145. Nature's Pharmacy: How Plants Defend Themselves and Fortify Your Wellness

At Spiral Herbal Remedies, we're constantly inspired by the profound intelligence of the natural world. Long before modern medicine, plants developed incredible strategies to survive and thrive, crafting complex compounds to defend themselves against microbes, pests, and environmental stresses. It’s a remarkable testament to nature’s ingenuity – and one that has profound implications for our own health and wellness.

The Original Apothecaries: Plants, Animals, and Healing

Have you ever considered how plants protect themselves? They can't run away from threats; instead, they produce an astonishing array of chemical compounds – to deter predators, attract pollinators, and fight off fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These very compounds are what we often seek for their beneficial properties.

Humans aren't the only ones to observe and utilize these natural defenses. The phenomenon of "self-medication" in the animal kingdom provides compelling evidence of this ancestral wisdom. Scientists have observed our biological kin actively seeking out and using plants for their natural defenses.

A recent study highlighted instances of chimpanzees in Uganda's Budongo Forest applying specific plants to wounds. One chimpanzee was seen applying leaves from Pseudospondias microcarpa, a plant known to contain beneficial phytochemicals like saponins and flavonoids, to a cut. These compounds are relevant to wound healing and also exhibit antimicrobial, analgesic, and antioxidant effects. Another observation showed a chimpanzee chewing Argomuellera macrophylla leaves and pressing them into a foot wound; this plant is traditionally used in Côte d'Ivoire. Furthermore, some chimpanzees were observed consuming the dead wood of Alstonia boonei when experiencing diarrhea, a plant whose extracts demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium in lab tests.

A male Sumatran orangutan named Rakus was observed repeatedly treating a facial wound by chewing leaves from the Fibraurea tinctoria vine and applying the juice, even using the mash as a dressing. This plant is recognized for its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

These observations echo a profound indigenous belief that animals and plants are our original teachers, guiding us toward the healing remedies hidden within the earth. It's a powerful reminder of our deep, ancestral connection to the plant kingdom.

Even bees demonstrate an understanding of plant-derived defenses. Bees have been observed incorporating resinous plant material, which contains antimicrobial compounds, into their hives. This acts as a natural disinfectant, helping the colony defend against bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, showcasing nature's innate pharmacy in action.

Fortifying Your Foundation: Preparing for the Cold & Flu Season

As seasons change, so too do the challenges to our immune systems. Turning to nature's tried-and-true remedies can provide a foundational approach to wellness. We consistently hear from our community, sharing Google reviews about how our herbal remedies have supported them during these times.

Unlocking Potent Support with Spiral Herbal Remedies Tinctures

At Spiral Herbal Remedies, we harness the power of these natural defenders in our carefully crafted tinctures.

Gone Viral Tincture: Your Seasonal Ally

Our Gone Viral tincture is a synergistic blend specifically formulated with herbs historically valued for their properties. These plants contain compounds that, for their own defense, exhibit antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. Throughout history, humans have observed these natural defenses and traditionally turned to these very botanicals for support, particularly during the cold and flu season. Each ingredient is selected for its specific contribution, reflecting this long history of human-plant interaction.

Reishi Blend Tinctures: The Mushroom of Immortality, Tailored for Your Needs

At Spiral Herbal Remedies, we recognize the diverse benefits of the revered Reishi, Chaga, Lion's Mane, and Turkey Tail mushrooms. Our tinctures include a blend of 3 Reishi mushrooms - Ganoderma Lucidum, Ganoderma Curtisii, and Ganoderma Tsugae, combined with other potent Medicinal Mushrooms to target specific wellness goals.

What makes our wild or outdoor-grown mushrooms particularly valuable?

At Spiral Herbal Remedies, we ethically wildcraft or grow our mushrooms outdoors. These wild mushrooms grow in their natural habitat, interacting with diverse soil, trees, and microorganisms. This allows them to develop a more complex and potent array of secondary metabolites, triterpenes, and polysaccharides compared to mushrooms grown in sterile, controlled factory environments.

The Science Behind Medicinal Mushrooms

Antimicrobial Properties

Many mushroom species produce compounds that act against bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other fungi, a crucial defense mechanism for their survival in diverse environments. Laboratory research has shown that extracts from Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) can inhibit various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, viruses, and even some fungi. Similarly, compounds like terpenes and lectins found in Reishi are considered antimicrobial. For instance, studies published in journals like the Journal of Ethnopharmacology often detail these effects. Inonotus obliquus (Chaga) also contains compounds like betulinic acid, which has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against pathogens in studies.

