READ how a common soup thickener-mushroom

known as ‘Usu’ (Pleurotus tuber-regium) can

benefit your heart, immune system, liver, and help
prevent cancer
Prof. Gilbert Ezengige

Recently I had the opportunity of engaging in a fruitful health discussion

with Dr Godwin Ihesie who is a trusted and a competent professional
colleague and one of the most proficient medical herbalists that I have
great respect for. Our deliberation centered primarily on the nation’s
diverse flora and fauna that God has abundantly blessed us with.
Impulsively, and in a trance-like fashion we started chronicling the
numerous natural food condiments sold in the markets and their healing
potentials. We were indeed excited that our forefather’s culinary items
were largely medicinal, thanks to their natural and uninfluenced taste
buds, lifestyles and dispositions.
We explored soup items (mostly known to and utilized by the Igbos of
Nigeria) such as “Usu” , “Isu”, “isuo” or “Osu” (all Igbo) which is
known botanically as PLEUROTUS TUBER-REGIUM ; We also cast
our minds to “Achi” which is scientifically classified as
BRACHYSTEGIA EURYCOMA called “akalado” or “eku” in Yoruba
and finally we deliberated briefly on “Ukpo” known as MUCUNA
FLAGELLIPES .
Interestingly, these three items are used as soup thickeners. It is my wish
to discuss the medicinal uses of these and more condiments on this blog
in the nearest future starting from today.
Let’s focus on the health benefits of PLEUROTUS TUBER-REGIUM
(“Usu”), a fungus- mushroom used as soup thickener mostly by women
of Eastern Nigeria.
PLEUROTUS TUBER-REGIUM is a tropical sclerotial mushroom. It is
commonly called king tuber mushroom and is an edible gilled fungus
belonging to family Pleurotaceae. By qualifying it as a SCLEROTIAL
mushroom, we mean that the mushroom produces an underground tuber
(SCLEROTIUM) in addition to the mushroom that grows above the soil
surface. The mushroom and the underground tuber are edible. However,
it is the sclerotium (the underground tuber) that is used as a soup
thickener. The sclerotium which can be up to 30 cm wide reveals a dark
brown colour on the outside and is white inside.
Isn’t it gratifying that what is regarded simply as a soup thickener can
positively impact on our health in the following outstanding manner?
1. As an antioxidant, it counteracts the harmful effects of free radicals
known to be the culprit in most chronic and degenerative diseases.
2. As an anti-inflammatory agent it helps us to sail through life with less
internal and external tissue or organ inflammations.
3. Its hepato-protective property ensures that our liver is given the much
needed respite and adequate protection from harmful toxins/ chemicals
in the foods we consume as well as in home and body care products that
we use daily.
4. Its anti-pathogenic action helps to check the proliferation of harmful
microorganisms that otherwise would have a field day in us.
5. The anti-mutagenic action of Pleurotus tuber-regium keeps the body
cells on track from sudden erratic formations which could lead to tumors
and cancers.

I am particularly delighted that researchers have studied the anti-

mutagenic action of this plant. As an avid student of medical astrology, I
know that mushroom family as a whole is predominantly influenced by
the planetary rays from PLUTO whose radiation in certain formations
and alignments could initiate, aggravate, mitigate or reverse the growth
of tumors and cancers.
Pleurotus tuber-regium grows on dead trees or wood, (here is another
signature of plutonian plants): PLUTO rules the astrological 8th house,
the house of death and regeneration.
6.As an effective hypo-lipidemic, this food condiment lowers fat level in
the blood.
7.It is reputed to be effective in the treatment of headache, fever and
chest pain.
8.The medicinal use of this fungus is also well known among traditional
herbal medicine practitioners in Ghana. Sawyerr (1993) stated that it is
used orally in the treatment of heart pains and persistent coughs.
9. In Ghana also it is a practice with traditional medicine practitioners to
mix the underground tuber (sclerotium) with honey, coconut water or
Xylopia aethiopica (“uda” in Igbo, “eru” in yoruba) for the treatment of
heart diseases and palpitation.
10. The ground and pulverized sclerotium is applied topically sometimes
with white clay on underweight and premature babies to achieve an
accelerated weight gain.
11. The Urhobo’s of mid-west Nigeria also use the sclerotium for the
treatment of chest pains and small pox. (Fasidi and Olurunmaiye, 1994).
12. Pleurotus tuber-regium has anti-diabetic or anti-hyperglycemic
properties. It regulates blood sugar levels. Diabetic patients please take
note!
13. It lowers cholesterol level in the blood.
14. This mushroom relieves stomach and digestive issues. When
prepared in a certain fashion it helps to reduce hyperacidity of the
stomach and can be relied on for the treatment of stomach ulcers.
15. In boosting the immune system, Pleurotus tuber-regium is very
handy.
The nutritional values of this fungus plant is high. The dietary
components include protein which researchers say accounts for about
64% of the total mass, carbohydrates account for 20% and dietary fibers
about 3%. High minerals contents in Pleurotus tuber-regium include
calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium.
Aha! I guess, when next you sight Pleurotus tuber-regium (‘Usu’) in the
market you will see in it more than just a soup thickener. And when this
shift of perception occurs in you, my write-up on Pleurotus tuber-regium
would not have been in vain.

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