Looking for HCG Kits Online?

By Amelia Handley

Are you looking for HCG kits online? You're not the only one. A lot of prospective dieters see the benefits of HCG, but don't want to deal with the long waiting periods that are typical at many of the HCG clinics and weight loss specialist's offices. But finding HCG kits online isn't quite as easy as it seems.

Stumbling upon a personal blog (accessible to the public, of course) with a recommendation for a company isn't really good enough. You don't know this person. They could be totally sane and even smart, but they could be the total opposite. So make sure you don't rely on one stranger's recommendation instead of doing some of your own research.

Taking one stranger's word as a solid referral can be a big mistake. Make sure that you don't accept a recommendation without doing some research of your own as well. As is appropriate in any industry you can always depend upon the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to keep records of negative situations. If you are an avid online social media participant...put a call out for comments and suggestions on any companies you find offering HCG kits online.

You can also find out a lot about a company through search engines (google, ask.com, etc.) If they are non-existent in a google search there's a reason. They are either a brand new company that hasn't made an attempt to make a place for themselves in the search engines or they have some other reason for being hard to find that could be negative.

And always check out the company's website. Don't just go there when you decide to buy. Get on their site and run through it. Visit the different areas: the frequently asked questions, the about us page, any free information on the topic at hand. It will give you a good idea of who you're dealing with before you decide to deal. Nothing's worse than finding out AFTER a purchase that you bought something from a company that you can't even get in touch with.

You need to actually study the HCG kits online that you consider purchasing. What do they include? How much do they include? How long will it last? Is it the same potency as similarly priced products? Does it offer the average weight loss results you're looking for? Do they offer any additional items with their product? You don't want to end up with any HCG kits online that aren't really even based off HCG. It offers phenomenal results; take advantage of the real thing.

One reputable company offering HCG kits online is HCG Diet Direct. And they have plenty of information on their site accessible to the public so you can help yourself prior to any purchase. HCG Diet Direct's homeopathic HCG weight loss formula has a fantastic success rate and offers the additional bonus of being all natural (no needles necessary) as well as requiring no office visits or prescriptions. So regardless of your situation you can be assured that HCG Kits online from HCG Diet Direct will be convenient and effective. - 17269

About the Author:

Amelia Handley majored in exercise science in college with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she's found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.

Effects of Alcohol on Muscle Building

By Homaide Germaico

Alcohol creates an enormous complication in the course to get striking body or building muscles. In the development of muscle building, it really has a lot profound connection. Not entirely, but in some amount that one can observe the change of speed and decelerate progression. Therefore you must keep away from alcohol and anything which is made by it.

Everybody should be aware of the fact that muscle building is dependent upon the evasion as well as ingestion of diet. Alcohol is also a dietary element but its evasion at all costs is a must for those guys who're in the process of bodybuilding. In most of the cases, it is found deadly and it can damage your muscles too.

The basic issue regarding alcohol is the lack of knowledge in people. Most of us are not aware of the negative effects caused by alcohol. The actual knowledge regarding the harmful effects of alcohol is still unknown to many people. Stopping the usage of alcohol in your life is not only better for your health but also for building muscles.

Following points will give you a clear idea about the exact drawbacks of alcohol:

1.Affects on protein synthesis: Massive alcohol utilization can inadequately hold up the process of protein synthesis with at least 20%. Because our muscles are fabricated of proteins, thus we can see that how this can impede in muscle enhancement process.

2.It bring incline in Hormones and decline in Testosterone: One of the most significant hormones that brings improvement in muscles, is Testosterone. Declining intensity of this hormone can be extremely fatal in the process of body building. Similarly, testosterone is a major element they reveals the power of muscle gain in human body. Moreover, inclining intensity of this hormone is also fatal.

3.Alcohol may bring about 'Dehydration': Kidney in human body is aimed at sorting great amount of water that falls down level of alcohol and saves the body from dehydrating. H2O is well thought-out a major factor in the process. Astoundingly, 70% of its reservoirs in the human body make up a muscle. Consequently, even a minor dehydration can also be catastrophic.

