Mushrooms
may help treat Viral infections - may be HIV
Mushrooms could be used to help treat diseases
like hepatitis C and even HIV.
The claim comes from experts taking part
in the UK's Second Annual Congress on Mushroom Nutrition.
Scientists gathered at Middlesex
University say that the tiredness caused by viral
infections can be beaten with chemicals from fungi.
The university's Dr John Wilkinson said:
"A lot of the components that are found in mushrooms
and plants are anti-viral." So, in terms of
treatment for viral infections they have great potential,
because you are bombarding the organism with many
different active molecules.
Research into the field is at an early
but promising stage.
Mushrooms have been used in traditional
herbal medicines in China and Japan for thousands of
years, and Asian mushrooms are commonly used for pain
relief and in treating diseases like arthritis.
Certain mushrooms also boost the immune system, and are
given to transplant patients to reduce the chances of
organ rejection - but little is known about the active
ingredients in the fungi and how they work.
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