The Nectar: Medicinal Mushrooms with Willis Mitchell, The Loving Fungi

High Desert Nectar x The Loving Fungi/Heart in the Hands

Medicine comes in many forms. At High Desert Nectar, we specialize in hemp and formulating high-quality CBD potent products. Hemp is not the only medicine from the earth. Mushrooms, the species dancing between human and plant, contains a myriad of medicinal benefits. Willis Mitchell, Founder of The Loving Fungi and Heart in the Hands, tells us the details about his personal journey and our latest formulation creating a CBD rich and mushroom potent medicinal tincture. Read on to learn more about our High Desert Nectar x The Loving Fungi collaboration. 

Part II: Intentions, Collaborations and Formulations with The Loving Fungi

HDN: Tell us about your passions, your businesses, what inspired you to launch your businesses and your dreams.

WM: My Heart in the Hands healing practice is centered on a holistic view of health and wellness: the understanding that mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health are all intrinsically connected. We cannot make changes to one area without the others being affected. All areas seek balance and I offer my Medicinals as one branch of this practice. My inspiration for all my endeavors is to be of service and to help people attain the highest form of health and wellbeing.  

The medicinals started many years ago and have developed into a line of tinctures and capsules that help clients with a range of ailments/needs.  What inspired me most about the Medicinals side of the practice is that when I started to create them I had many clients reporting incredible results. 

Around the same time, I was formulating a hot beverage with Chaga, Turkey Tail, and Reishi (that I had foraged) with Cacao and Maca and many other elements - it turned out to be quite tasty!  I started sharing the drink at events and with friends, making a few other renditions - feeling great that I was secretly getting my friends to drink beneficial fungi. I have since created The Loving Fungi beverages around this idea of sneakily getting people to drink things that are healing ;) 

My dream for my practice is to help as many people as I can reach a state of well-being through the use of the products and the other elements of my practice.  I feel the greatest joy when I am in a place of service like this.  

My dream for The Loving Fungi is to continue to be creative and have fun bringing new beverages into the world as well as to create seasonings and other foods with medicinal fungi and to spread it as far as I am able.

HDN: Do you suggest incorporating your products into a daily routine or do you support a more intentional approach to integrating particular mushrooms products for specific purpose? 

WM: Medicinal fungi have such wide reaching benefits for the human body that I suggest using them semi regularly.  Studies have shown the increase in the number of Natural Killer cells with prolonged use of medicinal fungi - these cells protect us from Viral and Bacterial infections, something that has been a major concern for many this past year. I am available for free consultations to discuss what supplement would be best for each individual.

I do create blends specific to the clients needs as well as a full line of pre made medicines. I feel it is important to point out that every individuals body is unique in its own right and I recommend talking to an herbalist (Ayurvedic, Chinese, western), a homeopathic or naturopathic doctor before moving into a daily regimen of any natural medicine. 

HDN: Do you have a mushroom community? What is it like?  

WM: I do and I don’t. There are many mushroom clubs around Oregon that I’ve found to be very enjoyable.  I prefer solitude when I go to the forest to go foraging as it is a sacred time for me to commune with nature.  I have a few close friends that are herbalists and we often gather to share medicine and knowledge and sometimes share our “super secret” mushroom spots.  I do most of my research alone through literature, books new and old.  

High Desert Nectar x Heart in the Hands - The Immunity Blend:

HDN: Why did you choose Reishi, Chaga and Turkey Tail for this Immunity Blend? What are their individual medicinal properties? 

WM: I chose these three for their powerful adaptogenic qualities first and foremost.  Adaptogens essentially regulate the immune system - bringing balance to an overactive or under achieving immune system. This being the backbone of the blend, each individual mushroom also has its own unique chemical compounds that foster wellness in the body. 

Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) is known in Siberian culture as the “gift from god.” This  Medicinal Fungi is nutrient-dense and contains B and D vitamins, phenols, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc iron and enzymes. Chaga is antibacterial, anti-Inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-Tumor, antiviral, lowers blood sugar, aids immune system and Kidneys. Chaga is energizing and increases metabolism while alkalizing in the body with Rubidium, Potassium, Cesium and Germanium. Chaga is a source of superoxide dismutase (SOD) which halts oxidation, is a source of pantothenic acid which aids the adrenal glands and digestive organs and is rich in Betulinic acid which has been used to shrink some types of cancerous tumors. 

HDN: How/where did you "find" these mushrooms? Why is this approach so significant to you and to the user?  

WM: All of the fungi ingredients that were used in the Immunity Blend (as well as all of my medicinals and beverages) were ethically wild foraged in pristine environments.  It is my belief that the potency and purity of the medicine is at its highest level when coming from such amazing wild places.  When you take in this medicine you are taking in the power and energy of the environment that created it, blessed with the intention behind the maker.

HDN: Why might you suggest incorporating this product into a wellness routine? What will it "help?"

WM: I believe in the healing powers of all the cannabinoids, especially CBD.  Using this medicine as needed will bring balance and harmony to many systems inside the body alongside its amazing anti-inflammatory and pain reducing effects.

HDN: Final thoughts on medicinal mushrooms...

WM: We have the power to heal ourselves through natural medicines, and it is our responsibility to keep the biodiverse old growth forests where they exist safe and protected so that our inner and outer ecosystems can continue to thrive.  I implore you all to exercise your freedom to health and wellness through understanding your connection to plants and fungi, exercise, fresh air, nature, dance, song, love and all the beauty that this existence has to offer.

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