4.Vitamins and Minerals Presence in the Body: Vitamins A, B, C, calcium and phosphorous get drained out from the body due to alcohol intake. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body can be extremely harmful for the muscle building process as they are responsible for most of the processes to function.

5.Accumulate Fats in the Body: Alcohol intake is a huge obstacle in burning fats in the body by disturbing the Krebs's cycle. So, it should always be avoided under all circumstances especially by people looking to build muscles. - 17269

About the Author:

Lose Fat And Build Muscle and get unheard of facts on workout gain muscle. Visit Lose Fat And Build Muscle today!

Can Supplements Really Help You With Building Muscles Fast?

By Molly Robbins

If you're interested in building muscles fast, you should also know that it's quite possible that your diet can't help you do this all by itself. Of course, you need a good diet and you need to eat as many of the right foods as you can, but that may not be enough when it comes to building muscles fast. Building muscles may also require the use of certain supplements so that your bodybuilding efforts are used to best effect so that you can reach your bodybuilding goals as fast as possible.

Ideally, you should eat five or six meals a day and make sure you get enough calories so that your metabolism both gets and stays high. For most of these meals, you'll want to take in real food, but you can also add in two or three meal replacement shakes so that you can be more assured of fast muscle building.

Because most muscle building powders are about the same in terms of the nutrition they provide, it's perfectly fine to go with cheaper ones on the market. Just make sure the ones you get come from a company that's reputable. Certainly, your meal replacement shakes will be cheaper than fast food trips, and are a great tool that you can use to help meet your caloric needs and get the right nutrients at the same time. Usually, you should take a meal replacement shake either before or after you've done your workout.

Use whey proteins to best effect, because these are very good source of protein that your body can easily absorb. Taking them both after workouts and before bed will help your body rebuild the muscle that you've broken down during your workouts. Again, whey protein is very inexpensive, but make sure you find a source that's reputable. The whey protein you get should have under 100 mg of sodium per serving, and be low in carbs, at under 5 g a serving.

Multivitamins are incredibly important for anyone to stay healthy but especially for those who want to gain muscles fast. Make sure that it has high levels of vitamin C (500mg) and high levels of vitamin E (400mg). Since you are putting your body through a lot of stress while you are building muscles fast, your body will need these more than other people.

Creatine is another supplement that can help give you energy, both to build muscle and nerve cells. There are lots of places you can buy creatine supplements, but make sure you buy from companies with a good reputation. Unflavored creatine is best, since it doesn't contain dextrose and you won't be paying for dextrose, so it will be cheaper for you. Use it with protein powders after your workout instead of before. Take grape juice or some other high carbohydrate but healthy drink along with your creatine.

Glutamine is another supplement you may want to consider if you want to build muscle fast. Glutamine comprises fully 60% of the amino acids you use. Because glutamine helps with protein metabolism and is needed for muscle development, it's important. You've used about 50% of your glutamine stores after a workout, and if you don't replenish it, your body will take it from your muscles.

Whatever you decide to use make sure that all of the supplements you take come from good manufacturers with a solid reputation. If you take them in the right dosages and use them with a great diet and workout program you will find yourself building muscles fast. - 17269

About the Author:

Want to find out more about an Anti Snore Ring, then visit Molly Robbins' site all about the best Anti Snore Rings for your needs.

5 Tips To Loose Belly Fat Fast Before You Know It

By Thong M. Dao

Fat people wish to do one thing first; loose belly fat fast. Combining good exercise and diet lets you lose those belly inches easily. People who carry out exercise programs regularly lose weight proportionately.

If you change your lifestyle to be healthier, you'll see changes in your weight. You don't need costly diet pills and stern exercises. What is really necessary is the willingness to make strong adjustments in your attitude to achieve your objective. Here are some tips to start out with.

1. One of the few secrets to loose belly fat fast for instance, is to take on a balanced calorie diet. Calories are major contributors to belly fat, if taken at huge amounts and not burned.

2. Dancing is a good cardio exercise. Burn your calories by dancing, it's good for the heart, weight loss, and it's fun! Jump rope is another good cardio. Maintain a ten minute exercise routine daily and you can burn at least 150 calories more each day.

3. It's very important not to skip breakfast. Avoid eating right before bedtime. The calories you took will be stored as fat when you are idle.

