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By Lee Carroll, BHSc (WHM), BSc A Clue at the Membrane I track the ergothioneine literature pretty closely. Honestly, it’s turned into a bit of an obsession. Not because I’m looking for another shiny antioxidant story… Rather, because ergothioneine (ERGO) is unique and almost meets the definition of a vitamin. Why would evolution make ERGO

By Lee Carroll, Medical Herbalist Introduction People with mould-related illness are often told to avoid mushrooms. The reasoning seems straightforward: moulds and mushrooms both belong to the fungal kingdom. But biology is rarely that simple. The available scientific evidence does not support avoiding mushrooms, and in some cases suggests they may offer protective benefits instead.

By Lee Carroll, Medical Herbalist Let’s face it, cancer is one of those words that makes every pet owner uneasy. But here’s the good news: nature has already armed us with tools to protect against it. Medicinal mushrooms, long valued in traditional medicine and now supported by modern research, are among the most exciting of

By Lee Carroll, Medical Herbalist Today I want to pause and reflect on the International Day of Peace, through the lens of herbal medicine. When we think about peace, it’s easy to drift into ideals and concepts, but I’m drawn to the practical tools nature has given us for creating calm, both individually and collectively.

Ergothioneine: Rediscovering a Forgotten Molecule: Royal Lee, Mushrooms, and the Early Clues to Ergothioneine’s Power By Lee Carroll, Medical Herbalist Did Royal Lee know about ergothioneine (ERGO) in 1929? It’s a provocative question. One that connects nutrition history, biochemical curiosity, and the legacy of one of the most visionary—yet often under-recognized—figures in natural medicine. As

Introduction Oxidative stress poses a significant threat to cells and tissues, with resilience largely dependent on the quality and strength of their antioxidant systems. These systems include small molecules, proteins, and enzymes that work together to control and neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and repair oxidative damage. Among all cell types, red blood cells (RBCs)

Introduction Figuring Out the Facts As unsubstantiated health advice proliferates, the humble fruit faces unwarranted criticism owing to its natural sugar content. Contemporary dietary movements have marked fruit as being harmful to one’s health. This adverse perception has resulted in misunderstandings, particularly regarding specific plants such as the fig, Ficus carica L., which have a

Introduction Human evolution has been profoundly shaped by dietary practices, yet the role of fungi—particularly mushrooms—has been largely overlooked. My Gourmet Ape Theory proposes that the consumption of ERGO-rich mushrooms provided early hominids and hominins with significant evolutionary advantages. As the reproductive structures of fungi, mushrooms served as a potent source of bioactive compounds that