Words of Wellness : Host Defense
Words of Wellness is a monthly blog written by Sno-Isle Food Co-op’s Wellness Manager, Taryn. This month, we are featuring Host Defense. You can find a plethora of their products in person in our store.
Most of us who live in western Washington have at least a passing interest in mushrooms, but for Ohio transplant Paul Stamets they are a fascinating solution to many of life’s problems. Paul started Fungi Perfecti in 1980 as a resource for fellow mushroom enthusiasts and sold guide books and supplies for growing and foraging mushrooms. Through his own research and foraging, he started to discover new varieties of mushrooms in the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest and noticed the close relationship between fungi and the organisms around them.
In the 2000s Host Defense, the supplement line under Fungi Perfecti was created. Through his observation and research, Paul found that fungi were a major force in the immune system of the ecosystem they inhabit and that the same is the case for humans as well. Host Defense uses the fruiting body of the mushroom, as well as the mycelium in their supplements; mycelium act as the immune system for the fungi, and are the most active cells found in the fungi. Fungi Perfecti supplied Turkey Tail Mushrooms to Bastyr University in 2012 for their study on their use in cancer treatment in conjunction with chemotherapy. Shortly after the study began, Paul’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and her doctor recommended her for the study as she was too old for radiation treatments. She became cancer-free through her treatment.
Paul is the author of several books and has received numerous awards for his innovation and conservation. He works to protect rare fungi species, and has found fungal based solutions to problems that cause Colony Collapse Disorder in honey bees. He is a strong proponent of Mycoremediation which uses fungi to clean up contaminants such as oil, industrial waste, herbicides, and pesticides. Paul Stamet’s work has been so impactful that he has inspired multiple characters in recent television series, but more importantly, has inspired new generations of mycologists to continue seeing the incredible potential in mushrooms.