4. Take plenty of water. Instead of drinking soda, use water instead. You can also increase your metabolism if you take enough water and fibre. Always include them in the diet.

5. Do not go hungry too long. Eating meals by small portions is better than three large meals a day as your metabolism is kept at high levels.

There are a lot of simple ways to weight loss that don't make you spend a lot of time and money on workouts, diet pills and other devices for weight loss. You will loose belly fat fast just by practicing easy habits for your daily routine. - 17269

About the Author:

Why wait a second when you're guaranteed to loose belly fat fast? Click here: Fat-Free-Fast.com

Do Acai Berry Weight Loss Products Really Work?

By Theresa Trackers

Everywhere you turn, there seems to be another advertisement for acai berry weight loss products. But do these products really help you lose weight? How can a berry really have such amazing effects?

The answer seems to be that the acai berry helps your body to function better, particularly with regard to digestion and metabolism. It does this because it contains a number of substances that work together to create a greater effect than any one on its own could.

Digestive problems can often be at the root of an inability to lose weight. The native peoples in the Amazon have used this berry as a digestive cure for years. The various substances in this berry improve the digestion and metabolizing of food, making the entire process more efficient.

Acai berries have an unusual proportion of fiber for their weight. Fiber helps to prevent hunger by making you feel full. It also helps keep the blood sugar down. Most fruits have a higher concentration of simple sugars which can cause the level of sugar in the blood to spike quickly and thereafter be converted into fat. In addition, fiber helps the body eliminate wastes properly.

Another way in which acai berries differ from other fruits is the high amount of fats. These are healthy Omega fats which not only help to suppress the appetite but also work in the liver to get your metabolism going.

The building blocks of proteins, amino acids, are also present in acai berries. These help the body to build muscle, which in turn helps to burn fat more effectively. More calories are burned while the body is resting and the metabolism works at a consistently higher rate.

Probably the most commonly discussed components in acai berries are the antioxidants. Not only are antioxidants believed to help protect the body against the effects of age and stress, they also boost levels of stamina and energy. People often feel sluggish as they begin to change their diets. However, the energy boost of this berry is considered to be so high, that many Brazilian athletes use it to improve their performance.

As with all supplements, be sure to investigate if the acai berry weight loss products you want to try has other added ingredients. Some of the most common, such as caffeine and guarana, also boost the metabolic rate but may have adverse effects on some people.

At this point in time, there are no research studies that prove that acai berry weight loss products really work. There is, however, a great deal of anecdotal evidence. Stories from people who swear that these products have changed their lives are plentiful. At the very least, it is unlikely that consuming acai berries on their own will have negative effects.

All in all, it would seem that with all these properties, acai berries may indeed be able to help get a weight loss program under way. And, as with all such programs, including exercise and a sensible diet will increase your results and ensure that you achieve your weight loss in the healthiest way. - 17269

About the Author:

http://searchles.com/people/show/bingobongo/posts There have been many breakthroughs in the weight loss industry.

Don't Ignore Your Legs When Strength Training

By Danny Boggs

Many personal trainers and weight lifting experts will tell you that every single muscle group is just as important as the other. Cutting one out of your rotation could definitely limit your overall muscle growth.

People realize that a big chest will look weird if the back doesn't match it, and they'll obviously want their arms and shoulders to be proportional with each other. As a result, they'll attempt to work out each muscle evenly over time.

Anyone who lifts weights would probably tell you that they understand the importance of evenly working out all muscle groups. While they know this, they don't always practice it. Too many people ignore their leg muscles.

There are many reasons that it makes sense to work out the legs just as much as any other muscle group, if not more. For starters, many people develop "chicken legs" when their upper body is noticeably bigger than their lower body. All that hard work you spent sculpting your body can go to waste if something looks off!

There are a number of reasons that it may not make sense to neglect your legs, but here are some reasons that you should. Endorphins are critical to your overall well being, and working out your legs will activate them. These will naturally lift your spirits.

Anyone who's gone on a long run as probably experienced what they call runner's high. This feeling of euphoria stems from the presence of endorphins, and lifting weights with your legs will give you the very same benefits.

