Though this mushroom is also known as Hen of the Woods and Sheep's Head, these lack the real charm of Maitake, which is Japanese for "dancing mushroom."
It allegedly got this name in ancient times when a group of hungry nuns happened upon some Maitakes and they celebrated with a joyous dance.
The Maitake has been part of traditional medicine for centuries in Japan and China. It grows in northeastern Japan and parts of the United States, usually in clusters around oak trees.
Maitakes have a delicate taste and texture, making them easy to add to dishes or enjoy by themselves.
The Maitake has some of the anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties of other medicinal mushrooms.
Like Cordyceps, the Maitake has been shown to have anti-diabetic properties, decreasing insulin resistance and resting glucose serum levels.
What distinguishes the Maitake, though, is the numerous ways it has been found to fight cancer.
Like other mushrooms on our list, Maitakes contain antioxidants, but that's only the beginning. They also contain a compound called D-Fraction.
Researchers who gave cancer patients D-Fraction supplements found that it suppressed both tumor growth and spread. Another study found that D-Fraction combined with traditional Interferon improved the treatment's effectiveness by at least 25%. Another compound, Z-Fraction, showed similar promising results.
The effect of Maitakes on tumors stems from their stimulation of the body's production of "natural killer" cells, T-cells, and particular white blood cells called macrophages that envelop and destroy cancer cells.
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