?
Respiratory diseases affect people around the world. Due to their prevalence, billions of dollars have been spent fighting respiratory diseases in an attempt to help people manage their diseases and improve their overall health. Common respiratory disorders include:
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Bronchitis
Clinical research reveals that one’s lifestyle can impact lung health. Nutritional deficiencies can reduce the lungs’ ability to control oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory activities. These anti-inflammatory properties complement lung functions. Some of anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds in Agarikon include 5 kDa polysaccharide, AIPetinc, and polysaccharides. AIPetinc produces nitric acid that may reverse the effects of histamines.
What are its anti-proliferative properties?
Cancer is a leading cause of global fatalities. There are good anti-cancer drugs in the market. Because cancers can adapt to treatment researchers have begun to look for adjuvant therapies that can support the effectiveness of medical interventions. Agarikon mushroom has properties that are complementary to chemotherapy. It contains bioactive compounds such as lentinan, kestin, lectin, and calcaelin that have shown anti-poliferative activity. These properties may provide and important assist to standard treatments.
What joint support does it provide?
Agarikon mushroom exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that help to relieve inflammation and joint pain. Swollen joints can be very painful and cause serious discomfort. Swollen joints can cause difficulties in walking. Agarikon contains significant amounts of l-ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress in the body and helps balance the inflammation response.
What digestive health support does it provide?
Agarikon has been traditionally used to support digestive health and alleviate gastrointestinal issues such as indigestion and diarrhea. It may have a soothing effect on the digestive system and help maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
What are the traditional uses of Laricifomes officinalis?
The word “Agarikon” comes from the name of an ancient Scythian people (ancient tribes of nomadic warriors who originally lived in what is now southern Siberia). The mushroom was so important to these people that they took it as a totem and named themselves after the fungus.
Greek physician Dioscorides described Agarikon as “elixirium ad longam vitam” (“the elixir of long life”) in 65 A.D. in Materia Medica. His encyclopedia of diseases, medicines, and plant-based remedies was possibly the first herbal medical manual. In ancient Greece, Agarikon was used to treat respiratory illnesses, night sweats, and consumption — later known as tuberculosis.
Early Europeans and Central Asians traditionally used this species for treatment of many ailments and infectious diseases, including coughing illnesses, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, bleeding, and infected wounds.
What phytochemicals are in Agarikon mushroom?
The complexity of its photochemistry helps explain the diversity of its benefits. Major constituents include Eburicoic acid, Sulfurenic acid, fomefficinic acid A-E, fomefficinic acid F-G, versisponic acid, Dehydroeburicoic acid, dehydrosulfurenic acid, 3-Ketodehydrosulfurenic acid, Fomefficinol A-B, Fomefficinol A-C, Obtusifoldienol, Eburicodiol, Eburical, agaric acid, Laricinolic acid, Officinalic acid, Fomitopsin A, Fomitopsin C, Fomitopsin F, G, H, Fomitopsin D Ethyl ester, and Demalonyl fomitopsin H.
Can you describe it?
Laricifomes officinalis – Agarikon mushroom is a wood decay fungus that grows to resemble a very large beehive. It grows like a fruit hanging from the places where branches connect to trunks on old tall trees.
it grows in temperate native conifer forests in Europe and North America. Agarikon mushroom belongs to the polypore fungi family. It produces fruiting bodies with a large surface of spore-bearing structures. Its beehive shape has been regarded as the longest mushroom in the world, up to 50cm long. It attaches itself to trees, could be the base, or even as high as 20 meters. Interestingly, the mushroom grows for about 75-100 years and produces defense mechanisms against viruses and bacteria.
Growth: Grows up to 50cm and hangs on trees like fruits.
Shape: Beehive shape with a thick white flesh
Taste: Has a bitter-sweet taste
Color: White spores
How do I consume Agarikon extract?
Instructions: Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of concentrate to 8 ounces of water or a cup of juice. Stir until dissolved. Drink 2-3 glasses a day.
Our team also developed a simple immune support smoothie recipe. These smoothies are blended drinks of fresh fruits, dark leafy greens, supplements, and Agarikon extract that will help energize you and transform your body from the inside out. Best of all — they taste great!
What are ShieldsUp! Immune Support Kits?
ShieldsUp! is a proprietary collection of six extracts designed to:
- Strengthen the body’s immune defenses
- Inhibit the lifecycle of common viruses
- Fight colds, flus, coughs, and invading pathogens
- Bolster the respiratory tract
- Protect against free radical damage
- Protect against overactive immune response inflammation
ShieldsUp! Kits include Agarikon, Cistus incanus, Phyllanthus niruri, Rosa rugosa (Rose Hips), Torilis japonica, and L-lysine. You can buy the kits here.
How did you choose your Agarikon supplier?
For each of the products we sell, company owner Michael Van der Linden and members of our team do substantial research, visit the source, and meet with the collectors and processors personally. We back up our faith in our source and our processors with testing.
Does Laricifomes officinalis extract contain caffeine?
No.
