S11 E9: Fungi, Facts, and Cancer Care: Exploring Medicinal Mushrooms
Published Date:
With podcast host, Ginger Blackmon, and featuring Donald Abrams, MD, an integrative oncologist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco
Could medicinal mushrooms have a role in cancer care? In this episode, Dr. Abrams shares how an unexpected visit to a mushroom festival helped shape his career in integrative medicine. We explore the science behind medicinal mushrooms, including turkey tail, reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps, and discuss their potential roles in immune support, fatigue, neuropathy, and cognitive health.
The conversation also covers the available evidence in oncology, potential drug interactions, supplement quality, and important considerations for patients receiving immunotherapy. We briefly explore emerging research on psychedelic mushrooms and their potential role in addressing anxiety and emotional distress in patients with cancer.
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Abrams emphasizes the importance of open conversations about complementary therapies and helping patients feel empowered throughout their cancer journey.
About the Guest
Donald Abrams, MD, is an integrative oncologist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Abrams is a pioneer in integrative oncology, having spent decades researching complementary therapies and their potential applications in patient care. He previously served as Chief of Hematology-Oncology at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and as President of the Society for Integrative Oncology. He also co-edited the textbook Integrative Oncology with Dr. Andrew Weil.
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