The Mushroom Science Story

Started in 1994, Mushroom Science was originally named "JHS Natural Products" after the three founders, John Seleen, a mushroom grower, He Xianguo, a natural products chemist and Steven Bailey, a naturopathic doctor. 

The company was started with the sole purpose of introducing a new medicinal mushroom supplement to American health care practitioners.  Called "PSK" or "Krestin" in Japan, and extracted from the medicinal mushroom Coriolus versicolor, PSK was the top selling immune support supplement in the world, but had yet to be introduced to the U.S.

John Seleen, the primary founder, was first introduced to the research on Coriolus versicolor extracts while at a mushroom biology conference in China in 1989. He was impressed by the extensive research presented by Dr. Yang, the inventor of another Coriolus extract, Coriolus PSP.  Dr. Yang presented his original research on the immune health benefits of Coriolus PSP, and also covered many of the studies done on the Japanese product, PSK.

The quantity and quality of the research on the immune health benefits of Coriolus extracts was impresive, including more than 500 animal studies and dozens of human clinical trials, all of which pointed to the extraordinary potential these extracts had to improve the health care options available to American practitioners.

A true pioneer in the mushroom supplement industry, Mushroom Science was the first company in North America to offer Coriolus versicolor mushroom extracts matching the quality and content of the PSK used in the world-renowned Japanese research.

Initially, Mushroom Science manufactured and distributed medicinal mushroom supplements exclusively to health care practitioners, but in 2003, the company expanded to offer their high quality mushroom supplements directly to consumers. 

The company has grown and evolved since since 1994. Today Mushroom Science provides many other mushrooms extracts as part of their product line, including Reishi, Chaga, Maitake, Cordyceps and others.

MushroomScience is the only U.S. Company offering hot water extracted mushroom supplements that match the potency and quality of the preparations used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as the extracts used and studied in the published research.

Committed to Science

Mushroom Science maintains a strong commitment to the science supporting the immune health benefits of medicinal mushrooms. The company operates a full-scale research laboratory and partners with major U.S. universities to explore the unique health benefits mushrooms supplements have to offer. Clinical research has been conducted on Coriolus Super Strength, Reishi Gano 161 and MaitakeGold.

MushroomScience Labs have conducted two major studies in recent years, both of which highlighted the role of analytical chemistry as a tool in the quality control process when manufacturing mushroom supplements. The results of these studies were published in the only peer reviewed journal dedicated to medicinal mushrooms; The International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms.

Committed to Consumer Education

Committed to helping health practitioners and customers select only the most effective supplements for immune health; Mushroom Science is the only company listing potency information in the supplement facts panel of every label. Mushroom Science encourages consumers to check labels, to verify that a manufacturer provides potency information by listing the actual percentages of active compounds in their mushroom supplements.

Most companies do not list the levels or percentages of active compounds in their mushroom supplements, because the levels of actives compounds of their mushroom supplements are extremely low compared to the preparations used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the published research. 

Committed to Proper Preparation 

Mushroom Science is built upon a conviction that no other supplement provides greater benefit for immune health than properly prepared medicinal mushroom supplements. Initially used in Chinese herbal preparations, medicinal mushrooms were traditionally prepared as a tea by steeping in hot water. Modern science confirms this traditional knowledge and recognizes the hot water extraction method as essential to preparing effective mushroom supplements. The hot water extraction method is the only scientifically validated method for releasing the immune supporting polysaccharides (beta glucans) into a bioavailable form.

In contrast, mushroom supplements prepared as tinctures (cold water and alcohol) or mycelium grown on rice (mycelium powder) have not been scientifically tested and offer no evidence of comparable immune benefit.

Retail and Health Practitioner Lines

Mushroom Science makes our complete line of medicinal mushrooms available for purchase in two ways. The JHS Natural Products brand is available exclusively to health practitioners. Retailers can purchase the Mushroom Science brand directly from Mushroom Science. Here on our website. Contact us if you need further assistance.