⚠️ Disclaimer: This is our personal story and not a substitute for medical advice. Medicinal mushrooms may interact with chemotherapy and other treatments. Always consult with your doctor or oncology team before adding any herbs, supplements, or natural remedies to your care plan.

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                                                 Mushroom Tincture

Why We Made It

One of the most surprising — and unforgettable — remedies we tried was our mushroom tincture.

We used five dried medicinal mushrooms, known worldwide for their immune-supportive and anti-inflammatory potential. They’re not magic bullets, but many have been staples in integrative cancer approaches for centuries. Some, like Turkey Tail and Reishi, have even been the focus of conventional research and pharmaceuticals.

🍶 Brad’s Routine: Mushroom Tincture Recipe

Ingredients

• Equal parts dried: Turkey Tail, Chaga, Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake

• High-proof alcohol (Everclear, diluted to ~40% with distilled water)

• Large glass jar with lid

• Amber glass dropper or tincture bottles

Steps

1. Fill a large glass jar about ¾ full with equal parts of the dried mushrooms.

2. Cover with diluted high-proof alcohol (~40%).

3. Store in a dark cupboard and shake daily.

4. After 30 days, strain and store in amber bottles.

5. Brad took 1 tablespoon twice a day.

Some people go further with a second step known as dual extraction — boiling the mushrooms to release water-soluble compounds like beta-glucans — but we didn’t do that part. Even the simple version felt potent to us.

The Day the Doctor Said Stop

At a routine oncology appointment, Brad’s doctor told us — point blank — to stop giving him the mushroom tincture.

The exact words?

“It’s making the chemo work too effectively.”

That stunned me. This was the same oncologist who had once told us Brad had only a 5% chance of surviving a year and a half — if he responded to chemotherapy at all.

That moment said everything I needed to hear.

Brad, though, still trusted the system — even when it seemed more concerned with clean data for a clinical trial than with his life.

🧠 Traditional Benefits of the 5 Mushrooms

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Turkey Tail-Immune modulation, gut health support

Chaga-Antioxidant support, inflammation balance

Reishi-Stress relief, sleep support, immune strengthening

Shiitake-Heart and immune system support

Maitake-Immune response, potential blood sugar regulation

Why We Kept Them in Our Routine

We never saw these mushrooms as a cure — just as allies in our journey. They became a grounding ritual, a way to feel proactive, and a reminder that nature still holds valuable tools worth exploring.