Have you heard of Tiger Milk Mushroom, the biggest thing since Turmeric and Pegaga (Gotu Kola)?
For over 400 years, Tiger Milk Mushroom (Lignosus Rhinocerus) has been known for it’s powerful healing properties on more than 15 types of medical conditions particularly immunity, inflammation, lung & respiratory health. It’s scientific findings and proven case studies are miraculous. Yet it hasn't hit the mainstream market before.
That's about to change. With Tiger Milk Mushroom’s proven medicinal properties for anti-inflammation and healthy lungs, it is now needed more than ever at a time of COVID-19.
Not sure what all the buzz is about? Don't worry. We reached out to Professor Dr. Fung Shin Yee, a renowned Medical Scientist at University Malaya who has conducted years of research and scientific studies about Tiger Milk Mushrooms, to answer all your questions about this rare fungus, Malaysia’s Ancient Hidden National Treasure.
What is Tiger Milk Mushroom and what makes it unique?
The Tiger Milk Mushroom (also known as Lignosus Rhinoceros and Cendawan Susu Harimau) has been used for centuries by Traditional Malay & Chinese medicine practitioners and the orang asli community due to its strong healing properties on several common medical conditions, especially respiratory and lung health issues. Asthma, cough, bronchitis, allergies, inflammation, fever, and joint pains are just a few examples.
It was recorded to be used to treat diseases that “Western druggists and physicians were not able to figure out.”
Lately, Tiger Milk Mushroom's popularity has increased, since more health-conscious people around the world are becoming aware of how it can transform your wellbeing.
Where does the name "Tiger Milk Mushroom" come from?
According to Malaysian folklore, it was believed by the indigenous people that the Tiger Milk Mushroom grows where the mother tiger might have dropped its milk while feeding her cubs - hence the name. Tiger milk mushroom’s sclerotium is also white in colour!
How Can Tiger Milk Mushroom help in times of COVID-19?
Tiger Milk Mushroom boosts immunity and strengthens your body’s ability to resist infection and eliminate unwanted toxins. It has the ability to harmonize several important anti-inflammatory properties and cytokines in the body, which are essential in controlling the activity and growth of other immune system cells and blood cells.
When released, they signal the immune system to do its job, which is more important than ever during these uncertain times of COVID-19.
COVID19 causes and elevates inflammation in your body, which is why people who are already experiencing alot of inflammation are most at threat from the virus.It is important to consume supplements, herbs, foods and a lifestyle that can help reduce inflammation in your body to protect and prevent COVID19 symptoms.
Tiger Milk Mushroom is recommended as it both balances the immune response and has anti-inflammatory properties.
It also has bronchorelaxation effects and has the ability to relax the lung passage airways (pre-contracted airways) helping to ease breathing during times of difficulty which is why asthma patients no longer feel the need to rely on their inhalers and have less asthma attacks when they start taking Tiger Milk Mushroom regularly.
Why are people talking about Tiger Milk Mushroom now?
More information and credible science, such as safety studies and clinical trials that back up the many benefits of Tiger Milk Mushrooms are available now, which has made more people aware of its advantages. We expect this to continue in the future, which likely will boost the demand on the commercial market even more.
There were huge intervals between the historical mentions of Tiger Milk Mushroom. Probably due to the quandary of locating the mushroom for use. It is a rare mushroom. High harvesting costs, overharvesting, deforestation, and its unique growth habits are a few reasons why it hasn’t hit the mainstream market before.
Who takes Tiger Milk Mushroom, and why? What are the main benefits?
Tiger Milk Mushroom has been the go-to remedy of our indigenous tribe for hundreds of years. It is used to fight various conditions, including cold, cough, asthma, bronchitis, allergies, inflammation, fever, and joint pains.
The Temuans utilized Tiger Milk Mushroom to treat coughs and asthma and strengthen the weak constitution. The Semai aborigines used it for the treatment of asthma, cough, fever, cancer, liver-related illnesses, and joint pains. They are also used by men to revitalize their bodies and as medicines for women after childbirth.
The latest survey shows that the local Malay and Chinese communities utilized the sclerotium of tiger milk mushroom to treat food poisoning, wounds, stomach cancer, breast cancer, and swellings.
In Hong Kong and China, traditional Chinese physicians regarded L. rhinoceros sclerotium as an expensive folk medicine to treat liver cancer, chronic hepatitis, and gastric ulcers. Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia and a medical doctor, has mentioned in his opening speech at the International Convention on Biotechnology 2002 that his chronic intractable cough has been cured by tiger milk mushroom (SMPKE Prime Minister’s Office 2017).
The Medicinal Mushroom Research Group (MMRG) from the University of Malaya initiated the safety assessment of the cultivated L. rhinocerus sclerotia powder in 2009 after its successful cultivation to ensure that the cultivar is competent for consumption.
How can Tiger Milk Mushroom help with allergies & respiratory problems?
Due to its high anti-inflammatory properties, Tiger Milk Mushroom has been shown to help reduce the body’s reaction to allergens. This can relieve respiratory symptoms such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and coughing. It has also been proven to be beneficial to people who are exposed to polluted environments or are heavy smokers. Learn more about how its main benefits can transform your health here.
As mentioned earlier, it also has the ability to relax the lung passage airways helping to ease breathing during times of difficulty which is why asthma patients no longer feel the need to rely on their inhalers and have less asthma attacks when they start taking Tiger Milk Mushroom regularly.
How long should I take Tiger Milk Mushroom before I can expect to see results?
