 In the Orient, some mushrooms are highly regarded as longevity herbs that preserve youth and maintain health. There are many folklores or anecdotes on such mushrooms. Traditional healers in China, Japan and other parts of Asia have prized and recognized the health enhancing potential of the mushrooms even considered as the foods of immortality.* Yet the scientific study of the mushrooms has only begun during the last twenty years. Researchers have found that some mushrooms are rich in minerals (such as potassium, calcium and magnesium), various vitamins (D2, B2, Niacin and C), fibers and amino acids. Another important ingredient especially found in the family of polyporaceae (so-called "Monkey's Bench") is a polysaccharide compound which exhibits strong immune support activity*.
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In the late 1980's, some scientists found a mushroom which is much more potent than any of the mushrooms previously studied. The name of the mushroom is MAITAKE (pronounced "my-tah-key"). Maitake is indigenous to the north-eastern part of Japan. For hundreds of years, this rare and tasty mushroom has been prized in traditional Japanese herbology. This mushroom has a rippling form with no caps and grows in clusters at the foot of Japanese oak trees, giving it an image of butterflies dancing to the Japanese eyes, thus named "Maitake" literally "dancing mushroom". Others say that Maitake is so named because people who found it in the deep mountains knew its delicious taste and health benefits and thus began dancing with joy. In fact, in the feudal era of Japan it was exchanged with the same weight of silver by local lords who in turn offered it to their big boss; the SHOGUN. The botanical name of Maitake is "Grifola frondosa" referring to a mythical beast which is half-lion and half-eagle. Maitake is the only edible mushroom among all Monkey's Bench family. Sometimes it grows over 50 pounds. That is why this giant mushroom is called the "King of Mushrooms". Maitake seems to be one of the most extensively researched herbs and a number of research papers have been published by various institutes and universities.
The health benefits demonstrated by Maitake include immune system support, normal blood pressure support, normal blood sugar metabolism and normal cholesterol support.* Further laboratory studies and extensive clinical studies are under way in collaboration with leading research institutes both in the United States and in Japan.
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