Podcast:
The Other Way
The Healing Power of Medicinal Mushrooms with Dr. Anna Sitkoff
With:
Kasia Stiggelbout
March 11, 2025
Listen & Watch: Spotify
Listen: Apple Podcasts
I really enjoyed talking with host Kasia Stiggelbout about all things medicinal mushrooms, especially the parts about fertility and hormone support.
She created a warm, thoughtful space for real conversation and we were able to have a grounded, engaging discussion that touched on both the science and a bit of the energetics of medicinal mushrooms. I hope you enjoy listening and reading about this podcast as much as I loved being a part of it!
Conversation starters
[For awkward dinner parties, silent elevator rides, grocery store lines, and your favorite barista]
"There's this really cool thing that happens called immune training... you can go months without taking mushrooms at all after taking them for just a month and your immune system is still stronger than it was before."
"A lot of people were prescribing what's actually like myceliated grain... they'll powder that up, put it in a capsule and put 'mushroom’ on the supplement and say that this is a mushroom supplement."
Key Topics
[00:06:22] 🌿 My journey from nutrition to naturopathic medicine after my family's experience with chronic illness.
[00:07:49] 🧬 My first encounter with medicinal mushrooms during my father's cancer treatment at UCSF
[00:10:15] 🔬 Laboratory research on cancer cells and mushroom extracts at naturopathic medical school
[00:21:05] ⚠️ The myceliated grain problem: why many "mushroom" supplements aren't actually mushrooms
[00:23:04] 🎯 What to look for in quality mushroom supplements: fruiting body extracts
[00:26:00] 🛡️ Universal immune support: all mushrooms contain polysaccharides that support immunity
[00:29:45] 🧠 Ergothioneine: the "backup antioxidant" in oyster mushrooms that we evolved to store for months
[00:33:20] 🧘 Reishi for nervous system support and as a spiritual ally for transformative experiences
[00:38:11] 💪 Immune training: how short exposures to mushrooms can boost immunity for the long run
[00:43:16] 🤰 Maitake for PCOS and fertility: research showing effectiveness comparable to Clomid
Spores for Thought
"I wouldn't recommend that somebody with an autoimmune disease takes echinacea, but for the most part, if you have an autoimmune disease, mushrooms are safe."
Resources
Textbook of Natural Medicine (medicinal mushrooms chapter)
Nammex (wholesale mushroom extracts)
Endocrine disruptor checklist
Osher Center at UCSF (integrative oncology)
Shameless Plugs
IMMUNE — Designed for comprehensive immune system support and training.
BRAIN & NERVES — My formula for nervous system and cognitive function support.
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