In this two-part virtual class, Dana Driscoll from the Pennsylvania School of Herbalism will provide a thorough introduction to mushroom medicine: herbal virtues, preparation, and uses, as well as how to identify and safely forage for common medicinal mushrooms. The class will focus on mushrooms that are found in the Northeastern United States, although many of these mushrooms are also found globally. The course will cover eight different common medicinal mushrooms and two different herbal preparations: the double-extracted mushroom tincture and mushroom salves. We will also discuss mushroom taxonomy and identification features, and wild mushroom foraging safety. The course will be delivered as a two-part virtual synchronous Zoom-based course, with opportunities to ask questions and interact with the instructor and students between each session.
Please visit this page for full details about the course and to register.
Session 1: January 23rd, 7:30 – 9:30pm EST
Double-Extracted Mushroom Tinctures and Internal Uses of Mushrooms
- Introduction to the Fungi Kingdom and Mushroom Parts
- Medicinal Mushrooms covered: Reishi Chaga, Turkey Tail, Chaga, and Lion’s Mane
- Herbal Preparation: Double-Extracted Mushroom Tincture
- Taking and Using Mushrooms as part of wellness
Session 2: March 6th, 7:30 – 9:30pm EST
Medicinal Virtues of Edible Mushrooms, Mushroom Salves, and Foraging Wild Mushrooms
- Medicinal Mushrooms: Birch Polypore, Cordyceps, Hen of the Woods, Oysters, Shitake
- Herbal Preparation: Mushroom topicals and salves
- Foraging for Mushrooms: Key ID features, safety, and guidelines
Course Cost: We offer a sliding scale for this course: $50 – $120.
Medicinal Mushroom Class Supply List
Class Supply list: You will get the most out of our class if you are able to make the mushroom preparations and share your results.
- Session 1: Double Extract Tincture Supplies
- High Proof grain alcohol (1 cup) – 151 proof or above. In Pennsylvania, this would be Everclear 151 proof. In other states, you may be able to purchase 190-proof organic grain alcohol. The higher proof allows you to make more tincture from the same amount of dried mushroom.
- Dried medicinal mushrooms (1oz): You will need one ounze or more of a medicinal mushroom, dried. Recommended mushrooms are: Reishi, Turkey Tail, Chaga, or Lion’s Mane.
- Mason Jar with a lid.
- Kitchen Scale
- Measuring cups.
- Pot on kitchen stove or crock pot. Either will work for your medicinal mushroom preparation.
- Session 2: Mushroom Salve Supplies
- Dried medicinal mushrooms (1oz): For herbal salve preparation. Recommended mushrooms for this are: Reishi, Shitake, Birch Polypore, or Hen of the Woods.
- Organic olive oil (1 cup)
- Beeswax (2 tbsp)
- Double boiler with lid and kitchen stove/hot plate: If you don’t have a double boiler, you can just put a bowl of water in a pot or put a smaller pot in a larger pot
- Wire strainer: For straining your salve
- Small jars for your finished salve
