In today’s health landscape, the terms medicinal mushrooms and functional mushrooms are often used interchangeably—but they don’t always mean the same thing. So where does Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) fit in?
Let’s clarify what these terms mean and how ABM bridges the gap.
Functional vs. Medicinal: A Quick Breakdown
| Category | Functional | Medicinal Mushrooms |
|---|---|---|
|
Purpose |
General wellness, prevention |
Specific health applications, often studied clinically
|
|
Common Uses |
Energy, focus, gut support
|
Immune modulation, inflammation, cellular balance |
|
Typical Examples |
Lion’s mane, cordyceps, turkey tail |
ABM, reishi, chaga
|
|
Scientific Support |
Nutrient content and wellness claims
|
Peer-reviewed studies, clinical trials
|
Functional mushrooms support general well-being. Medicinal mushrooms are researched for more targeted roles in supporting the immune system, inflammatory response, and cellular health.
So Where Does ABM Fit?
ABM is often classified as a medicinal mushroom because of its:
- High content of immune-supportive beta-glucans
- Rich concentration of antioxidants and sterols
- Use in clinical studies on inflammation, cancer recovery, and infection control
But it also has functional benefits—like supporting microbiome balance and promoting resilience during stress and recovery.
This dual role makes ABM especially valuable for those who want both preventive and supportive effects from their supplements.
Why Extraction and Source Matter
Whether a mushroom is used functionally or medicinally, the form matters:
- Fruiting body > Mycelium-on-grain for active compound content
- Dual-extracted > Single method (captures both water- and alcohol-soluble compounds)
- Transparent sourcing > Mass cultivation with unclear inputs
Desert Forest Nutritionals® uses Brazilian-grown, non-hybridized ABM fruiting body—never mycelium, maltodextrin, or shortcuts. Our traditional dual-extraction process preserves the full spectrum of beneficial compounds.
What the Research Suggests
Clinical and preclinical studies point to ABM’s potential to:
- Support immune cell activity and balance (NK cells, macrophages)
- Assist recovery from inflammation or oxidative stress
- Improve resilience during or after chemotherapy
These are not generalized wellness effects—they’re specific enough to place ABM among the best-researched medicinal mushrooms today.
Bottom Line
While functional mushrooms offer great daily support, ABM delivers more—depth, potency, and a growing body of science.
Whether you’re navigating recovery or simply want a strong foundation for immune and cellular health, ABM belongs in your toolkit.
And at Desert Forest Nutritionals®, we’ve honored that tradition since 2002.
Bibliography
- Jeitler, M. et al. (2020)
Significance of Medicinal Mushrooms in Integrative Oncology: A Narrative Review.
Front. Pharmacol., 11:580656. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.580656
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7794004/ - Zhao, M. et al. (2024)
Polysaccharide Isolated from Agaricus blazei Murill Alleviates Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Regulating Gut Microbiota and Mitigating Inflammation in Mice.
J. Agric. Food Chem., 72(4), 2202–2213. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c08482
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38247134/ - Kim, H. S. et al. (2011)
Stimulatory Effect of β‑Glucans on Immune Cells.
Immune Netw., 11(4), 191–195. doi: 10.4110/in.2011.11.4.191
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22039366/
- Jeitler, M. et al. (2020)