There are some great benefits to leg training if you play sports. You'll be faster, you'll have more endurance, and your legs will be stronger. Stronger legs also happen to contribute to upper body strength, so don't be fooled if your intended sport doesn't involve much running.

All of these and many other reasons lend real credence to the fact that the legs are one of the body's most important muscle groups. Keep this in mind when planning your workout routine. - 17269

About the Author:

Read more of this writer's work about Armani mens suits and Armani leather shoes.

Weight Loss With The Acai Berry

By Mary Williams

The acai berry has been used for decades by natives of the Amazon rain forest. The popularity of the acai has grown and the fruit is now known worldwide for its nutritional benefits. A diet that includes the acai can also help expedite weight loss.

The acai berry is full of nutrients that other fruits cannot match. The fruit is packed with fiber that can help clear the digestive track. This helps with weight loss because fiber clears out older undigested material in the digestive track. As a result, the digestive system is able to process food more efficiently and metabolism is increased. In this way, a diet that includes the acai berry works as a colon cleanser.

The acai berry's antioxidants give the body the power to battle disease and early aging. Likewise the acai berry also has Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and selenium. These antioxidants catch free radicals that work to break up the immune system. Free radicals get in the body in several ways, including from unhealthy foods and the environment.

Many people that take acai supplements have also reported an increased level of steady energy. This is better than what is delivered from caffeine because the energy is maintained through the day. In other words, you will not get a high burst of energy up front, which will quickly turn into a lack of energy. The acai has also been shown to help the cardiovascular system, allowing the lungs to process oxygen efficiently.

As you can see, there are several benefits of the acai, including weight loss. As a result of the other nutrients in the acai, your body can fight early aging, clean you digestive system, and increase metabolism. It is no wonder why the popularity of the acai has grown to become a valuable weight loss tool. - 17269

About the Author:

Learn how you can Get your free 14 day trial of Acai Slim today!. For more information on how you can lose weight with the acai juice diet, stop by Mary Williams' site where Your free AcaiBurn Trial is waiting! Get it today.

Best Six Pack Abs Workouts

By Chris Frost

So many people want to know how to get perfect abs, or what is the best six pack abs workouts or the most effective lower abdominal workout. Six pack abs has become the one of the most sought after fitness goals in the western world today.

Unfortunately, there is no short answer to these questions, just as there is no "magic pill" solution on how to get perfect abs. It has probably taken you years to get your flabby abdominal muscles and belly fat, so it is really unrealistic to expect to build a rock hard six pack overnight.

The best workout to get six pack abs is a combination workout that takes into account your diet, fitness and strength exercising. You also need to set goals, choose a good attitude and be positive and committed.

Firstly, you need to assess where you are now and where you want to end up. You need to be able to measure or quantify your desired result so you can see your progress towards it, and recognize the goal when you reach it. Set a time-frame for achievement - make it achievable but difficult, so you need to stretch. So, now you know what you want and when you want it - great!

Next, check your mental attitude - believe in yourself and that you can achieve your goal. Have some positive reinforcements you can refer to - pictures of what your ideal abs will look like; progression photos of yourself as you burn the fat and tighten the flab; quotes and sayings that inspire you. Ask any athlete - getting your head right is half the battle won.

Now look at your diet - to lose excess fat and build muscle you need quality protein and low GI carbohydrates, including fruit and vegetables, low fat dairy and whole grains. Aim for meals that consist of 20% protein, 20% good fats and whole grains, beans and pulses, and 60% carbohydrate. Half your plate should be vegetables in a wide variety of colors; avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks, fatty, sugary and fast food; drink 8 glasses of water every day. Make snacks protein-rich - fruit smoothies, yogurt, nuts and fruit are great choices.

Increase your fitness and burn extra calories and fat with daily cardio exercise, varying the activity to use all muscle groups. Start slowly, if you are new to exercising, and build up distance and intensity gradually. A good warm up and down, with stretches and flexibility, helps you avoid injury. To increase fat burning, add several short bursts of intensity or speed into your cardio sessions.

