The biggest living organism in the world

Mushroom or Fungi?

I am always a bit suspicious about eating mushrooms. It is not that you cannot see the main living organism because it is under the soil which makes me nervous, it is the fact that the fruit of the organism, the mushroom or fungi you would see or eat is made out of keratin, the same substance which the wings of insects are made out of. So is a mushroom/fungi a plant or an insect or just a fungi? 

When I was young I used to forage for them together with my mother who had great knowledge about all sorts of fungi and used to make beautiful meals out of the result of the hunt. I never ate it. I used to hunt for them and if I found one I would call out for my mother and stand guard till she came. I would never ever touch them.

Strangely enough I'm really fascinated by fungi. They are the oldest and biggest organisms living on Earth and life wouldn't be possible if they weren't around. It is not only penicillin and yeast, they form symbiotic relationships with trees and other plants and fertilise the soil to feed our crops. They are amazing.

In Homoeopathy they do not play such a big role, though. Frans Vermeulen wrote this beautiful, informative book about them ("Fungi. Kingdom Fungi. Spectrum Materia Medica, Volume 2" - Frans Vermeulen, Emryss Publishers, Haarlem, The Netherlands, March 2007), but I must admit that I never used a fungi remedy in my practice so far. 

Apart from Secale cornutum which is made out of the black, hornlike spur that appaers on rys when the fungus Claviceps pupurea gets into it, only two other remedies spring to mind which are actually made out of the fruiting body of the actual fungus. I think the fungi remedies which play the most important role in Homoeopathy are Agaricus muscarius, the remedy made out of the fly agaric and Bovista Lycoperdon, the remedy made out of the puff ball.

Agaricus is a very good remedy for frostbites and chilblains, but is also used in paralysis, twitching and alcoholism. One of the keynotes of this remedy is fearlessness. It is a spleen medicine which has helped runners with stitch and enabled them to run further. 

Bovista is used for bloating and puffy conditions according to its signature. It also has an affect on the circulation. One of the keynotes of the remedy is "cannot bear tight clothing around the waist" which it has in common with Lachesis. 

Having said that I never used a fungi remedy in my practise so far I forgot that I actually used Lentinula, the homoeopathic remedy made out of the Shiitake or oak mushroom.

If you think that one of those remedies might be suitable for you, pleas contact me on 07813 195468 and leave the prescribing to me. No self prescribing with those remedies please, because they are specific and have keynotes in common with other remedies which might be more suitable for you.

Photograph by Roger Giraud-Saunders