The passion of local vendors is my favorite part of this job. This week, from Radiant Garden Alchemy and Forest Flush Mushrooms, we introduced some beautiful local options for immune and respiratory health. Montana and Sarah from Radiant Garden, and Matt from Forest Flush, all share a passion for plants and fungi, with a strong focus on quality ingredients going into their small batch tinctures. Last week, we shared our Medicinal Mushroom Quick Guide, which included both Tremella and Cordyceps, two of the tinctures we brought in this week. These two would actually make an incredible pairing for respiratory support!
Cordyceps is the first mushroom we tend to think of when it comes to respiratory support. It has been traditionally viewed as both a yin and yang tonic, taken to restore vitality in the kidneys and lungs. It has been taken for both long and short-term support— and can be taken directly before to aid in high-elevation mountain climbs. This can be relevant for people with asthma, but also people looking to improve respiratory capacity. During times of acute respiratory illness, Cordyceps could pair very well with an oyster mushroom extract called Pleuran, which has been shown to reduce levels of inflammation in the lungs. For long term support, Cordyceps pairs very well with Reishi and Tremella.
Tremella mushroom is the ultimate moisture replenisher: a yin tonic with an affinity for the skin, mucous membranes, kidneys, urinary tract, and sexual organs. It is one of the highest natural sources of hyaluronic acid. This is why some people refer to it as “Nature’s Botox,” because of its affinity for supporting moisture in the skin and for helping with collagen synthesis. Not only that, but this moisture replenishing quality is incredible for people who face dry coughs, dry throat, and other dry states in the lungs. Therefore, I can see it being an incredible pairing with Cordyceps when seeking long-term lung support.
Radiant Garden has also released a Vitamin C elixir made with pine, sumac, strawberry leaves, rosehips, camu camu, acerola, and orange. We get asked all the time for Vitamin C options without ascorbic acid, and now we have a local one! This spagyric extract is incredibly rich in bioflavonoids, providing benefits way beyond just the vitamin C content, including respiratory benefits from the aromatics and astringency of the herbs themselves. Montana recommends taking 1-2 droppersful for long term support and 3-4 for acute needs.
We also now have the immune response and liver support staples Echinacea (purpurea and angustifolia blend), Milk Thistle, and Dandelion available as spagyrics from Radiant Garden, as well. If you’ve already tried ImmUnity from Radiant Garden, the Echinacea and Vitamin C could be perfect pairings for additional acute and preventative support. I love their spagyric extracts because they are highly aromatic, mineral rich, and offer a higher concentration than your standard tincture preparation.
We are not doctors. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. There are no state or federal authorities in the U.S. that license herbalists. The staff at Blue Hill Co-op do not prescribe, offer medical opinions, or practice medicine. Please reach out to your primary care provider or seek emergency support if you require medical care.