Strengthening exercises need to focus on your abdominal muscles and core strength. The abs are a group of muscles, so you need a variety of exercises to develop a six pack. Exercises that twist the trunk work the obliques, ones that raise the upper body work the upper abs and those that raise the legs give the best the lower abdominal workout. Increase the intensity, to increase new muscle, by adding resistance in the form of weights or resistance bands.

There are strengthening exercises that you can do at home - bicycle legs, planks, V-sits and twisted crunches. Do 15 - 30 minutes daily at home and add 2 - 3 weights sessions at the gym each week. Alternate the sequence of exercises to increase the effectiveness of the best six pack abs workout and you will discover this is how to get perfect abs. - 17269

About the Author:

Looking to the besy way on how to get a six pack fast, then visit www.bestsixpackabsworkouts.com to find the best advice on best six pack abs workouts and get perfect abs.

Colon Cleaners - Your Ultimate Guide

By Jared Rite

Whether you like it or not, you are always susceptible to taking in toxic chemicals in your body. It is hard to get away from these toxic substances since they are present in almost all food and drinks. Even seemingly, harmless cosmetic products also cause toxins to enter your body. In addition, even if you totally avoid eating, drinking and using cosmetics, you are still not free from toxins because they can be present in the air that you breathe. In ordinary situations, this should not be a problem. Your body was programmed such that these toxins are eliminated before they can even cause any harm like through urination, perspiration and bowel movement. Unfortunately, this elimination process sometimes fails. Toxins accumulate and are reabsorbed causing various health problems.

One way of helping your body eliminate toxins and prevent diseases is to use colon cleaners. Colon cleaners, as the name implies, clean the colon of the different toxins that get deposited there. The colon is a long tube located towards the end of the digestive tract. It is so long that when stretched, it could be of the same length as a young adult who is four and a half to five and a half feet in height. One of its purposes is to absorb remaining water, electrolytes and nutrients from food not fully digested. When it absorbs these, toxins are also absorbed. Health problems arise when these toxins accumulate. Some of the health problems that may arise are constipation, bloating, blood putrefaction, fecal impaction. It could even cause bad breath.

There are various kinds of colon cleaners available in the market. One of the commonly used colon cleaners is enema. Enemas like fleet enema and soap sud enema are used to induce elimination of wastes in the colon. Nevertheless, since this is done by inserting substances through the anal region, some people stay away from it. An alternative that they take is using laxatives. These pills taken orally also induce waste elimination. There are synthetically made laxatives as well as herbal colon cleaners. People opt for the herbal colon cleaners because they believe that they are safer to use since they are made from natural ingredients.

You can also go for colonic hydrotherapy. A trained professional in either a clinic or a hospital does this method. Water is introduced in the colon through your rear end to flush out toxins and other wastes. Though many say that wastes will really be removed, you still have to be cautious because through the process of removing harmful substances, beneficial bacteria are also removed.

Lastly, you can also clean your colon by changing your diet. You should eat a lot of foods with high fiber content. These fibers will sweep out the toxins in your colon. You should also avoid foods with lots of preservatives. In addition, you should increase your water intake.

Colon cleaners aim to help you clean your system to prevent diseases. But before using any of the colon cleaners mentioned here, it is better to ask your doctor for advice first for your own safety. - 17269

About the Author:

Looking to read more about the subject of colon cleaner, you can find these at our website about colon cleanse diet.

Omega 3 And Heart Health

By Kirsten Whittaker

A diet loaded in omega-3s is thought to be good for your heart, helping to chop the risk of hardening of the arteries, irregular heartbeat, coronary, unexpected cardiac death and even heart failure. And the link between Omega 3 and heart health is only the beginning of the many benefits of these good fats.

Doses of omega-3 fatty acids are not just good for helping the hearts of healthy people, these nutrients also have benefits for those that have existing heart problems according to new research based primarily on many large studies that concerned more than forty thousand subjects.

These findings, broadcast in the book of the american University of Cardiology, concerned a review of four studies on omega-3 and heart problems prevention and have pushed mavens to endorse omega-3 fatty acids be a part of all healthy diets.

Our bodies can't make these omega-3 fatty acids all alone, so 5 hundred mg a day of components EPA ( eiosapentaenoic acid ) plus DHA ( docosahexaenoic acid ) is what's endorsed for healthy adults.

