How to Make Your Own Mushroom Extract
A double extraction will pull out water-soluble beta-glucans and alcohol soluble triterpenes. Beta-glucans are a form of soluble fiber strongly linked to boosting heart health, improving cholesterol, and regulating blood sugar to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Oyster and shiitake mushrooms are believed to have the most effective beta glucans. Triterpenes compounds have revealed anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-anxiety, immunomodulatory activities, and liver protective effects.
Reishi mushrooms are considered the best source of triterpenes.
Ingredients
- 80 proof or higher alcohol (vodka and brandy are popular choices)
- Organic dried mushrooms
- Purified water
Directions
- Fill a quart-sized glass jar halfway with dried mushrooms.
- Fill jar with alcohol, completely covering the mushrooms, but leaving about a 1/2 inch of space at the top of the jar. Secure lid.
- Let it sit for a month. Shake daily.
- After a month, strain mushroom-infused alcohol into another jar and set aside.
- Next, make a water extract by bringing a half gallon of water to a simmer in a stock pot. Add the mushrooms from the alcohol extract to the simmering water.
- Simmer the mushrooms for about 2 hours, until the water has reduced to approximately 8 to 16 ounces. Make sure to keep an eye on the water level, as you don’t want it to completely evaporate. You may need to add water to the stock pot throughout the process.
- Let it cool.
- Strain and compost the mushrooms using a funnel and cheesecloth, reserving the mushroom-infused water.
- Combine the water extract with the alcohol extract.