A unique guidebook to medicinal species of mushrooms found in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Since ancient times, mushrooms have been widely used in folk medicine. The treatment of diseases based on the use of medicinal mushrooms and drugs obtained from them is referred to as fungotherapy. Mushrooms are among the oldest living organisms on Earth. Over millions of years of their existence, these poorly studied organisms have created and accumulated a large variety of biologically active substances in their bodies and mycelium, helping them to survive, defend and colonize various ecosystems. The Pacific Northwest is a unique area on our planet, with its own unique variety of ancient plants and fungi. Our distant ancestors and Indigenous Peoples knew about the medicinal properties of mushrooms and skillfully used them. Most of modern civilization has lost much of this ancient knowledge and with it, the wonderful healing qualities and medicinal benefits of fungi. In many universities around the world, scientists are currently studying various properties of mushrooms and their uses for medicinal purposes and the possibility of using them in various medical fields. Fungi participate in almost all processes of life; entering into symbiosis with plants and animals. They are an integral part of the human microbiota; a new 'organ' of the human body still yet to be fully studied and understood. Mushrooms are used in a multitude of different arenas, ranging from the food, microbiological and pharmaceutical industries, etc. Currently, mushrooms are used to produce proteins, antibiotics, vitamins and organic acids, among others. Healing substances are made from fungi extracts to stabilize blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, improve bowel function, and to enhance the general condition of the body. Some biologically active ingredients obtained from fungi are being prescribed to cancer patients for recovery after chemotherapy. These incredible fungi have the ability to improve the immune system, aid in the support and prevention of various cancers and other diseases, and are becoming more commonplace for use by health practitioners in western medicine for treatment of those who are terminally ill. This book offers information on over two-hundred medicinal mushrooms that grow in the Pacific Northwest rainforests of North America. This guide will be of much interest to mycobiologists, fungotherapists, phytotherapists, nutritionists, traditional healers, medical students, doctors, scientists, medicine/drug developers, food processing professionals, and generally people who are interested in alternative medicine.

This beautifully illustrated guidebook provides specific, easy-to-understand information on finding, collecting, identifying, and preparing the safer and more common edible and medicinal mushroom species of New England and Eastern Canada. Author David Spahr, a trained commercial photographer, here combines his mycological expertise and photographic skill to produce an attractive and detailed overview of his subject. Based on decades of practical experience and research, the book is written in a clear and forthright style that avoids the dry, generic descriptions of most field guides. Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada also provides useful ideas for cooking mushrooms. Rather than simply providing recipes, the book discusses the cooking characteristics of each variety, with advice about matching species with appropriate foods. Many mushrooms contain unique medicinal components for boosting the immune system to fight cancer, HIV, and other diseases, and Spahr offers practical and prudent guidelines for exploration of this rapidly emerging area of alternative therapeutic practice.

This waterproof pocket-sized guide features full-colour photographs of mushrooms from Pacific Northwest trails and roadsides, forests and lawns. Readers can identify over forty common and easily-recognized edible mushrooms--and stay away from their not-so-edible look-alikes. Discover boletes, chanterelles, matsutake, shaggy mane, cauliflower, candy cap and many other tasty wild mushrooms. Easy to use and light to carry, this compact text is a must-have for all mushroom lovers who delight in searching for the next macrofungi bonanza.

Ideal for hikers, foragers, and naturalists, the Timber Press Field Guides are the perfect tools for loving where you live. Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest is a comprehensive field guide to the most conspicuous, distinctive, and ecologically important mushrooms found in the region. With helpful identification keys and photographs and a clear, color-coded layout, Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest is ideal for hikers, foragers, and natural history buffs and is the perfect tool for loving where you live. Covers Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia Describes and illustrates 493 species 530 photographs, with additional keys and diagrams Clear color-coded layout

