Season 6 Episode 5: Health Benefits of Reishi Mushroom with Asia Suler

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Would you prefer watching or reading this episode? If so, click here for the 'Health Benefits of Reishi Mushroom' video and transcript.

Episode Summary

I am thrilled to bring you this conversation about reishi mushrooms with Asia Suler. In this interview, Asia shares reishi through a beautiful lens. If you aren't already welcoming reishi into your life, her sharing will probably inspire you to do so.

As you’ll see, I just finished reading her book, Mirrors in the Earth, which I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

Also, don’t miss out on getting a free printable recipe card for Asia’s super-yummy and medicinal Reishi Maple Truffles.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► What makes reishi so unique in the way it supports our immune system

► How nature connection can be so powerfully healing

►  Why you shouldn’t buy *whole* dried reishi

For those of you who don't already know Asia, she is a writer, teacher, herbalist and earth intuitive who lives in the folds of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Asia is the founder of One Willow Apothecaries, an Appalachian-grown company that offers handcrafted herbal medicines and educational experiences in herbalism, animism, ancestral healing and earth-centered personal growth. Asia has guided over 20,000 students in 70+ countries through her immersive online programs. With her writings and teachings, Asia helps people embrace their own unique medicine through a joyful engagement with the natural world. Asia’s first book Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World is available now.

I've been seeing Asia's powerful herbal and healing offerings out in the world for years now. It was such a delight to finally meet her and I’m so happy to share our conversation with you today.

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What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [01:10] Introduction to Asia Suler
• [03:05] How a diagnosis and time in nature led Asia to an herbal path
• [11:00] Why Asia chose to focus on reishi mushrooms in this conversation
• [14:02] Working with reishi when you have an autoimmune condition
• [15:27] Reishi may benefit cancer patients and supports the heart and lungs
• [22:25] How Asia came to see reishi as profound medicine for our time
• [29:17] Mirrors in the Earth
• [30:56] Asia’s Reishi Maple Truffles recipe
• [37:12] Is there anyone who should not work with reishi?
• [38:35] Asia talks about the role of writing in her life
• [52:11] Giving back to the plants

Get Your Free Recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried chopped Reishi (if using powder reduce the amount to ¼ cup)
• 3 cups Water
• ⅓ cup Maple Syrup (depending on your sweet tooth)
• ⅓ cup Cacao butter (melted) – you can also substitute coconut oil
• 1 cup Pecans, ground (or nut of choice)
• ½ cup Coconut flakes
• ½ cup Cacao powder

Directions:

1. The medicinal constituents of reishi are most soluble in water. To capture the medicine of these mushrooms, this recipe involves the finesse of creating a truly delicious bitter syrup. To start, combine your dried reishi and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cover. Simmer until the water content is reduced to ⅓ cup (the water line will be just covering the reishi; you can press the decocted reishi through a cheesecloth or potato masher to get out every last drop of goodness. Save the spent reishi in the fridge and add to your next tea for a gentle taste of mushroom).
   
   
2. Pour your concentrated reishi decoction back into your empty saucepan and combine with maple syrup. Gently heat (uncovered) until you have reduced your syrup in half.
   
   
3. Pour your reduced reishi syrup into a separate bowl. Taste to determine strength (ideally you would have a perfect balance between reishi’s bitter medicine and the mellow sweetness of the maple). Reserve a spoonful of syrup to drizzle over the finished truffles if you so desire.
   
   
4. Melt cacao butter over low heat and then combine with your reishi syrup to make a small pot of pure manna.
   
   
5. In a separate bowl, combine ground pecans (or nuts of choice), coconut flakes, and cacao powder until well mixed.
   
   
6. Slowly pour the liquid cacao butter and reishi syrup into your combined dry mixture. Stir well. If it still feels runny, add an extra dash of coconut flakes or nuts. It should be a warm, supple consistency.
   
   
7. Put your finished mixture in the fridge for at least an hour. Remove when it is solid enough to roll into teaspoon-sized balls. Finish your truffles with a variety of creative toppings. Try toasted sesame seeds, candied ginger and cayenne, or ground pistachios and sea salt. Drizzle with your reserved reishi syrup and serve on any rainy day.

Connect with Asia

• Asia’s website | OneWillowApothecaries.com
• Asia’s book | Mirrors in the Earth
• Instagram | @AsiaSuler
• Facebook | @AsiaSuler
• YouTube | @AsiaSuler

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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