Will Shiitake Mushroom Help Your Pet?
If your pet needs immune-boosting, shiitake mushroom just might do the trick.
Pets experience weakened immune systems for a variety of reasons.
Cancer, infection or inflammation cause a myriad of health problems.
Traditional veterinarians recommend Western remedies to treat immunodeficiencies.
Pets with cancer are often given chemotherapy, which can weaken the immune system.
A veterinarian practicing Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) may recommend alternative options to strong pharmaceuticals, such as Eastern and Western herbs or supplements.
If your pet has a compromised immune system, he or she may benefit from a mushroom-based supplement.
An increasing number of pet parents see excellent results by administering shiitake mushroom for pet immune systems.
What Is Shiitake Mushroom?
Shiitake mushrooms, part of the Lentinula edodes species, contain l-ergothioneine and the immune-boosting polysaccharide lentinan.
Shiitakes, an edible mushroom from East Asia, are a medicinal, edible mushroom used in traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years.
Why Is Shiitake Beneficial for Improving Pet Immunity?
According to one study, shiitake mushrooms have powerful anti-tumor effects.
During the study, researchers gave 10 mice suffering from sarcoma shiitake extract.
Throughout the study, six of 10 mice had complete tumor regression.
With the addition of higher concentrations of supplementation, all ten mice experienced complete tumor regression.
Other studies show the powerful effects of lentinan and other polysaccharides in the mushroom.
The polysaccharides increase the phagocytotic activity of the peritoneal macrophages, or the body’s anti-inflammatory and tumor-inhibiting properties.
One study revealed a polysaccharide containing a peptide complex (KS-2), which strongly inhibits tumor growth in animals.
Animals fed powdered shiitake experienced 40% inhibition in the growth of sarcoma 180 and MM-46 tumors.
Lentinan created an anti-tumor effect by activating immune responses in the body.
In one human study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2015, 52 healthy adults consumed five or 10 grams of mushrooms daily.
The results showed improved cell function and gut immunity as well as reduced inflammation.
Another human study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2006 explored the effect of ethyl acetate fraction from shiitake mushrooms on breast carcinoma cells, nonmalignant breast epithelial cells, and myeloma cells.
The results show shiitake inhibited growth in tumor cells.
Shiitake also provide an excellent source of B vitamins, selenium, vitamin D, niacin, pantothenic acid, and other important nutrients.
Does Shiitake Have Side Effects?
Shiitake mushrooms cause the immune system to become more active.
Safety is not proven in pregnant or lactating animals.
How to Use Shiitake Mushroom with Other Herbs and Compounds
Shiitake mushroom’s benefits are best when combined with other compounds.
For example, a supplement including Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and Maitake mushrooms would most effectively help your pup.
Seeking an all-natural supplement to boost your dog’s immune system?
