What if there were one solution for both breast and prostate cancers? Emerging research shows it may be in the works.

The potential weapon against these two deadly diseases is a medicinal mushroom. It grows in the wild on mulberry trees in Korea, Japan, and China. And since ancient times it’s been considered a “miracle cure.”

Dr. Chang-Yan Chen is a research investigator at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School. He specializes in cancer and hematology. In particular, he examines the bodily signals that cause cells to grow and die.

The results of his study on the impact of the miracle mushroom on prostate cancer appeared in the scientific journal PLoS One.

Mushroom Causes Cancer Cell Suicide

Dr. Chen and his colleagues had already established that the mushroom helped stop prostate cancer cell growth in vitro. Their next step was to see if it worked on mice. The mice were injected with human prostate cancer cells. They were then treated with the mushroom every two days for 12 days. The treatment did not prevent tumors from forming, but it did slow their growth.

After 12 days, the mice were again treated with the mushroom. And this time, the tumors began to shrink. Analysis of the data showed that it was because a protein – caspase-3 – had been activated. Caspase-3 is known to promote “apoptosis,” the mechanism that causes cancer cells to destroy themselves.

Other studies have found that the mushroom suppressed the formation and growth of aggressive breast cancer cells. One of those studies was a collaboration of the Cancer Research Laboratory at the Methodist Research Institute, the Department of Medicine at Indiana University, and the Indiana University Simon Center School of Medicine. Their results appeared in the British Journal of Cancer.

The mushroom not only plays a role in apoptosis. What makes it so promising as a cancer treatment is that it also inhibits the naturally invasive behavior of cancer cells. And it inhibits angiogenesis – the formation of new blood vessels that “feed” cancer cell growth.

Miracle Mushroom Unveiled

The mushroom with these impressive properties is Phellinus lineus – the Sanghuang Mushroom.

For centuries, it’s been used in Asia to treat inflammation and stomach problems. And even there, its potential to treat cancer hasn’t gone unnoticed. It was lab-tested against cancer as part of a national project in Korea. After, a large number of patents were issued on Sanghuang products.

Sanghuang is available as a supplement, but it’s most commonly consumed as a tea. And this is currently your best option. You can buy the mushrooms themselves, and the tea, in most Asian grocery stores. (Consult with your doctor first, of course, before adding it to your daily regimen.)

There’s sure to be more research done on the medicinal benefits of the Sanghuang Mushroom. For now, it’s certainly worth exploring as solution for breast and prostate cancer.

To your best health,

Michael Jelinek,

Managing Editor, NHD “Health Watch”