When we hear the word maitake - most of us think of a nice, healthy addition to our grocery store shopping cart. Yup, maitake mushrooms are most commonly known for their delicious taste that makes them the perfect addition to soups, stews, and stir-frys. Yet, while this delicious, highly textured mushroom has been consumed for over 3,000 years as a table delicacy, it is also well known for its potential healing powers when the right extraction methods are in place.
Let’s close the kitchen for a bit and instead learn more about the medicinal uses of maitake mushrooms today. Here goes.
Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) were nicknamed the “dancing mushroom” by the Japanese. This wild mushroom is usually found growing in clusters at the base of oak trees in various parts of Asia, but can sometimes be found on elms or maple trees.
The Japanese have used maitake for centuries for both its medicinal and functional benefits to the human body, but maitake mushrooms are also considered a gourmet variety of mushroom. In recent decades, maitake mushrooms have gained popularity as a medicinal mushroom supplement and are a widely cultivated mushroom today that is used by many commercial supplement companies.
So, why are people so stoked about maitake? Let’s take a look.
What are the health benefits of maitake?Maitake is a type of adaptogen - meaning it helps the body fight off diseases and help to create both mental and physical homeostasis. Maitake contains high levels of antioxidants, vitamin D, vitamin B, copper, potassium, fiber, minerals, and amino acids. With over 26% of its makeup being beta-glucans, maitake is a potentially great treatment aid for:
In particular, many people consider maitake mushroom to be a superior medicinal mushroom because it’s so rich in minerals and bioactive polysaccharides like d-fraction (we’ll talk a little more about maitake d-fraction in a bit - hang tight).
While studies are still ongoing about maitake health benefits, there are tangible results that link maitake consumption and better outcomes for breast cancer, tumor growth, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart health, polycystic ovary syndrome, and weight loss. Now, let’s do a deeper dive into a few studies for the health needs noted above
Various studies on maitake beta-glucan content have shown that this mushroom is a viable supplemental treatment option for breast cancer patients.
Maitake supplementation for inhibition of tumor growth arguably has the biggest scientific body of evidence to back up claims. There are a mix of human and mice studies done to-date, showing the efficacy of this supplement for stopping tumor growth over time by boosting natural killer cells and increasing the body’s immune response.
While all of the below studies have been conducted on mice, positive results are shown across many studies that link maitake consumption with better diabetes outcomes for both type 1 and type 2. Further studies on humans are recommended before this is taken at face value.
Tagging off of diabetes/maitake research, there is some evidence that maitake mushrooms may help reduce weight and improve blood sugar in rats, but this has not been shown for humans yet.
Beta-glucans found in maitake may help with cholesterol regulation and heart health as a whole by improving artery function and reducing cardiovascular risk.
While studies are few and far between, maitake extract supplementation was shown to improve ovulation for polycystic ovary syndrome (human) patients.
Maitake mushroom fruiting bodies contain water soluble protein bound polysaccharides or proteoglucans called d-fraction - this is the most important compound in maitake mushrooms that make it a viable medicinal mushroom.
Today we know a lot about d-fraction because it has been highly studied for its potential immune boosting and antitumor abilities for decades. Because of maitake being widely studied, d-fraction is generally regarded as the most potent fraction for enhancing the immune system and demonstrating cancer inhibition by activating the cellular immune system when maitake is taken orally.
Maitake d-fraction is typically taken in powder format, but can also be further extracted using hot water to increase the bioactivity of the mushroom’s compound.
Learn more about maitake d-fraction in our blog post that gets into the nitty gritty of this bioactive compound.
As you can see above, most studies completed on maitake mushroom supplements have been done on mice or in-vitro, with a few human studies littered into the mix. We want to reiterate that more research is needed in order to support the benefits of maitake supplementation for any and all of the ailments noted above.
Always consult your doctor before you start taking supplements. If your doctor gives you the “OK”, you might want to consider a few things when looking for a supplement that’s best for you…
Maitake mushrooms are becoming increasingly popular as a variety in chain supermarkets. Try your local chain's produce section and see if its available there. If not, you may have luck at a speciality or international produce store. Your local farmer's market is another great place to find exciting varieties of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms.
If all else fails check in with your state's local mushroom grower. You can find one using our interactive map here.
If you’ve decided that maitake is the supplement for you, there are a number of ways to consume this nutrient-filled mushroom. Check out our very own list of the top medicinal mushroom supplement brands.
The most important things to consider when looking for a supplement are:
Once you’ve done your research, you can then dive into the various types of supplements:
There is no wrong way to take a maitake supplement - it’s just important to find the best supplement format that has trusted extraction processes.
Maitake research on humans is still limited, so dosage recommendations should be considered with caution. Please consult a doctor before adding and/or increasing maitake supplementation in your regimen.
Dosage will vary person-to-person based on body composition, age, size, health status, gender, and more - that’s why it’s important to consult a physician before consuming new supplements like maitake. The recommended dosage noted by most sources says that taking anything from 6g to 20g of maitake per day may help with overall health. Your maitake dosage depends on your unique situation and desired effect.
It’s recommended to start at a lower dose and slowly increase your dosage over time as you adjust to the supplement.
The good news is that there are very few reported side effects of maitake mushroom supplementation. More research needs to be done in order to compile a comprehensive overview. Always talk to your doctor before adding supplements to your health routine.
The few reported side effects of maitake include:
Maitake may also increase bleeding. So it’s important to not take maitake within two weeks of a scheduled surgery, if you have a bleeding disorder, if you’ve recently given birth, or if you’re currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
If you’re considering adding maitake to your health regimen, please consult a physician beforehand to ensure it’s the best choice for your health and wellbeing.
Curious about these side effects and want to learn more about possible maitake interactions? Visit our blog post to learn (a lot) more on this subject.