Anyone with heart disease or heart failure will need to double the amount to a range of eight hundred to 1,000 mg a day, as the report revealed this to offer a powerful protective effect. Daily augmentation of DHA and EPA for these patients was discovered to bring a 30% reduction vis heart related death.

When it comes to heart failure, adding omega-3 supplements showed a definite preventive effect, reducing deaths in those with heart failure by 9%. Considering the grave diagnosis often given these patients, this number is inspiring.

Omega-3 fatty acids work at the cell membrane level and should be what helps the electric activity of the heart as well as improving muscle tone, stabilizing plaque, blood pressure and other things associated with a healthy heart.

The standard American diet has a proportion of bad to good fats of 20 to one, that's's 1 omega-3 overwhelmed by many more of the more deadly sort of trans-acids.

Getting good fats from food is the simplest way to go as 90% of the nutrient ( vs. Half of the supplement form ) is absorbed into the body. Natural sources of good fats include walnuts, canola oil, broccoli, cauliflower, kidney beans, spinach, grape leaves, cantaloupe, Chinese cabbage, flaxseed as well as fish like herring, mackerel, sturgeon and anchovies.

If you decide to use fish oil or other supplements to get the omega-3 you need, remember that these products are not as regulated as they may be, even in the U.S.

Beware 'too good to be true' claims or studies of dubious quality that isn't printed in a respected journal. Don't settle for anything less than quality producing, reputable corporations will trumpet this fact.

Know too that fish oil capsules are probably going to contain the same contaminants as fresh fish, and have been seen to leave you with an unpleasant odour to your body.

The connection between Omega three and heart health looks to be getting stronger all the time, so have a look at your intake levels and ensure you are getting enough. - 17269

About the Author:

Next - just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more information on fish oil health benefits, plus for a limited time get 5 free fantastic health reports. Click here for more details on this fish oil health benefits study.

Getting Rid of Man Boobs and Replacing Them With Muscles

By Ricardo d Argence

If you're trying to get rid of embarrassing man boobs, you should give consideration to going to the gym and building up those chest muscles, which improve not only your physique but your self-confidence.

Your chest is made up of two muscles, one on top of the other, that rest over your ribs. The smaller muscle that lies closer to the ribs is called the pectoralis minor while the larger muscle that lies on top of this small muscle is called the pecotralis major. This is the primary muscle that gives your chest definition and size.

Your pectoral muscles are one of the major large muscle groups in your body and a developed chest is often seen as a sign of masculinity. A strong chest not only looks good, but it lends to overall upper body strength, important in many different sports.

Most workouts for the chest don't just work the pectoral muscles, but the triceps and shoulders as well. So when you work to develop your chest you're also increasing the size and shape of your upper body altogether.

Before performing these workouts it is vital to warm up by stretching and doing some light aerobic work. A particularly effective aerobic exercise is rowing on an indoor machine. This will not only stretch those upper body muscles but will also promote the blood flow to the muscles getting them ready for the workouts thereby lowering the risk of injury.

A simple yet effective chest exercise is the chest push-up. This does not require any special equipment or weights and can quite easily be done at home in the bedroom. You should lie flat, face down on the floor with your arms around shoulder width apart. Then push yourself upwards with your arms making sure to you keep your legs and back straight. When you reach the top of the push up, only your hands and toes should, ideally, be in contact with the floor.

Some people may find this exercise difficult at first, and you might consider keeping your knees on the floor until you grow more comfortable. Remember, as you lower yourself, to do so slowly to keep proper tension on the necessary muscle groups. When you improve, you can make the push ups more difficult by spreading your hands further apart.

One of my favorite chest exercises is the bench press, which you will see many people perform down the gym. It is important you have a training partner to help you with this exercise for safety reasons. Lying flat on your back on a bench hold the barbell out at arms length. Then, slowly lower it until it just touches the chest and then proceed, again slowly, to lift it back up to the arms outstretched position.

It is vital to not perform any jerky movements or bounce the weights off the chest wall. Doing around three sets of about eight repetitions once to twice a week will soon develop your chest muscles and you will quickly notice a difference.

