Mushrooms: Medicine or myth? ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.

I am Neil. And I'm Beth.

Do the names 'Lion's Mane' or 'Turkey Tail' mean anything to you, Neil?

Lion's Mane and Turkey Tail?

Sounds like things you might find in the zoo.

Oh, good guess, but they are actually the names of mushrooms. Lion's Mane

is a white, hairy mushroom found across Asia and Turkey Tail

is a brown fan-shaped fungus which looks a bit like, well... a turkey's tail.

But if you haven't already heard these names,

you probably will soon,

because these mushrooms are becoming popular as medicine.

Throughout history,

our ancestors used mushrooms as food,

but also as medicine for physical problems and mental illnesses

like depression. In the 21st century,

this medicine is being rediscovered and marketed. Today

mushrooms are big business. In 2021

the global medicinal mushroom market was valued at 26 billion dollars

and growing.

But, how real are the supposed health benefits of mushrooms? In this programme,

we'll be finding out along with some useful new vocabulary.

But first,

I have a question for you, Beth. Neither plant nor animal, mushrooms

are mysterious and amazing things,

but which of the following statements about mushrooms is actually true?

a) most mushrooms are poisonous? b) some mushrooms can

fly? or c) some mushrooms glow in the dark?

I think some mushrooms glow in the dark.

OK, Beth. We'll find out if that's true at the end of the programme.

Scientific researcher Dr. Emily Leeming has been studying

the medicinal properties of mushrooms for King's College London.

She shared her discoveries with Sheila Dillon presenter of the BBC

Radio Four programme, 'The Food Chain'.

So, I think these mushrooms are very much having a moment

right now. They're kind of labelled as 'super brain drugs',

so, things are gonna potentially help with lessening anxiety,

improving potentially depression.

It's very much about these mind benefits that we're seeing the labels

on the claims getting put out there.

What do you think of those claims? I think that at the moment

they seem to be quite overblown.

We don't have as much evidence on humans at all.

It's very limited.

Dr. Leeming says that right now medicinal

mushrooms are having a moment.

If something is having a moment,

It's very popular or fashionable at a particular time.

Mushrooms are popular due to the claims

about what they can do for example, reduce depression,

a claim is a statement that something is true

although it cannot be proved and others might not believe it.

Dr. Leeming thinks some of the claims made about mushrooms

are overblown, exaggerated to seem more significant than they really are.

The problem is that to sell something as medicine,

you need scientific proof of its benefits.

You might feel less stressed after drinking chamomile tea,

but that doesn't mean,

you can legally call camomile a medicine,

even though it has been used for centuries to help people relax.

However, that hasn't discouraged

many from experimenting,

especially young people.

Emma Clifford works for Food Research Organisation Mintel.

Here, she discusses young people's attitude towards mushrooms for BBC

Radio Four programme, The Food Chain:

Lots of people absolutely want there to be

scientific proof for health claims on food and drink

because there still is a fair amount of scepticism, distrust

and general confusion around functionality.

However, I also think that for many consumers

the medicinal properties of certain ingredients,

based on natural and holistic ancient wisdom may be just as compelling,

if not more so, than knowledge based on modern science and clinical trials,

and I think many people, young people in particular,

they're just really intrigued to give these ingredients a go.

People want

scientific evidence that what they are taking is good for them.

But many are also convinced by ancient wisdom,

a phrase referring to knowledge,

philosophy and beliefs that existed before the arrival of Christianity

in Europe. Ancient knowledge about medicinal plants has been kept alive

and some trust this wisdom

more than modern medicine.

Young people are especially prepared to give mushrooms a go.

If you give something a go,

you try doing something to see if you like it.

They are intrigued about mushrooms -

they find them interesting and want to know more, which is not surprising,

given some of the amazing things

mushrooms can do. I think

it's time to reveal the answer to your question, Neil.

I guessed one of the amazing things

some mushrooms can do is glow in the dark.

That was, Beth,

the correct answer. About eighty species of fungi

are bioluminescent meaning they really do glow in the dark.

OK, let's recap the vocabulary

we've learned in this programme, starting with 'having a moment' -

a phrase meaning to be popular or fashionable at a particular time.

A 'claim' is a statement that something is true or a fact,

although it cannot be proved and others might not believe it.

The adjective 'overblown' means exaggerated to seem bigger

or more important than it really is.

In Britain, the phrase 'ancient wisdom' describes Pagan knowledge,

philosophy and beliefs that existed before Christianity.

If you give something a go,

you try doing something to see if you like it.

And finally, when someone is intrigued by something strange or mysterious.

They're very interested and want to know more.

Join us next time for more new, useful vocabulary here at 6 Minute

English. Goodbye for now.

Bye.