Sawbones: Mushroom Coffee

Key Takeaways

Mushroom coffee is a contemporary wellness trend with roots in historical coffee substitutes.
Historically, coffee alternatives were sought due to scarcity, high cost, or government bans.
Early 20th-century figures like C.W. Post developed coffee substitutes for perceived health benefits.
Current scientific evidence for cognitive or physical benefits of mushroom coffee is largely inconclusive.
Mushroom coffee carries potential risks, including allergic reactions and drug interactions.

"Sawbones" is introduced as a history podcast, focusing on misguided medical practices.
The hosts explicitly state the content is for entertainment, not medical advice.
The episode transitions to discussing mushroom coffee and its associated claims.

The search for coffee substitutes has a long history, dating back to coffee's discovery.
"Oat coffee" was documented by 1733, though it lacked caffeine.
Frederick the Great of Prussia banned coffee in 1733 to promote local chicory and beer consumption.
Substitutes aimed to mimic coffee's flavor, not necessarily its stimulating effects.

Frederick the Great employed 400 wounded soldiers as "coffee sniffers" to detect illegal production.
During the U.S. Civil War, persimmon, watermelon seeds, potatoes, and peanuts served as substitutes.
Regional U.S. variations included barley, rye, and corn in Nebraska.
West Virginia saw a mixture of wheat bran, cornmeal, eggs, and molasses used as a substitute.

C.W. Post, a cereal magnate, was a rival of Kellogg and a self-proclaimed nutritionist.
After a "nervous breakdown," Post was treated at Kellogg's sanitarium, where food was a remedy.
Believing health stemmed from diet and a clean GI tract, Post concluded coffee was detrimental.
He developed Postum, a coffee substitute made from bran and molasses, marketed for wellness.

Mushroom-based coffee substitutes are not new; Chaga mushrooms were used in Finland during WWII due to shortages.
Historical methods involved steeping and pressing mushrooms, sometimes with roasted rye.
Modern alternatives include "beanless coffee" and products with fermented chickpeas or date seeds.
Brands like Otomo feature Lion's Mane mushrooms, often marketed for energy without caffeine.

Common mushroom types in coffee substitutes include lion's mane, chaga, reishi, and cordyceps.
Claims include cognitive enhancement (lion's mane), antioxidant properties (chaga), and natural energy (cordyceps).
Wellness products often promote "natural energy," sometimes containing caffeine despite claims.
The side effect of "jitters" is described as internal shaking and discomfort from excessive caffeine.

Research on lion's mane for cognitive function is primarily pre-clinical, lacking conclusive human data for healthy individuals.
Studies on chaga and cordyceps for antioxidant or fatigue benefits are largely pre-clinical or inconclusive.
There is insufficient evidence to support claims of mushroom coffee providing benefits beyond a coffee alternative.
Potential side effects include allergic reactions, stomach discomfort, and interactions with medications like anticoagulants.
Rare cases of liver toxicity from reishi mushrooms have been reported, emphasizing natural substance risks.