The ultimate guide to maximizing the healing properties of medicinal mushrooms and lichens—featuring over 300 detailed plant profiles for easy mushroom identification Noted herbalist Robert Rogers introduces readers to more than 300 species of medicinal mushrooms and lichens found in North America. These fungi have the capacity to heal both the body and—through the process of myco-remediation—the planet itself. Throughout the book, he documents their success in optimizing the immune system and treating a wide range of acute and chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and liver problems, blood sugar disorders, cancer, and obesity. The Fungal Pharmacy also outlines the medicinal traits and unique properties of each mushroom or lichen, including: • active chemical components • preparation methods for extracts, essences, essential oils, and more • historical and modern-day usage • cultural, religious, and literary significance, with fun facts on etymology and history • plus, 200 full-color photos and thorough descriptions for easy identification The ultimate guide to identifying and healing with medicinal North American fungi, The Fungal Pharmacy is a valuable resource for mycologists, mushroom hunters, wild-crafters, and anyone interested in natural health care.

Begin to Identify Mushrooms with This Great Visual Guide for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington! Mushrooming is a popular and rewarding pastime—and it’s one that you can enjoy with the right information at hand. Mushrooms of the Northwest is the field guide to get you started. The region-specific book utilizes an innovative, user-friendly format that can help you identify mushrooms by their visual characteristics. Hundreds of full-color photographs are paired with easy-to-understand text, providing the details to give you confidence in the field. The information, written by foraging experts Teresa Marrone and Drew Parker, is accessible to beginners but useful for even experienced mushroom seekers. Learn about more than 400 species of common wild mushrooms found in the Northwest states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The species (from Morel Mushrooms to Shelf Mushrooms) are organized by shape, then by color, so you can identify them by their visual characteristics. Plus, with the Top Edibles and Top Toxics sections, you'll begin to learn which are the edible wild mushrooms and which to avoid. Get this field guide, jam-packed with information, and start identifying the mushrooms you find.

Detailed descriptions of edible mushrooms; tips on finding, preparing, and using mushrooms; a glossary of botanical terms; color photos. Use Foraging Mushrooms Washington as a field guide or as a delightful armchair read. No matter what you’re looking for, be it the curative Heal-All or a snack, this guide will enhance your next backpacking trip or easy stroll around the garden, and may just provide some new favorites for your dinner table.

A detailed and comprehensive guide for growing and using gourmet and medicinal mushrooms commercially or at home. “Absolutely the best book in the world on how to grow diverse and delicious mushrooms.”—David Arora, author of Mushrooms Demystified With precise growth parameters for thirty-one mushroom species, this bible of mushroom cultivation includes gardening tips, state-of-the-art production techniques, realistic advice for laboratory and growing room construction, tasty mushroom recipes, and an invaluable troubleshooting guide. More than 500 photographs, illustrations, and charts clearly identify each stage of cultivation, and a twenty-four-page color insert spotlights the intense beauty of various mushroom species. Whether you’re an ecologist, a chef, a forager, a pharmacologist, a commercial grower, or a home gardener—this indispensable handbook will get you started, help your garden succeed, and make your mycological landscapes the envy of the neighborhood.

“An incredibly thorough guide for identifying, harvesting, and utilizing medicinal plants.” —Dr. Deborah Frances RN, ND Naturopathic physician, herbalist, author, and lecturer In Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants, Scott Kloos is your trusted guide to finding, identifying, harvesting, and using 120 of the region’s most powerful wild plants. You’ll learn how to safely and ethically forage, and how to use wild plants in herbal medicines including teas, tinctures, and salves. Plant profiles include clear, color photographs, identification tips, medicinal uses and herbal preparations, and harvesting suggestions. Lists of what to forage for each season makes the guide useful year-round. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers, naturalists, and herbalists in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and northern California.

Mushrooms have been used as medicine for thousands of years and their value in boosting immunity, improving memory, and even fighting cancer is being recognized and documented in scientific research. Christopher Hobbs, a mycologist and herbalist at the forefront of contemporary research, profiles the most powerful medicinal mushrooms and explains the nutritional and medicinal compounds in each one. Detailed instructions cover how to select, store, and prepare each variety for use. Whether readers are growing or foraging their own mushrooms, or sourcing them from a local provider, this essential handbook will guide them in making health-boosting medicine.