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Anyone Herx from Medicinal Mushrooms?

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Posted 3/5/2020 9:56 AM (GMT -5)
I started taking the comprehensive immune support blend Mycommunity by Host Defense a little over a month ago. I usually do not take blends because I react strongly and sometimes badly to things, so it's nice to start things individually so I know how something affects me, but I have heard such wonderful things about medicinal mushrooms that I psyched myself up and dove in! The blend contains the following:

Royal Sun Blazei
Cordyceps
Enokitake
Amadou
Agarikon
Artist Conk
Reishi
Oregon Polypore
Maitake
Lion's Mane
Chaga
Shiitake
Mesima
Birch Polypore
Pearl Oyster
Split Gill Polypore
Turkey Tail

Has anyone herxed from any of these? I know that reishi and cordyceps have antimicrobial and immune-modulation effects, so I suppose they could cause a herx, even at the dose a blend provides. I'm also taking additional lion's mane, but as far as I know that doesn't have much to do with the immune system or microbes. (Correct me if I'm wrong!)

How about hormonal issues - has anyone found that medicinal mushrooms alter their hormonal systems, for better or for worse?

I had a cold a few weeks ago, so my system could just be extra inflamed because of that still, but I feel kind of gnarly - extra fatigue, a little foggy, sore joints (not normally a thing for me), costochondritis, and uterine soreness (like never-ending PMS). I'm curious if this can be linked to my new fungal supplementation.
Posted 3/5/2020 12:14 PM (GMT -5)
Yes.

I was cultivating my own Lions Mane and Blue Oysters and they would cause me to "herx'.... I believe it is an actually histamine reaction you are feeling.

I had to stop taking them altogether.

Recently after treating with Disulfiram for about 3-4 months i revisted Lions Mane ( not fresh but in pill form ) and it wasn't causing a reaction or if it was at all, not as severe as when I was cooking fresh mushrooms in a pan.
Posted 3/5/2020 12:18 PM (GMT -5)
Have been taking reshi and cordyceps for a few months. Have not noticed a herx from them, but it's often hard to tell what might be causing certain symptoms.
Posted 3/5/2020 1:49 PM (GMT -5)
Hi, folks. Thanks for the replies.

Reishi and some other immune-modulating mushrooms are actually histamine-inhibiting. I was hoping people would have some feedback about which ones might be an issue for histamine, because they vary.

I was hoping to tolerate immune-supportive medicinal mushrooms because so many things for immune support seem to cause some sort of autoimmune madness for my muscles and joints (echinacea, elderberry, etc.).

I learned that lion's mane is an issue for histamine, but I was hoping that I would be able to tolerate it since my MCAS is so well-controlled these days. And neurological support can mitigate or heal MCAS! So I was hoping it would work out.

I've read and heard from a couple of LLMDs that an alcohol-based extract of medicinal mushrooms does not contain any of the compounds that relate to mold sensitivity or fungal overgrowth. I was operating with this as a fundamental assumption. Have people heard otherwise?

My symptoms lately don't match up with how histamine usually affects me, which is why my mind went to herxing and HPA axis dysfunction, and not to MCAS. I'm not saying that I refuse to consider the MCAS theory, just that "getting histamined" is pretty unmistakable for me, typically. Perhaps my MCAS manifestation has metamorphosed.

Thanks again for your thoughts!
Posted 3/5/2020 5:40 PM (GMT -5)
I also ingested some briefly sautéed fresh lion's mane the other day and while it was one of the most delicious meals I've ever eaten (think lobster) - it also induced one massive monster herx directly from hell! I probably overdosed on it. I also made the mistake of having it for dinner. Ideally you'd want to eat the mushrooms in the morning or for lunch at the latest.

This goes to show how medicinally powerful the lion's mane really is.
Keep in mind the severity and manifestation of the herx will depend on your pathogens though.

Post Edited (insomniaaa) : 3/5/2020 3:46:11 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/9/2020 9:19 AM (GMT -5)
I have heard this about lion's mane. Others on this forum who have eaten it in a meal have had intense reactions afterward. That makes a lot of sense if it aggravates histamine, since so many of us have mast cell issues.

I stopped these mushrooms a few days ago when I posted this thread, but I remain weirdly fatigued. I would think that an MCAS response would have worn off by now, but maybe not a herx? Grrrrrrr I hate how inscrutable the causal pathways can be with every new thing we try and every new thing we feel!
Posted 3/10/2020 1:56 AM (GMT -5)
I tried cordysepts supplement and herxed from it. I herx very easily though. I guess it’s a good thing, it’s doing something to fight off the bacteria, but it’s hard to deal with. Best bet is probably a tincture so you can start with a very small dose. I was going to try Reishi next but in tincture rather than pill.
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