The book is filled to the brim with valuable information on how to improve soils for farming, gardening and forestry; create simple, low-cost biofilters for waste water (mycofiltration); and clean up toxic waste (mycoremediation).

A detailed description of Mycofiltration, the use of mushrooms to filter waste water, is given in one section of the book. It lists recommended mushroom species and materials to use in creating the mycofiltration bed, as well as dimensions, depth, layers, etc. Mycofiltration beds like this can be effectively used for both industrial waste water and farm runoff.

Added perks when using mycofiltration is that the beds also yield crops of scrumptious food mushrooms, and every 2-3 years, as the bedding material needs to be replaced, the old material can be spread on the farm fields as a rich fertilizer.

Another piece of useful information for farmers and gardeners found in Mycelium Running concerns the no-till farming method as opposed to the conventional method of plowing the fields after harvest. No-till farming helps promote saprophytic fungi (decomposing fungi), which break down organic material at a pace better suited to plant-life than the rapid and heat producing breakdown by anaerobic bacteria, which are the primary decomposers when stubble is plowed under. The mycelium of saprophytic fungi also binds the soil to prevent erosion and loss of valuable nutrients.

Saprophytic fungi benefit forests too, by breaking down organic matter but also help by competing with parasitic fungi (blights), which may kill thousands of trees if not stopped. Foresters can easily seed saprophytic mushrooms in blight infested areas as a natural fungicide against parasitic fungi, fighting fire with fire.

Mycorrhizal fungi likewise can be seeded to support tree growth, or these beneficial fungi may simply be encouraged to grow naturally through smarter and more enlightened forest management.

Most plants benefit from partnerships with mycorrhizal fungi, especially trees, which become much more drought resistant as well as disease resistant when they partner with a mycorrhizal mushroom species.

Mycoremediation is a term invented by the author of Mycelium Running, Paul Stamets, which is now in common use among mycologists. It refers to a method whereby toxic waste may neutralized through the use of mushrooms.

Petrochemicals and biological warfare agents can be effectively broken down by mushroom mycelium, as can dioxin and toxic industrial waste. Even toxic levels of chlorine, which is used as the universal biocide, can be neutralized by some species of mushrooms. Bacterial contaminants like Staphylococcus sp. and E. coli can be killed, and heavy metals can be absorbed by mushrooms to then be removed from a site.

At $50 per ton, mycoremediation is a very cost effective method to clean up toxic waste. Conventional incineration may cost upwards of $1,500 per ton.

All that is just in the first half of this 300-page book; the second half is an instruction manual on growing your own mushrooms and mycelia, which is something that may be of interest to forest managers for mycoforestry, environmentalists for mycoremediation, farmers for increasing soil productivity, and the rest of us for growing our own gourmet mushrooms for food and medicine. In other words, this is a book for anyone and everyone.

Dr. Markho Rafael has worked in natural health since finishing Chiropractic College in’96. He currently specializes in medicinal fungi, frequently consulting two reference books: Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets for chemical, biological and medicinal properties of mushrooms, and Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora as the most comprehensive identification guide for North American mushrooms.

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Zhu Ling grows under the ground on rotting wood. It stays fresh in wet soils for over a year, which proves that it has a powerful immune system loaded with chemical compounds to fight off microbes.

In confirmation of its use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for urogenital infections, one study showed Zhu Ling having an inhibitory effect on Chlamydia trachomatis. [302]

Some of the most promising modern research on Zhu Ling has been on its effect against parasites, for the treatment of Hepatitis B, to boost the immune system, [303, 304] and for the treatment of certain cancers [305, 306, 307, 308] including liver cancer, [309] bladder cancer and leukemia [310, 311] – in particular to help the immune system rebound [312] and to prevent the recurrence of cancer after chemotherapy and radiation. Two studies from 1991 and 1994 showed 68% and 50% reduction rates of cancer recurrence when Zhu Ling was administered after the conclusion of conventional cancer treatments. [313, 314]

In terms of its anti-parasitic effects, lab tests have shown Zhu Ling to be 100% effective against both Brucella spp. (brucellosis) and Plasmodium falciparum (malaria). [310] However, it has not yet to our knowledge been tested on live patients afflicted with malaria.

Tests on live subjects with brucellosis have been conducted, showing an improvement in immune system function. [315, 316] Immune system suppression is a characteristic symptom of brucellosis.

Another use of Zhu Ling in Traditional Chinese Medicine is for the treatment of hepatitis B. Several studies have confirmed that Zhu Ling has an effect in the treatment of hepatitis B. [317, 318] However, Liu in 2001 concluded that the effect is not strong enough to be able to rely exclusively on Zhu Ling for the treatment of hepatitis B, although it can be used effectively in combination with other forms of treatment. [319, 320] Zhu Ling also demonstrates a protective effect in cases of toxic hepatitis. [321]

A 2008 paper reported Zhu Ling being powerfully anti-inflammatory, [322] which could make it useful in a large number of conditions involving inflammation.

As a diuretic, a modern study reported that Zhu Ling did indeed help increase low urine production. However, it simultaneously decreased urine production in patients with already excessive urine output. [301]

A pragmatic suggestion for the use of Zhu Ling extract is therefore to give it to patients waiting to give a urine sample to decrease the wait time. [300]

Paul Stamets in his book Mycelium Running also lists viruses and lung conditions among the areas where Zhu Ling has demonstrated usefulness. [134]

Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb (or mushroom) for medicinal purposes.

Credit: Thank you to Paul Stamets for source material.

Dr. Markho Rafael has worked in the natural health field since finishing Chiropractic College in the mid-90′s. His current focus is medicinal mushrooms, working specifically with the extracts of Paul Stamets’ Fungi Perfecti. (Paul Stamets incorporates Zhu Ling in his Stamets 7 Mushroom Blend.) For scientific article references, please go to Zhu Ling page. Click on number indicating reference.