Medicine Men
Sharing mushrooms’ golden elixir.
What is the largest living organism on earth? No, it’s not a sequoia. It’s a fungus, located in Oregon’s Blue Mountains, and it spans more than 3.4 miles. Most of it is underground, a huge, subterranean, root-like structure (mycelium), with only sporadic small mushrooms visible to mark its existence.
Similar mushroom mycelium networks exist under land masses everywhere — a strong, silent communication system — connecting, protecting, nourishing, and healing trees, plants, and other living beings.
Brothers Andrew and Walker Sauls, Reno born and raised, lived in Oregon for only a few years, but they returned home with a passion for the mushrooms they foraged there. So much so that, in 2020, they founded Happy Mushroom Co., a company dedicated to sharing not only the medicinal gifts but the unifying, healing spirit of these amazing fungi.
They took a deep dive into learning how to make the best, highest-quality medicinal mushroom supplements, in the most potent and accessible form possible: tinctures.
Laying Strong Roots
The brothers start with only the best ingredients, sourcing USDA-certified organic mushrooms as well as responsibly foraged wild mushrooms from Oregon. They use only the fruiting bodies (actual mushrooms) to make the tinctures, which results in the purest and most potent products.
“Many competing products on the market use the mycelium, not the fruiting body,” Walker says. “Mycelium has medicinal properties but cannot be separated from the grain it’s commercially grown on, so there ends up being much more filler and less potency in those products.”
The process they use is the newest, most cutting-edge technology — ultrasonic extraction using high-frequency soundwaves. This allows chemical compounds to be fully extracted without being compromised by the nutrient-diminishing high heat employed in conventional processes.
Not only are the tinctures more potent than dried and powdered versions, but they are an easy, convenient way to use the product. They are sold in one- or two-ounce vials, with attached droppers, making it easy to add the desired dosage to any beverage, including coffee, or it can be applied directly to the tongue.
The results of their extra efforts are evident in the popularity of their products. They offer five specific tinctures: Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Chaga. (See mushroom guide for descriptions.) They also offer four kits, which include a variety of these. Also, not to overlook our furry best friends, there’s Happy Dog Mushroom Powder, formulated in collaboration with Lori Wells, a local certified pet nutrition counselor.
To bring the brothers’ unity vision full circle, it’s important to add that they do all Happy Mushroom’s work with quality, community, and sustainability in mind, even utilizing recycled packaging materials. And 1 percent of the company’s sales is donated to environmental initiatives around the world through the organization 1% for the Planet.
“In a world steeped with division, we focus on connection,” Andrew says. “That’s a beautiful thing!”
Happy Mushroom Co.’s products are available at Happymushroomco.com, or find them at Riverside Farmers Market, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Sunday, year-round.
Other retailers:
Great Basin Community Food Co-op (Downtown Reno)
Sierra Water Gardens (Downtown Reno)
The Waste Less Shop (South Reno)
Dubois Health Food Center (Carson City)
Healing One (South Reno)
Truckee Meadows Herbs (Midtown Reno)
Tahoe Food Hub (Truckee)
Family First Chiropractic (Sparks)
New Moon Natural Foods (Tahoe City and Truckee)
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