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Introduction The American Cancer Society states that in 2012 about 28,170 men will die from prostate cancer. It is a difficult type of cancer to treat, and goes undiagnosed in many men until the late stages of the disease. If American men want to understand how to prevent the development of prostate cancer, they should look to men living in Asia and see what it is they are doing. Asian men are among the least likely in the world to develop prostate tumors or die from prostate cancer, and recent research suggest that the inclusion of medicinal mushrooms in the diet may be an important factor in explaining these low prostate cancer rates. In particular, an ancient fungi known as Sang Huang mushroom (Phellinus linteus) is playing a lead role. According to a recent Harvard Medical School study, Sang Huang Mushroom contains a range of bioactive substances which work together to achieve a strong anti-cancer effect. Active compounds include polysaccharides, which are common to many species of mushroom, as well as hisperin, furan derivatives and antioxidants. These substances are toxic specifically to prostate cancer cells, and leave healthy cells untouched. Sang Huang mushroom is also able to promote cellular immunity against cancer by stimulating the release of white blood cells, T-Cells and macrophages. But this is no surprise to traditional Asian herbalists. Sang Huang mushroom has been used for hundreds of years in East Asian countries, including China, Japan and Korea. Herbal texts in China recommend Sang Huang for promoting circulation, improving digestion, cleansing the blood and protecting the liver. While other medicinal Asian mushrooms, such as shiitake and reishi, are more well known in the West for their therapeutic benefits, Sang Huang has a special role in the treatment of prostate cancer and maintaining prostate health. Today Sang Huang mushroom is highly popular in Asia as a general tonic and as a nutritious food, and doctors have begun looking more closely at how it works in the body as several cases of cancer patients taking the mushroom extract achieved near miraculous improvements in their health. In particular, cases of prostate cancer. In the Harvard Medical School study when extracts of sang huang mushroom were injected into the laboratory mice, researchers noted that the extract reduced the prostate cancer cell growth, and eventually triggered the cell death of prostate tumor cells. Researchers confirmed that sang huang and its chemical compounds may offer promising new developments in the future of anti-cancer drugs. While prescribed medications derived from sang huang are not yet on the market nutraceuticals containing sang huang are available. Nutraceuticals derived from extract of sang huang are safe and non-toxic and are available to consumers who want to test the health benefits of sang huang for themselves (Prostate-Ph is a nutraceutical made in U.S.A.). Studies have so far confirmed that sang huang mushroom is safe and non-toxic to both animals and humans. For additional information read the research synopsis on Sang Huang mushrooms at: http://www.prostateph.com/. John Dugan is a health writer who specializes in men's health issues
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