Medicinal (Non-Psychedelic) Mushrooms
Course Overview
Humans have used medicinal mushrooms for thousands of years for their culinary, nutritional, and medicinal value. Recently, there is increased public interest in medicinal mushrooms due to possible anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory effects. However, the therapeutic properties and mechanisms of action are still not well understood. In vitro and animal research is used to elucidate the pharmacological activity of medicinal mushrooms, but studies in humans on the safety and efficacy of medicinal mushrooms are lacking. This course reviews the properties of certain medicinal mushrooms and the current evidence for their safety and use as medicine.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Name the main bioactive compounds found in medicinal mushrooms.
- Describe which conditions specific medicinal mushrooms have evidence to support their use.
- Recognize which medicinal mushrooms have the potential to cause severe adverse effects.
- Identify interactions between specific medicinal mushrooms and drugs, herbs, and supplements.
- Discuss which medicinal mushrooms should be used cautiously with certain disease states.
About the Author/Presenter
Natalie Yates, PharmD, Assistant Clinical Editor at TRC Healthcare for NatMed, specializes in Natural Medicines. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco. Before joining TRC in 2023, Natalie worked as a freelance medical writer and served as a clinical pharmacist at Marin Community Clinic and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, focusing on medication management and the safe use of complementary and alternative medicines. Her professional interests include natural medicine research, preventative medicine, patient education, and mycology. Natalie is dedicated to helping integrate natural medicines with conventional treatments to improve patient outcomes.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing, Pharmacy, Physician
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