Where does naturopathy actually come from?
Did you know that many healing methods and natural treatments have a long history and originate from cultures such as ancient China, Egypt and various African traditions? Through trade and migration, knowledge and insights spread through the Greeks and Romans to Western Europe, where monastic orders wrote down and preserved this information.
One of the famous figures from Greek medicine is Hippocrates, who is often considered the founder of Western medicine. Historical sources show that he focused on lifestyle and herbs as part of health care.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
One of the oldest health practices is the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes, among other things, mushrooms play a role. Within various traditions, certain mushrooms have long been valued for their unique composition. Mushrooms contain, among other things, polysaccharides, antioxidants, essential amino acids and trace elements, nutrients found in a balanced diet.
It is fascinating how diverse the world of mushrooms is. In forests there are species such as the Elf bench, Maitake and Cordyceps to be found. Scientists estimate that worldwide 150,000 species of mushrooms exist, of which there are approximately 15,000 described are and a part is traditionally applied.
Although modern diets already provide many essential nutrients, research is still ongoing into the potential role of mushrooms within a varied diet.
Nature as a source of inspiration
Nature offers an enormous diversity of foods, and our knowledge of mushrooms continues to grow. In a next article we will delve deeper into various uses of mushrooms in a balanced diet and how they can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
