What we all think of as a mushroom is technically called a “fruiting body”. Similar to plants, mushrooms also have an intricate root system known as “mycelium”. You can kind of think of it like the difference between an apple (fruiting body) and an apple tree (mycelium).

So if you want the benefits of mushrooms, you need to use the part of the mushroom that actually contains the beneficial compounds. Makes sense, right?

Well believe it or not, many of the mushroom supplements on the market are made of something called “mycelium on grain”, which is just mushroom mycelium that has been grown out on a grain like rice or oats. It’s cheaper and faster to grow – but the end result is a product that is mostly grain starch, which doesn’t really contain any of the mushroom-y goodness you’re looking for. Yeah. Crazy.

At Clearly, we believe in mushrooms that are *actually* made from mushrooms. That’s why we make our extracts from whole mushroom fruiting body, without the use of grain based fillers. It’s a difference you can feel.

Dual extraction is a method used to extract the maximum amount of beneficial compounds from medicinal mushrooms. It involves two steps: an alcohol extraction and a water extraction.

Here's why both extractions are needed: mushrooms contain two primary groups of bioactive compounds, the triterpenoids and the polysaccharides.

Triterpenoids, which include compounds like ganoderic acids in reishi mushrooms or betulinic acid in chaga, are generally soluble in alcohol. Thus, to extract these compounds, the mushrooms are soaked in alcohol (like ethanol) for several weeks, allowing the triterpenoids to dissolve.

On the other hand, polysaccharides, like the immune-supporting beta-glucans, are soluble in water. To extract these compounds, the mushrooms need to be boiled in water, typically for a few hours.

After both extractions, the remaining solutions are combined, filtered, and often evaporated down to create a potent dual-extracted tincture or powder.

The dual extraction process is considered the "best" way to extract medicinal compounds from mushrooms because it ensures that you're getting both the alcohol-soluble and water-soluble compounds, providing a full spectrum of the potential health benefits that the mushroom has to offer.

Growing mushrooms on wood versus oats (or other grain substrates) can make a difference in terms of nutritional content, medicinal quality, and environmental sustainability. Here are reasons why one might prefer wood-grown mushrooms:

1. Natural Habitat: Many medicinal mushrooms, especially species like Reishi and Maitake, naturally grow on hardwood trees in the wild. Growing them on wood replicates their natural environment, which can lead to a product that's more true to its wild counterpart in terms of nutrient and medicinal compound profiles.

2. Medicinal Compounds: Some studies suggest that mushrooms grown on wood may have higher concentrations of beneficial compounds, such as beta-glucans and triterpenes. This might be due to the complex compounds present in wood, which mushrooms break down, absorbing beneficial nutrients in the process.

3. Environmental Sustainability: Using logs or wood chips can be more sustainable, especially if sourced from local tree thinning or sustainable forestry practices. In contrast, grain substrates often come from large-scale agricultural processes that might be less environmentally friendly.

4. Fewer Contaminants: Wood, especially when sourced sustainably and without chemicals, can lead to fewer contaminants in the final mushroom product. Grains, on the other hand, might be treated with pesticides or other chemicals unless they're specifically organic.

Beta-glucans are a specific type of polysaccharide extensively researched for their immunomodulating properties. They are believed to enhance the activity of certain cells and proteins that combat infections and diseases, thus fortifying immune responses. This positions beta-glucans as potential allies in the body's defense against threats like bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells.

Many products prominently display their "Polysacchariden" content. However, it's pivotal to discern the actual constituents. A product might advertise 30% polysaccharides, but the percentage of beta-glucans within that can vary significantly. For instance, a product could contain 30% polysaccharides, but only 5% of that might be beta-glucans. The real efficacy lies not just in polysaccharides, but specifically in the concentration of beta-glucans.

All our mushrooms undergo a dual-extraction process, ensuring they contain a robust 30% beta-glucan content, maximizing their benefits.