Horses are exposed to many internal and external stresses that can impact their immune system, gut microbiome, and overall health. Mushrooms offer an effective solution to helping them thrive despite these pressures.
Medicinal mushrooms possess properties that can positively impact immune response, inflammation reduction and healing – these benefits hold true whether using whole mushrooms or an extract.
1. Portobello Mushrooms
Mushrooms can have powerful impacts on the immune system. Numerous studies demonstrate their ability to reduce inflammation, accelerate wound healing time and even enhance energy levels – but not all mushrooms offer equal amounts of beneficial nutrients; some offer higher concentrations than others – something which could make an enormous difference for horse health and performance.
Portobello mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are popular mushroom supplements for horses due to their low glycemic index and wide array of nutritional benefits, including high concentrations of vitamin D, selenium, potassium copper B vitamins as well as dietary fiber and antioxidants to protect against oxidative stress.
Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) and cordyceps mushrooms (Cordyceps militaris) can also provide horses with important health benefits, acting as adaptogens to help the body resist stressors naturally while improving immunity function and encouraging strength gain and muscle mass gain.
Cordyceps mushrooms are powerful fungi that can assist horses during intense training sessions. This powerful fungus may help alleviate digestive issues related to high levels of acid produced during exercise, while increasing energy levels as a bonus.
Keep in mind that not all mushrooms are safe for horses, and some species such as Yellow Stainer mushrooms found along roadsides or grassy areas may even be toxic to horses and cause serious stomach upset. Luckily, however, there are a variety of mushrooms which horses can safely consume.
When purchasing mushroom supplements for horses, ensure they come from organic farms to prevent any exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals or pollutants that could harm their health.
Checking labels of mushroom supplement products to make sure they are suitable for horses is important, too. Reputable companies use “hot water extraction” to remove beneficial compounds from mushrooms in this manner and guarantee high concentration products that are free from contaminants and highly pure.
2. Button Mushrooms
The humble button mushroom is well known to most. When cooked, it adds an irresistibly meaty taste to omelets, stir fries, pizza and salads; fresh mushrooms make great additions to salads and stews. Mushrooms contain B vitamins, selenium potassium and protein – providing an abundance of B-vitamin supplements as well as being high sources of vitamin D which is great news for anyone deficient; interestingly enough it has also been discovered that exposure of mushrooms to pulsed UV lighting while growing can increase vitamin D production significantly!
Mushrooms are packed with antioxidants that can protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and improve your body’s immune response, making you better equipped to fight infections or heal wounds more quickly.
One of the most frequently used medicinal mushrooms for horses is Reishi. Reishi is known for its adaptogenic benefits that help the body resist different stressors, helping horses train better and perform at their maximum potential.
Reishi can increase muscle mass and build strength in horses. This explains why Chinese athletes at the 1993 Olympic Games performed so impressively and were suspected of using drugs when, in reality, they were simply eating cordyceps mushrooms.
All mushrooms contain antiviral properties that can aid in treating various conditions, including colic, laminitis and thrush. Their beta glucan content promotes healthy gut bacteria while modulating immunity when necessary and calming an overactive response.
Some horse owners choose medicinal mushrooms as supplements or teas for their horses, which is achieved by boiling mushrooms to extract their compounds with either water or alcohol. Some providers use both methods simultaneously in order to ensure all the beneficial compounds are saved and packaged, later used to create supplement powders or tinctures for use as supplement powders or tinctures.
3. Shitake Mushrooms
Mushrooms contain polysaccharides, one of the most prevalent phytochemicals. These molecules have many beneficial impacts on immune health ranging from stimulating it during times of stress to helping calm an overactive response. Furthermore, mushrooms serve as “tonics”, providing essential nutrients and phytochemicals that may assist with body repair or rebuilding processes.
Mushrooms have long been recognized as a means to strengthen and balance one’s gut microbiome, which is especially significant given that over 70% of immune function resides within it and having an abundance of beneficial bacteria is the cornerstone for creating an efficient immune response.
Mushroom extracts can be an ideal option for horses as they can be processed to be easier for their digestive systems to process and absorb, and are more potent in providing beneficial compounds than whole or dried mushrooms.
Maitake (Gynostemma tibetanum) mushroom extracts have become an extremely popular choice for use with horses in Traditional Chinese Medicine, having proven their numerous health benefits including anti-inflammatory capabilities. Maitake extract can be added to their diet when treating arthritis, inflammation or lameness in horses.
Shitake (Lentinula erythropus) mushroom is another excellent immune booster. Studies have demonstrated its antimicrobial, antiviral and immunomodulating properties – making it a highly potent immune booster. Shitake also contains beta glucans which further strengthen its beneficial properties while supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is an adaptogen that can provide support to the body during times of stress, both external (such as traveling to competition and riding) and internal ( such as agitation or anxiety). Reishi has been shown to ‘cool’ down nerves and quell anxiety and restlessness in its users.
Mushrooms can be safe for most horses to eat, though it’s best to select whole or cultivated varieties grown without synthetic chemicals – BioStar’s dual extract reishi powder provides superior quality and safety for your horse.
4. Reishi Mushrooms
Although mushrooms in their natural state don’t provide many health benefits for horses, medicinal mushrooms offer numerous advantages that may help them remain fit and active. This includes helping balance immune response, reduce inflammation and speed healing time as well as supporting energy levels and decreasing oxidative stress which is known to harm all body cells.
Medicinal mushrooms have long been used to increase horse strength and endurance, with research showing they build muscle mass both humans and horses alike. Their adaptogenic benefits help horses resist stressors better while increasing immunity; furthermore, medicinal mushrooms have also been proven to boost testosterone levels for increased muscle growth and performance gains.
As with medicinal herbs, it’s essential to realize that not all mushrooms provide equal benefits. While most have the power to improve immune health and inflammation levels, different mushroom species offer differing touted advantages; Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum have similar abilities to boost the immune system but in different ways due to having individual energies that classify as either warming or cooling properties.
Warm medicinal mushrooms like cordyceps are known to stimulate and calm down an overactive immune response. Conversely, cool medicinal mushrooms like reishi are soothing for an overactive system and help balance out responses more effectively.
Due to these reasons, it is vital that you select an effective medicinal mushroom supplement for your horse. Equine Matrix Reishi Supplement offers an easy way to support balanced immunity with traditional Chinese medicinal mushrooms in powder form that are easily feed and contain high concentrations of beta-D-glucans, triterpenoids and ergosterol which have all been scientifically demonstrated as having positive impacts on their health. Furthermore, Reishi pairs perfectly with other Equine Matrix supplements like Muscle Matrix and ECP Focus for optimal performance!