Medicinal Mushrooms of Maryland + 4-7-8 Breathing + Local October Wellness Events

Greetings, Wellness Warriors!

🎉 Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Healing Pulse of Central Maryland. Our mission is to support you on your healing journey with evidence-based holistic modalities, local events, and community inspiration. Let's dive into this week's offerings!

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• Holistic Spotlight: Medicinal Mushrooms

• Offer: Free Holistic Fall Festival

• Upcoming Wellness Events

• Your Healing Minute: 4-7-8 Breathing Technique

• Want to be featured in an upcoming edition?

HOLISTIC SPOTLIGHT

Harnessing the Healing Power of Local Medicinal Mushrooms: A Practical Guide for Maryland in Autumn

As the days grow shorter, Maryland’s forests offer us a powerful gift: medicinal mushrooms. Used for centuries for their health benefits, these fungi support immunity, enhance mental clarity, reduce stress, and boost energy—making them the perfect ally as we transition into the colder months.

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)

Benefits: Immune System and Anti-Tumor Properties

Description: Easily recognizable by its concentric, multicolored rings resembling a wild turkey's tail, this mushroom thrives on decaying hardwood logs in Maryland's woodlands.

The Science:
A study published in Global Advances in Health and Medicine highlights Turkey Tail's potential in enhancing immune function, particularly for people with breast cancer. Read more about the research here.

Survival Story: Paul Stamets, renowned mycologist, helped his mother find permanent remission from her terminal, stage 4 breast cancer using his brand of Turkey Tail mushrooms. Watch his TedTalk here.

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Benefits: Brain Health, Mood, and Nerve Regeneration

Description: With its cascading, white spines, Lion's Mane is not just a visual wonder but also a culinary delight. It grows on hardwood trees during the autumn months.

The Science:
Research in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences indicates that Lion's Mane may stimulate nerve growth factor synthesis, potentially aiding in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, and ischemic stroke. Read more about the research here.

Fun Fact: Lion's mane mushrooms are an ingredient in mock crab cakes because of their seafood-like flavor. Not that we’d know anything about fake crab cakes here in Maryland!

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Benefits: Helps Manage Diabetes, Reduce Blood Pressure, Assist in Weight Loss, Inhibit Viral Infections, and Fight Many Types of Cancers

Description: Also known as "Hen of the Woods," Maitake forms large, clustered masses at the base of oak trees, which are abundant in Maryland.

The Science:
A study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Maitake may improve insulin sensitivity and help manage blood glucose levels. Read more about it here.

Did You Know: During Japan's feudal era, maitake mushrooms held such value that it was used as a form of currency, worth its weight in silver!

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Benefits: Stress Reduction and Sleep Improvement

Description: Rare to find, Reishi does grow in Maryland, on decaying hardwoods. It has a shiny, red varnished appearance.

The Science:
Research in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology suggests that Reishi exhibits anxiolytic properties (anxiety reductions) and may improve sleep quality. Read more about the research here.

Fun Fact: Ancient Chinese herbalists called reishi the "herb of spiritual potency" & the "mushroom of immortality" due to its perceived health benefits. So revered and rare, only the emperor could possess it until cultivation techniques in the 1970s made it widely available.

A Word on Safe and Sustainable Foraging

Foraging for wild mushrooms can be rewarding, but safety and sustainability are crucial. Always ensure proper identification to avoid poisonous species.

Harvest only a portion of what you find, use clean tools to cut mushrooms at the base, and forage only in permitted areas.

These practices protect both you and the environment, preserving nature for future generations.

What to Look for in Mushroom Supplements

If you prefer buying your mushroom supplements, prioritize:

• Fruiting bodies (more potent than mycelium)
• Organic, sustainable & ethical sourcing
• Third-party tested & effective extraction methods (hot water or dual extraction)

Stamets’ Host Defense supplements meets these criteria and is my choice for managing metastatic breast cancer. For more affordable options, consider Real Mushrooms, Mushroom Science, or Om Mushroom

Have a success story or additional information about medicinal mushrooms? Reply to share!

LOCAL HOLISTIC EVENTS

Healing Events Around Town

The end of October is packed with opportunities to reset, recharge, and rediscover balance! From sound healing to a venturing out for a mushroom hunt, there's something for every soul. Check out the events below to nourish your mind, body, and spirit this week.

🧘‍♀️ Wellness on the Waterfront: Yoga | Wednesday, October 23 @ 6 PM | Rye Street Park Baltimore Peninsula

Join Marissa for a 45-minute, all-levels vinyasa yoga class along the waterfront. Please bring your own mat and water. In case of inclement weather, the class will be moved indoors to the 5th floor of Rye Street Market. More Info: Event Details

🎶 Sacred Sound Therapy | Sunday, October 27, 2024 @ 3 PM | 15406 Riding Stable Rd, Burtonsville, MD

Sit back and relax as Tibetan & crystal bowls (and other instruments) help bring you back into alignment through sacred sound therapy. This session aids in clearing and recharging for the week ahead, and can assist in achieving deeper stages of meditation. Space is limited, so RSVP is requested. All are welcome, and no prior experience is necessary. More Info

🍁 Scenic Rivers' Fall Foliage Hike | Saturday, November 2 @ 1 PM | Contee Farm - Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Campus, Edgewater, MD

Experience a guided hike through the vibrant fall foliage of Contee Farm. The hike covers 2-3 miles on unpaved trails through woods and fields; closed-toe shoes are required, and pets are not permitted. Meet outside the Reed Education Center Building. Event Details

☯️ Qigong 2 Class | Ongoing in October | Yoga Center of Columbia, Columbia, MD

A gentle, mindful body practice building upon foundational Qigong techniques. Class Information

🍂 Fall Foliage Adventure | This Week | Your Favorite Park

Whatever you do this week, don’t miss the opportunity to see Maryland at its leaf peeping PEAK! The time is RIGHT NOW folks. Grab your camera, pack a picnic, and get ready to explore the stunning autumn landscapes right in our backyard.

YOUR HEALING MINUTE

Try This at Home - Right Now: 4-7-8 Breathing for Instant Relaxation

This week’s practice is the 4-7-8 Breathing Technique. Dr. Andrew Weil, a leader in integrative medicine, says it’s the most powerful relaxation technique that he’s discovered!

It’s all about extending the exhales.

This breath slows the heart rate and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation.

How to Do It:

1. Sit or lie down comfortably, ensuring your spine is straight.

2. Inhale quietly through your nose for a count of 4.

3. Hold your breath for a count of 7.

4. Exhale completely through your mouth for a count of 8, making a gentle whooshing sound.

5. Repeat this cycle for 60 seconds.

Rather follow along with Dr. Weil himself? Watch here.

Did you give it a try? It’s not just for reading, it’s for breathing into right now!

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

Calling all holistic health heros!

I need your help to make this newsletter everything it can be!

If you want to:

• Share how holistic modalities helped you recover your health

• Add an upcoming wellness event

• Educate on a holistic modality or wellness practice

• Offer a piece of writing, music, or art related to healing

• Sponsor a newsletter

Reply to this email and let me know that you’d like to be featured in a future edition of the newsletter!

That’s all for today’s inaugural newsletter! Thank you for being a part of this developing community. Be well.

Until next week,