Depends on your bodily status - a minimum of one week.
Is Tiger Milk Mushroom something I should take long-term or just for a shorter time period?
Tiger milk mushroom has over 400 years of history of use - and the raw mushroom powder has been in the market for more than 10 years. Being a mushroom, it is a food - and can be taken as such for any duration.
The Medicinal Mushroom Research Group (MMRG) from the University of Malaya initiated the safety assessment of the cultivated L. rhinocerus sclerotia powder in 2009, after its successful cultivation to ensure that the cultivar is competent for consumption.
How can I evaluate the quality?
Our laboratory and the growers have developed a method to check and validate the bioactive components of tiger milk mushrooms and do regular consistency checks.
Are there any downsides/side effects?
Some individuals may experience a more energized body and feel flushed, which is a good sign that their body is trying to adapt and heal.
What would you say to people who claim that Tiger Mushrooms is nothing but hype?
I’d say try it! And talk to the people who’s lives have transformed because of it.
How do you consume it?
With water or any beverages.
It was documented that in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia (where the mushroom is often given to mothers after childbirth), the sclerotium is pounded with raw rice, infused, and drunk.
How can I get started/try it out?
Get your hands on it and try it today!
What research backs this up?
Below is a sample of the research that backs up the benefits of Tiger Milk Mushrooms.
- Alvin Yap Chee Sum, Xiaojie Li, Yeannie Yap Hui Yeng, Muhammad Fazril Mohamad Razif, Amira Hajirah Abd Jamil, Ng Szu Ting, Tan Chon Seng, Peter Chi Keung Cheung, Shin-Yee Fung (2020) The Immunomodulating Properties of Lignosus rhinocerus TM02® Cultivar and Its Associated Carbohydrate Composition, International Journal of Medicinal Mushroom.
- Peter Chiew Hing Cheong, Yen Sun Yong, Ayesha Fatima, Szu Ting Ng, Chon Seng Tan, Boon Hong Kong, Nget Hong Tan, Jayakumar Rajarajeswaran & Shin Yee Fung (2019). Cloning, overexpression, purification and modelling of a lectin (Rhinocelectin) with anti-proliferative activity from Tiger Milk Mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerus, IUBMB Life.
- Hui Yeng Y Yap, Nget Hong Tan, Szu Ting Ng, Chon Seng Tan, Shin Yee Fung (2018). Molecular attributes and apoptosis-inducing activities of a putative serine protease isolated from Tiger Milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) sclerotium against breast cancer cells in vitro, PeerJ 6:e4940 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4940
- Mei Kee Lee, Xiao Jie Li, Chee Sum Alvin Yap, Peter Chi Keung Cheung, Chon Seng Tan, Szu Ting Ng, Richard Roberts, Kang Nee Ting, Shin Yee Fung (2018). Airway relaxation effects of water-soluble sclerotial extract from Lignosus rhinocerotis, Frontiers in Pharmacology, section Ethnopharmacology 9:461. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00461
- Yap, YHY, Tan NH, Ng ST, Tan CS, Fung SY (2018). Inhibition of Protein Glycation by Tiger Milk Mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus (Cooke) Ryvarden) and Search for Potential Anti-Diabetic Activity Related Metabolic Pathways by Genomic and Transcriptomic Data Mining. Frontier in Pharmacology: Section Ethnopharmacology.9:103. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00103
- Vignesraaj Pushparajah, Ayesha Fatima, Chin Hung Chong, Thandeka Z Gambule, Chong Joo Chan, Szu Ting Ng, Chon Seng Tan, Shin Yee Fung, Sook Shien Lee, Nget Hong Tan, and Renee Lim (2016) Characterisation of a New Fungal Immunomodulatory protein from Tiger Milk mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerotis, NATURE Scientific Reports 6:30010
- Hui-Yeng Y. Yap, Shin-Yee Fung, Szu-Ting Ng, Chon-Seng Tan, Nget-Hong Tan (2015) Shotgun proteomic analysis of tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerotis) and the isolation of a cytotoxic fungal serine protease from its sclerotium, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 174(2015)437 -451
- Sook Shien Lee, Nget Hong Tan, Shin Yee Fung, Si Mui Sim, Chon Seng Tan, Szu Ting Ng (2014) Anti-inflammatory effect of the sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden, the Tiger Milk mushroom, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 14:359 (8 pages)
- Yeannie HY Yap, Nget Hong Tan, Shin Yee Fung, Azlina A Aziz, Chon Seng Tan and Szu Ting Ng (2013) Nutrient composition, antioxidant properties, and anti- proliferative activity of wild type and cultivated strain of Lignosus rhinocerus Cooke (Tiger milk mushroom) sclerotium, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 93(12):2945-2952
- Sook Shien Lee, Francis Kanyan Enchang, Nget Hong Tan, Shin Yee Fung, Jayalakshmi Pailoor (2013) Preclinical toxicological evaluations of the sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerus (Cooke), the Tiger Milk mushroom, Journal of Ethnopharmacology,147 (157-163)
- Lee, M.L., Tan, N.H., Fung, S.Y., Tan, C.S. and Ng, S.T. (2012) The anti-proliferative activity of sclerotia of Lignosus rhinocerus (tiger milk mushroom). Evidence- Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 697603, 5 pages doi:10.1155/2012/697603
- S.S. Lee, N.H. Tan, S.Y. Fung, J. Pailoor, S.M. Sim (2011) Evaluation of the sub-acute toxicity of the sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerus (Cooke), the Tiger Milk mushroom, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 138:192-200