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In a trend that consulting firm McKinsey & Company says is becoming stronger in the US, consumers are overwhelmingly choosing products with clinically proven effectiveness, over ones that are simply organic or “natural.” TCH, CBD, and functional mushrooms are showing up as standouts.

Health Benefits of CBD and THC

According to Harvard Medical School, cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the two best-known active compounds derived from the marijuana plant. The other is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the substance that produces the “high” from marijuana.

According to Medical News Today, both THC and CBD have been shown effective in treating a wide range of medical conditions, from chronic pain to the nausea of chemotherapy, symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and two specific types of epilepsy. CBD’s most common treatment uses are for “IBD, seizures, depression, inflammation, psychosis or mental disorders and migraine.”

Side Effects of CBD and THC

There are very few side effects with either CBD or THC. According to the World Health Organization, CBD is generally safe and does not appear to have abuse potential or the ability to cause harm. The Food and Drug Administration adds that potential side effects are likely the result of interactions with other medications a person may be taking. It may also have some impact on the liver and male fertility.

Be a Smart Consumer

Medical and recreational marijuana, along with CBD, are all legal in Oregon, and Portland has at least 210 licensed marijuana retailers.

Not every retailer is licensed to provide both medical and recreational products, so it’s a good move to start with licensed medical dispensaries, where strict standards are more likely to be in place.

The Oregon Health Authority requires all cannabis products sold at retail to be tested for a number of contaminants, including pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals and microbiological contaminants. Testing also must measure the percentages of THC and CBD.

Test results for your products should always be available on the maker’s website and summarized on the product label. CBD buyers concerned about a possible “positive” on a drug screening test should scrutinize the percentage of THC listed, keeping in mind that this isn’t a guarantee that no THC will show up on that test.

Functional Mushrooms and Health Benefits

Although there is a long history of cultural medical use of functional mushrooms, much of the scientific research is from in vitro or animal studies. However, each major type of functional mushroom has had some randomized controlled trials with positive results. Studies on supplementation with reishi, maitake, turkey tail, lion’s mane, and chaga have shown benefits ranging from immune system support to cognitive function, sleep quality, and decreased inflammation.

In a 2022 article on the benefits of mushrooms, UCLA Health noted, “Mushrooms show great promise as adjunctive treatment used in conjunction with typical care for patients with cancer, as well as treatment to stimulate the immune response to cancer. Research to date has shown a high safety profile for mushrooms and a lack of negative interactions.”

According to the National Institute of Health, “It is well-established that mushrooms are adept at immune modulation. Additionally, evidence suggests that medicinal mushrooms may safely boost chemotherapeutic efficacy and simultaneously protect against bone marrow suppression.”

Function Mushroom Buyers’ Guide

Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements, use common sense and pay attention to these guidelines supplied by the University of Utah:

• Look for third-party tested supplements with the USP or NFS seal on the package or bottle.
• Avoid products with excessive filler—no more than 5 percent.
• Avoid supplements that say mycelium—this means the supplements lack the beta-glucan which gives mushrooms much of their medicinal quality.
• Look for labels that say triterpenoid compounds and active polysaccharides.
• Choose a concentrated extract over powder form and look for “hot water extracted” on the label or company website.