When trying to get rid of man boobs these exercises will be very helpful, and improve your chest muscles, as well. - 17269

About the Author:

Obtain the best selling natural bodybuilding program, the Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System and achieve the best results in a few weeks. Visit us if you want to read more Bodybuilding Articles

Medicinal Fungi in History

By Dr. Markho Rafael

In 3,300 B.C., a tribal elder from Val Venosta, Italy, trekked across an Alpine glacier in an attempted getaway from enemies. But his foes got the better of him and with a well-aimed arrow pierced his subclavian artery, leaving him to bleed to death in a glacial cave where his mummified remains were discovered in 1991. Among the belongings of Oetzi the Iceman were two medicinal mushrooms, the earliest evidence in existence of mushrooms used as remedies.

One of the mushrooms was Birch polypore - Piptoporus betulinus - which it is believed he used as a remedy against intestinal parasites. Eggs of the whipworm parasite (Trichuris trichiura) were found in his intestines. The other mushroom in the possession of Oetzi was Tinder fungus - Fomes fomentarius - which has been traditionally used in Europe to cauterize wounds and stop bleeding.

Birch polypore and Tinder fungus are both polypores, which have pores on their undersides, hence the name. Most polypores grow on trees and none is known to be poisonous.

Few polypores are edible because they are hard and fibrous. But people in the Orient as well as the Occident have used them to treat a multitude of diseases for ages. Usually in the form of a tea that would be brewed and drunk; sometimes as a poultice placed on a wound or over an aching body part.

Oral traditions of Native Americans bear tale of many types of polypores being used to help against the diseases brought by the Europeans, including Birch polypore but also Reishi (Ganoderma resinaceum), Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and the now almost vanished species Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis).

Although nearly extinct today, Agarikon was once common in the old-growth forests of ancient Europe. Greek physician Dioscorides referred to Agarikon as a remedy for tuberculosis in Materia Medica, 65 B.C. It's the earliest record of a medicinal mushroom in European literature. Two millennia later, the historic use of Agarikon in Poland was put down in writing in the article Medicinal mushrooms in Polish Folk Medicine by K. Grzywnowics. Again, it included lung conditions, as well as rheumatoid arthritis and infected wounds.

Up to this point, we've only covered the use of medicinal mushrooms in the West. However, their use has been far more widespread in Asia. There are at least three Asian species that would be criminal to leave out of any article on the history of medicinal mushrooms.

First in this list has to be Reishi, a mushroom so revered throughout Asian history that it's found in numerous ancient wood-carvings and temple engravings. It also owns the distinction as the oldest medicinal mushroom in Chinese literature, first encountered in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic, 2,000 B.C. Often referred to as a "panacea, its acclaimed properties are too numerous to list.

Next is a mushroom from Tibet known as Cordyceps, a small fungus growing out of the bodies of silk caterpillars. Its first mention was in The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman, 200 A.D. Traditionally used as an aphrodisiac, today it's popular with athletes to improve strength and stamina.

Finally there is Shiitake, the number one gourmet mushroom of the Orient. Shiitake has been cultured in China for approximately 1,000 years as a food. What is less known is that it is also one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms in the world. A polysaccharide extracted from Shiitake is approved in Japan as an anti-cancer drug. Other qualities hinted at by research include antibiotic and immune enhancer.

Modern research into medicinal use of mushrooms began in earnest in the late 1960's Japan. One pioneer, Dr. Ikekawa, discovered that families of mushroom growers had significantly lower cancer rates than their surrounding communities. Scientific research into medicinal mushrooms has expanded exponentially since that time and continues to increase and intensify until this day. Medicinal mushrooms are still in the process of making history.

Note: This article is for informational purpose only. None of the mushrooms mentioned herein have been approved for medicinal use by the FDA. Never use any mushroom medicinally without consulting a licensed medical practitioner. - 17269

About the Author:

Dr. Rafael has worked in the natural health field since 1996 as a researcher and author, now specializing in mycomedicinals. Click medicinal mushrooms for mushroom articles and products. The material for this article comes from several different sources. However, a large portion comes from the books of medicinal fungi expert Paul Stamets, who deserves special credit and thanks.