The following blog is sponsored by Myco Clinic.
How can Myco Clinic benefit massage therapists?
The integration of topical functional mushrooms in massage therapy and bodywork presents an exciting opportunity for therapists seeking to bring new tools to their practice and improve client outcomes and satisfaction. Myco Clinic products, which combine powerful functional mushrooms with other natural ingredients that have therapeutic properties, can be used to increase the pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits of massage and bodywork, potentially reducing muscle, joint, and back pain further than massage and bodywork alone. There may be benefits for the bodyworker as well, as the anti-inflammatory properties can be helpful in treating hand and wrist pain from repetitive-use injuries and strain.
What are the ingredients used in Myco Clinic?
Myco Clinic products contain all-natural ingredients that have been chosen for their unique therapeutic value, including a proprietary blend of four powerful, functional mushrooms: reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and shiitake. Recent scientific studies of these mushrooms have reinforced what traditional healers have known for a long time—that there are anti-inflammatory benefits to using these mushrooms, and they have the potential to treat many different inflammatory conditions.
Other high-quality ingredients in Myco Clinic products include menthol and camphor, which are powerful analgesics, and natural oils, including coconut, jojoba, sunflower, beeswax, and shea butter, which have been scientifically proven to penetrate deeper into the skin and absorb faster than synthetic oils. Additional botanical extracts, including arnica, green tea, ginger, turmeric, colloidal oatmeal, honeysuckle, and sweet orange oil, contribute to the powerful pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties of Myco Clinic products.
What is the science behind functional mushrooms’ ability to reduce inflammation?
Functional mushrooms are rich in bioactive compounds that promote health and healing. They also contain beta-glucans, which are a type of polysaccharide known for their anti-inflammatory properties due to their ability to regulate various inflammatory proteins.
Ganoderma lucidum—commonly known as the reishi mushroom—has been demonstrated to contain a component that acts as a COX-2 inhibitor. COX-2 is an enzyme targeted by certain NSAID medications, due to its pro-inflammatory activity. In inhibiting this enzyme, these mushrooms decrease inflammation and often pain, potentially reducing the need for systemic pain medications.
Hericium erinaceus, or lion’s mane mushrooms, have been shown to decrease pain and synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis in preclinical studies, reducing inflammatory mediators in cartilage as well as synovial tissues. This may have huge implications for the future of arthritis research and treatments.
Other mushrooms, such as cordyceps militaris and lentinula edodes—also known as the shiitake mushroom—have proven anti-inflammatory mechanisms as well.
What can topical mushroom formulations do to help clients of massage therapists?
There is growing interest by clients in natural and holistic approaches to health. By offering clients Myco Clinic products, therapists can provide the benefits of these powerful formulations as part of their client’s home-treatment plan, to naturally provide pain relief, decrease inflammation, and reduce reliance on conventional pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications.
Aidance Scientific is a Rhode Island-based company with over 20 years of experience in developing groundbreaking natural formulations. Myco Clinic is a new holistic pain-relief powerhouse, created specifically for health-care practitioners, to help alleviate their patients’ pain.
To learn more, visit myco-clinic.com.
Perry Antelman, CEO and co-founder of Aidance Scientific Inc., developers of Myco Clinic.