Dancing Mushroom. No, it's not the title of an off-Broadway play, but rather a translation of one of the names for a health-enhancing mushroom indigenous to Japan. The Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) earned this moniker, according to legend, because mushroom hunters danced with joy upon finding it growing wild. An expanding body of research shows that Maitake mushrooms do a lot more than simply inspire fancy footwork. Maitake may help the body steel itself against the onslaught of cancer and HIV/AIDS, supercharge the immune system, shrink painful fibroid cysts, give blood vessels a break from rising blood pressure, and tip the scales toward the lower numbers, just to name few of the possibilities. The active ingredient in medicinal mushrooms are polysaccharides called beta-glucans. The Maitake mushroom contains a unique beta-glucan, called D-fraction, that sets it apart as a health elixir. This D-fraction is believed to be responsible for the many health benefits of Maitake.The majority of research conducted regarding the Maitake mushroom has centered on cancer prevention. Although Maitake isn't believed to kill cancer cells directly, it does protect the body from cancer by stimulating the immune cells that, in turn, fight off cancerous cells. Some experts believe that Maitake may help inhibit tumors that are already growing, prevent the initiation of new cancers, and stop (or at least slow down) the severe secondary symptoms associated with cancer. Source 1:Medical Inspiration-For doctors and Medical students: An extract from maitake mushrooms is an important anti-cancer agent Source 2:findarticles.com