Adaptogenic Potential

Many medicinal mushrooms, including Reishi, Chaga, Lion's Mane, and Turkey Tail, are recognized for their adaptogenic properties. ​These powerful fungi contain bioactive compounds that help the body manage stress and maintain overall balance. ​Scientific exploration into these mushrooms indicates their potential to regulate various physiological processes, thereby supporting the body's natural resilience. ​By promoting a more stable internal environment, these adaptogenic mushrooms contribute to enhanced well-being and the body's intrinsic ability to adapt and flourish.

Antioxidant Activity

Mushrooms are rich in compounds that exhibit significant antioxidant activity, helping to neutralize free radicals and protect their cells from oxidative damage. This protective mechanism is vital for their longevity and resilience in nature. Polysaccharides and triterpenoids from Reishi have been confirmed in numerous in vitro assays to possess antioxidant potential. For example, low-molecular-weight polysaccharides have demonstrated higher capacity in scavenging free radicals. Chaga is particularly noted for its high antioxidant capacity due to compounds like melanin and polyphenols, with research often highlighted by institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Anti-inflammatory Effects

The natural world is full of instances where organisms regulate inflammatory responses to heal and defend. Mushrooms, including Reishi, contain compounds that have shown anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory studies by suppressing cytokines like IL-6 and IL-23p19. This ability to modulate inflammation is a sophisticated natural defense mechanism. Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) and Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail) also contain compounds that have shown anti-inflammatory effects in various laboratory models, with findings often appearing in immunology or pharmacology journals.

Anticarcinogenic Potential

The complex compounds produced by mushrooms, such as triterpenoids and polysaccharides, have been investigated in laboratory settings for their potential to influence various cancer cell lines, including lung, colon, pancreas, liver, breast, skin, and prostate. These studies explore how these compounds might interfere with cell growth and support healthy cellular processes, reflecting the mushroom's own cellular regulatory mechanisms. Polysaccharide Krestin (PSK) and Polysaccharide Peptides (PSP) from Turkey Tail are particularly well-researched in this area, with numerous findings accessible through resources like PubMed Central.

Also... Memory, Nerve Growth, and Neuroprotection

If that wasn't enough... there's more! 😂😁 New research indicates that Lion's Mane contains compounds that have been shown to promote nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and secretion, playing a role in neuroprotection and neuroregeneration (nerve growth). These compounds are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and have demonstrated promising cognition-enhancing effects in animal models. Studies have further revealed that Lion's Mane can induce BDNF-like neurotrophic activity in the hippocampus (your memory center), enhancing memory. ​Additionally, research suggests that Lion's Mane extract can influence the BDNF pathway in humans. ​Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is considered indispensable for neuronal/nervous system function.

​Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has also drawn attention for its potential neurohealth benefits, particularly its impact on BDNF pathways. ​Research suggests that Reishi's polysaccharides can promote cognitive function and neural progenitor proliferation (nerve growth) in Alzheimer's disease mice. ​​These collective findings highlight the potential of both Lion's Mane and Reishi mushrooms to positively influence brain health through their interaction with NGF and BDNF pathways.

The study of these bioactive compounds in mushrooms and other plants represents a significant area of pharmaceutical research today. Scientists are actively isolating and synthesizing these natural compounds or their derivatives to explore their potential for maintaining human health and supporting the body's natural defenses, much like the plants themselves use them for survival.

Our Specialized Reishi Tincture Blends:

Reishi Maintain (Reishi & Chaga Tincture): This blend combines the immune-modulating power of Reishi with the exceptional antioxidant properties of Wild Chaga. It's designed for daily wellness support, leveraging the strengths of both fungi to help maintain overall health.

Nerve Blend (Reishi & Lion's Mane Tincture): A unique combination of Reishi and Lion's Mane, this tincture is formulated to support cognitive function and nervous system health, while still providing the foundational immune benefits of Reishi.

Reishi & Turkey Tail Tincture: This powerful duo brings together Reishi's adaptogenic qualities with the profound immune-supporting polysaccharides found in Turkey Tail. It's an excellent choice for robust immune fortification.

Experience the Spiral Herbal Remedies Difference

As with our primate kin, ancestral knowledge about these fungi and herbs has been passed down generationally in what I like to refer to as the longest running clinical trials.

At Spiral Herbal Remedies, our commitment to quality is guided by the expertise of our founder, Donna Cleary. As a Clinical Herbalist and former Registered Nurse, Donna brings a unique blend of scientific rigor and profound botanical knowledge to every formulation. Her 13 years of working as a Registered Nurse experience, including 10 years in Clinical Research at a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital, combined with 3 years of rigorous Clinical Herbalist training, ensures that our products are not only effective but also grounded in a deep understanding of human physiology and plant synergy.

Ready to embrace nature's profound wisdom for your well-being? Explore our full range of herbal tinctures and remedies online here at spiralherbalremedies.com or visit us in person at our Brooklyn shop, located at 810 Washington Ave.