Maple Medicinals (aka Medicinal Maple Syrup) are concentrated extracts of medicinal mushrooms and/or herbs in maple syrup.
(Why medicinal mushrooms? Click here to read a wonderful introductory article from Bastyr University.)
These extracts are for people who:
- want to benefit from the healing and strengthening properties of medicinal mushrooms and herbs.
- want high-quality extracts that are affordable.
- want an alternative to alcohol-based extracts.
- want medicinal extracts that taste good to adults and kids.
Why Take Medicinal Mushrooms?
• They provide support to nearly all the body's systems and regulatory functions.
• They are veritable powerhouses of pharmaceutical compounds, including an array of water-soluble polysaccharides (complex sugars) that have shown remarkable anti-cancer, immuno-enhancing and overall healing properties.
• They assist the body in adapting to internal and external stress.
• They have a very long history of use in Eastern and Western medical traditions.
• Their medical use has the backing of current, peer-reviewed scientific research.
• They produce no negative side effects and are proven to be non-toxic.
Why do you combine them with Maple Syrup?
Maple syrup is the ideal medium to carry these extracts because
• the concentrated sugars act as a natural preservative.
• it makes the extracts more palatable, especially for kids.
• the process of extraction can be integrated into the syrup-making process.
What is the extraction process?
Many medicinal mushrooms, and some herbal roots, need to be boiled for a prolonged period of time in order to extract their constituents, particularly the polysaccharides, into the water and make them available for consumption.
This type of boiled extraction is known as a decoction, and it is the traditional method to consume these medicinals.
Furthurmore, current scientific research proves this to be an effective extraction technique, and most published clinical studies, which test the safety and efficacy of medicinal mushrooms, use hot-water extractions.
How is it integrated into syrup-making?
Since it takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to make 1 gallon of syrup, and that extra 39 gallons needs to be boiled off in a large shallow pan, we recognized that we could simply add the dried medicinal mushrooms (or herbal roots) to the sap and boil it for 2-4 hours, before straining it out and continuing with the syrup-making process. This results in a syrup that is also a concentrated, decocted extract of a medicinal mushroom or plant root.
Can you make it another way?
Yes, I can produce the same extract by making a concentrated decoction, adding maple syrup, and then boiling the extra water off until I am back to syrup. It's just as good, but not as energy efficient.
Is the quality and strength consistent?
Yes, the mushroom decoction is concentrated into the maple syrup at the rate of 960 grams (2.1 lbs.) of dried mushrooms to one gallon, which equals 1250 mg per teaspoon.
Standardized methods of production are followed at every step, from growing and harvesting, to drying and brewing.
What kinds of syrup do you make?
I am currently making extracts from 4 mushrooms and 2 herbal roots: Turkey Tail, Chaga, Reishi, Tsugae Reishi, Echinacea, and Burdock. These extracts are available as singles, and blends.
What’s the source of the medicinals?
All the Turkey Tails used in our products are grown right here at Wild Branch Mushrooms on our certified organic farm. The Reishi is all American-grown and certified organic. The Tsugae Reishis and the Chaga are wild harvested from northern Vermont forests.
The Echinacea and Burdock root come from certified organic Vermont farms.
How do I use this product?
The syrups can be used like regular syrup, or simply added to hot water or to any hot drink (they are excellent in coffee).
As a daily immune-enhancing tonic, I recommend 1 to 2 teaspoons per day. For those with cancer, I suggest consulting a Naturopathic physician. But I will note that clinical studies from Japan indicate that 2500 milligrams (2 tsps.), twice per day, is an effective dose.
To order this product, go to this online store, or email me at glenncoville@gmail.com.
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