When the Immune System Goes Rogue
Oyster Mushrooms
A healthy immune system distinguishes between what’s safe and what’s potentially dangerous, protecting us from the latter. “Safe” stuff includes our own cells, tissues, and substances that the body makes; normal resident microbes such as those living in the gut; foods; and other things we’re exposed to that aren’t intrinsically dangerous. “Dangerous” stuff includes cancer and precancerous cells along with disease-causing microbes such as influenza virus, Salmonella, and Aspergillus (“black mold”).
The immune system consists of a slew of cells — T cells, B cells, macrophages, and many others — along with bone marrow, the thymus, skin, mucus membranes, lymph nodes, the spleen, and other tissues and organs. It’s kind of amazing that this complicated system works as well as it does. But sometimes it doesn’t work so well. Genetics, stress, overwork, poor diet, severe or chronic infections, and other factors can derail healthy immune function. In some cases the result is weakened immunity, as seen in folks constantly “coming down with something”.
In other cases, however, the immune system may “go rogue” and respond to inappropriate triggers — pollen, an egg, joint tissues, the thyroid gland. The first two examples are allergies, with symptoms ranging from annoying (itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing) to more debilitating (a body-wide itchy rash) to life-threatening (severe acute airway swelling). The second two examples, where the body itself is the target, are autoimmunity, which can be tissue-specific or more broad in the body. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system damages joint tissues, while with lupus, the kidneys, skin, heart, lungs, and/or other parts of the body sustain damage. As with allergies, outcomes of autoimmunity range from mild to life-threatening.
Allergies and autoimmunity are often described as signs of an overly strong immune system. Reactivity can indeed be over the top, such as the rapid and dangerous response some people have to bee stings or eating shellfish. That said, a more accurate description might be an immune system that’s “confused” or “dysregulated”.
Join Marija for Mushrooms for an Unruly Immune System Live Online: March 2025
Ganoderma Mushrooms
Allergies and autoimmunity are often described as signs of an overly strong immune system. Reactivity can indeed be over the top, such as the rapid and dangerous response some people have to bee stings or eating shellfish. That said, a more accurate description might be an immune system that’s “confused” or “dysregulated”.
And the immune system can veer off track in other ways as well. Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is an example in which mast cells, a type of immune cell, are inappropriately activated. Mast cells participate in allergies as well, but in MCAS the symptoms are often more severe. And unlike allergies, pinning down specific and consistent triggers of reactivity in MCAS is challenging. Even non-material things such as temperature changes, stress, or exercise can be triggers.
Practitioners of herbalism, Traditional Chinese Medicine and other modalities often turn to mushrooms for supporting healthier immune system function, finding success with the informed use of just one or a couple species at a time. And mushrooms are interesting in that one species may have seemingly oppositional uses. For example, in China, shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is historically used for infections, the immune response to which involves inflammation. But shiitake is also employed for countering liver inflammation, for example, from chronic alcohol use. Similarly, polysaccharides from oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) reduced both the incidence of respiratory tract infections and allergic responses in children in randomized control trials. Indeed, rather than simply being “immune stimulants”, mushrooms have a more nuanced interaction with the immune system, reflected in many centuries of use for various issues we now know have an immune component. Accordingly, certain mushrooms also have a history of use in autoimmunity, where “stimulating” an immune response is not appropriate. For example, in China, hemlock varnish conk (Ganoderma) is used in rheumatoid arthritis. The nuance likely stems from the chemical complexity of mushrooms and exposure to fungi throughout our evolution as a species.
Mixed Mushrooms
Some words to the wise…. That mushrooms are important foods worldwide and have a long history of use for immune-related support doesn’t mean that everyone should start taking mass quantities of random mushroom extracts or supplements that contain a gazillion different mushroom species. Experienced practitioners will often turn to just one or a couple mushroom species at a time that are selected based on a particular person’s needs and constitution, with the species switched up periodically. Such practitioners will typically proceed with caution to avoid inadvertently triggering a flare-up in autoimmunity, MCAS, and other serious conditions, recognizing that what’s good for one person might not apply for another. For example, simply eating mushrooms triggers a flare-up in an acquaintance who has multiple autoimmune issues.
And some people develop mushroom allergies. A family member recently visited the ER after eating gravy he made with dried porcini (Boletus edulis), and has a history of (previously) mild reactions to the mushroom. Moreover, mushroom extracts/supplements are generally contraindicated for folks taking prescription immunosuppressant drugs, such as those used for autoimmunity or preventing transplant rejection. Finally, commercial supplements need to be from a reputable source so that they actually contain the mushroom(s) listed on the label, and in a dose and form that are relevant based on traditional usage, clinical experience, or clinical studies.
Dr. Anna Marija Helt is an herbalist based in Durango, Colorado. She offers in person and online herbal consultations for health. She can be contacted at Osadha Natural Health for inquiries.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat a disease, or to supplant the advice of a licensed health care provider.
