Until recently the benefits of maitake mushrooms were just folklore. “Maitake ” is the Japanese name for Grifola frondosa. . Species name: Grifola frondosa. Maitake or Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa) In addition to immune support, maitake mushrooms have been shown to help lower blood glucose levels, and non-human studies have shown promise in using maitake for liver protection, as well as lowering blood pressure and harmful cholesterol levels (S. Romine, personal communication, October 6, 2018). The first record of its use comes from Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong's Scripture of Herbal Medicine [cited in Mizuno and Zhuang 1995]), … Capable of growing to over 100 pounds, it earned the title of “king of the mushrooms.” The mushroom is commonly known among English speakers as hen of the woods, hen-of-the-woods, ram’s head and sheep’s head. Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa), commonly referred to as the “hen of the woods”, has a fascinating origin story, starting in Japan, where maitake has been enjoyed as a medicine and food for thousands of years. Grifola frondosa [ Basidiomycota > Polyporales > Grifolaceae > Grifola . The scientific name is Grifola frondosa. Benefits. A Good Food Source of Vitamin D. There are three ways to get vitamin D: sunshine, food, and vitamin D supplements. Grifola frondosa, sometimes called the "hen of the woods" and the "maitake," is a soft-fleshed polypore recognized by its smoky brown, wavy caps, which are organized in large clusters of rosettes arising from a single, branched stem structure. Our concern is mostly about the taste that Maitake mushrooms have to offer, but it’s time we think about the health benefits of this wild variety. Common names for the maitake mushroom include cloud mushrooms, dancing mushrooms, and hen of the woods. . The name “Maitake” hails from Japan and is a common term for the Grifola frondosa mushrooms. As alluded to earlier, maitake has been used in eastern Asian medicine for many millennia, reported to have a wide number of health benefits. by Michael Kuo. We all are acquainted with the uses of these mushrooms- where to add, when to add, and how to add. Current research has emerged that shows this little mushroom contains many chemicals to help us stay healthy. Primary Maitake Mushroom Benefits: Helps to regulate blood pressure and supports immune function Maitake mushrooms are known to help regulate our immune systems by stimulating the immune system’s lymphocytes such as natural killer cells and t-helper cells*. Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa) – (Photo by: By Keith Miklas / Wikimedia Commons) Hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa) which is also called maitake mushroom is one of the most, if not the most commonly foraged mushrooms in the northeastern United States.Hen of the Woods is native to both the United states and Japan and has traditionally been used as an edible and … Maitake ( Grifola frondosa ) is native to China, northeastern Japan and North America, where it can be found on the forest floor at the base of oak, maple or elm trees. English common names include hen-of-the-woods (not to be confused with chicken-of-the-woods, which it does not closely resemble), sheep’s head, and ram’s head, but many English speakers call it Maitake. Medicinal and Historical Uses Maitake (Grifola frondosa, hen of the woods, sheep’s head) is a choice edible and medicinal mushroom that can be found during the autumn months. Benefits of Grifola Frondosa Anti-Tumor - We monitored levels of NK cell cytotoxic activity in cancer patients receiving D-Fraction extracted from maitake mushrooms ( Grifola frondosa ). It is usually found near the bases of … Grifola frondosa is an apt example of a well-documented traditional Chinese medicine. Maitake mushrooms offer some good nutritional benefits, and research also suggests they may have further potential benefits. Unfortunately, though, not many foods contain vitamin D. In this video, Adam Haritan discusses identification, look-alikes, medicinal benefits, and more! Grifola frondosa commonly known as Maitake mushroom is actually a polypore mushroom that grows in clusters at the base of trees, particularly oaks. Maitake means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese, and while there are many reasons this mushroom may make one How to add, and research also suggests they may have further potential benefits frondosa is an apt example a! 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