Agarikon 50% Polysaccharides is a supplement containing larch polypore (agarikon or white agaric). Used for thousands of years, and in many parts of the world, this mushroom was described in the 1st century AD as the ‘elixir of long life‘ by the Greek physician Dioscorides for its positive effect on the immune defences and respiratory system.
As its name indicates, Agarikon 50% Polysaccharides is standardised to 50% polysaccharides in order to deliver maximum health benefits. It is listed under our Immunity category.
What is the agarikon mushroom (Laricifomes officinalis) or white agaric?
Agarikon, also known as larch polypore or white agaric (its scientific names are Laricifomes officinalis, Fomitopsis officinalis or Agaricum officinalis), is a mushroom from the Fomitopsidaceae family. It grows on decaying wood on larch trees and other conifers native to Europe, Morocco, Asia and North America.
Agarikon is shaped like a wide column or large hoof. It can weigh as much as 10kg and survive for up to 75 years. Soft and yellowy-white to start with, the mushroom then becomes hard and chalky before its flesh splits, and it takes on grey, brown or red hues.
Agarikon has been used for thousands of years to produce textiles, ritual masks, medicinal potions (1)... The Tlingit, Haida and other indigenous peoples of North America called it the ‘bread of ghosts’. They even believed that a certain Mushroom-Man – half-human, half-polypore – played a key role in the emergence of mankind. In Europe, larch polypore was traditionally used as a tonic to support the body’s natural defences, to treat lung disorders, and as a purgative and antiperspirant for soothing TB-related fevers (2-3), etc. In 19th century India, it was recommended for relieving spasmodic coughs (4).
What benefits are offered by Agarikon 50% Polysaccharides?
Agarikon is nutritionally very rich, and extremely good for the body. This agarikon extract thus contains:
- coumarins, aromatic substances with antibacterial properties found in certain plants (5) ;
- lanostane triterpenoids, phytochemicals that play an important part in many traditional herbalist remedies. They are notable for having trypanocidal effects (the ability to eliminate certain parasites) (6) ;
- and most importantly, polysaccharides, complex carbohydrates that play a key role in forming organic structures and support tissues, particularly in plants. High in dietary fibre, they form gels and promote fluidification and lubrication. Some polysaccharides are able to interact with macrophages and to bind to viral proteins. In so doing, they form complexes which stop viruses entering cells and prevent infections (7). Several studies have shown agarikon to be an effective anti-viral against the smallpox, flu and hepatitis viruses (8). The cytotoxic properties of polysaccharides also help to prevent the proliferation of deviant cells (9-11) ;
- agarikon extract also contains organic acids, anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds, etc. (12)
Why choose this particular agarikon (white agaric) supplement?
Agarikon 50% Polysaccharides is standardised to 50% polysaccharides allowing you to gain maximum benefit from the mushroom’s most powerful substances.
In addition, this supplement is made exclusively from extract of mycelium, the network of fungal filaments specific to mushrooms. This is the most digestible and absorbable part of larch polypore.
As you can see, agarikon is not just any mushroom: it is referred to in the Vienna Codex (dating from 542 AD), one of the oldest examples of Discorides’ medical manual, used for a long time in hospitals. Although mushrooms were often excluded from modern Western medicine, Laricifomes officinalis still appears in Feldman’s 'Formulaire pratique de pharmacologie' (1978). It is known as the ‘pharmacists’ agaric’ and remains part of the Croatian pharmacopeia as an antimicrobial (13-15), and is even being used in dermocosmetics for its anti-wrinkle benefits (16).
Daily dose: 2 tablets
Number of doses per pack: 30 |
Amount per dose |
Extract of agarikon mycelium (Laricifomes officinalis) standardised to 50% polysaccharides |
1000 mg |
Other ingredients: acacia gum. |
Adults. Take 2 tablets a day.
Each tablet contains 500 mg of extract of agarikon mycelium (Laricifomes officinalis) standardised to 50% polysaccharides.
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