Discover Mushrooms for Skin Health
CHAGA
Also known as the ‘diamond of the forest’, chaga is an old Russian word for mushroom and it has been a traditional medicine in Northern Europe and Russia for hundreds of years.
It grows on the bark of the birch tree, drawing nutrients from the inner layers, and converting them to active compounds to support overall health.
Chaga is renowned for increasing vitality and supporting the immune system. Traditionally it was used in folk medicine in Eastern Russia, boiled to make a tea that was used to support immunity and overall health.
Skin Health: Chaga has the strongest antioxidant activity among fungi examined. Antioxidants protect the body from free-radical damage which can cause premature ageing. Other studies have noted benefits for problem skin conditions such as psoriasis, potentially due to its impact on chronic inflammation.
Chaga can be taken on its own or combined with other supplements and functional foods for synergistic effects. Combine with tremella for an antioxidant packed boost for skin health
TREMELLA
Tremella is a popular culinary and therapeutic mushroom that has been used in Asian cuisine and Traditional Chinese Medicine for two thousand years.
It has long been prized for its medicinal properties and was included in one of the oldest books on traditional medicine called the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (c. 200AD). Both Chinese and Japanese women used it for various beauty purposes, including to reduce freckles and promote a glowing, youthful complexion. This is the reason tremella is sometimes called the ‘beauty mushroom’.
Skin Health: Tremella attracts and hold water (more effectively than hyaluronic acid), this helps with hydration and elasticity, and slows down production of melanin which is useful for skin pigmentation, uneven skin tone, and scarring.
Anti-inflammatory: Rich in antioxidants, notable anti-inflammatory properties
References: With thanks to Mushrooms for Life for information used in this article.
