Agaricus blazei is a medicinal mushroom that contains a special class of polysaccharides known as "beta glucans." Studies show beta glucans stimulate activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which are an important part of the immune system. Additional Information: The Agaricus blazei in this product is extracted with the preferred hot water/alcohol method to increase its digestibility and enhance bioavailability of the polysaccharides. - Originally discovered in Brazil, Agaricus blazei is widely consumed in many countries, where it is regarded as a health food, due to its medicinal properties. The mushroom is used both in tea form and as a food. Since 1965, strains of Agaricus blazei have been imported to Japan, where it is now widely cultivated and researched.1 Folk Use: The folk use of this herb encompasses a broad profile of reported effects,1,2 including: __1) Fighting physical and emotional stress.* __2) Immune support.* __3) Maintaining normal blood sugar levels.* __4) Maintaining already normal cholesterol levels.* __5) Digestive support.* __6) Bone health.* __7) Liver support* Real Reason: Among the above properties attributed to Agaricus, immune support is the major focus of usage scientific research to date. Like other medicinal mushrooms, Agaricus contains complex polysaccharides that stimulate the immune system. It is reported that Agaricus is utilized for this purpose by 300,000 to 500,000 people in Japan annually, where yearly production of the dried mushroom ranges from 100,000 to 300,000 kg.2