Stop Cold, Flu, & Viral Infections with Oyster Mushroom Pleuran

Mushrooms have been part of traditional healing practices for generations, and for good reason. Compounds from mushrooms have been shown to stop tumor growth, improve physical stamina, and enhance mental well-being. The right mushrooms also provide powerful immune-strengthening actions.

The medicinal value of mushrooms and their ability to prevent and treat upper respiratory tract infections was driven home to me after an experience on a recent trip. I don’t get ill very often, but travel, especially with the proximity and enclosed space of airline travel, definitely increases the risk of infection. On this occasion, I fell ill and felt utterly knocked out. 

As it happened, I was meeting some of the people who had been researching the immune-bolstering properties of oyster mushrooms. And fortunately, my contact in Europe provided me with supplemental pleuran from this very source. I started taking it, and within three days, I was completely recovered! Needless to say, this has been one of my favorite discoveries to date. 

And I’m not alone. As I travel through Europe, I make it a priority to stop in pharmacies to see what is selling in natural medicines. I often find this same pleuran from oyster mushrooms sold in two different formulations: 100 mg pleuran plus 100 mg of vitamin C as a daily preventative supplement for children and adults, and an acute formulation for adults taken during an active infection, with 300 mg of pleuran plus 160 mg of vitamin C and 10 mg of zinc. 

Clinically studied for over 25 years, oyster mushroom pleuran is extremely popular in Europe and has been available around the world for 25 years. It’s now found in 40 countries. It helps you breathe easier, clears sinuses, controls coughs, prevents infections, and speeds recovery. Fortunately for all of us, it is now available in the United States. 

Some researchers have referred to the stimulating effect that oyster mushroom pleuran has on the immune system as “trained immunity.” Pleuran reprograms immune cell reactions and, over time, helps build resistance. Interestingly, while pleuran is named, in part, after the species of mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, that contains it, “pleura” also refers to the lungs specifically, and breathing and sinus clarity generally. Experience and clinical studies show that it is a very appropriately named component of these mushrooms.

Mushrooms have been part of culinary and medical traditions for generations, but we’re only beginning to unravel why they work so well to strengthen the immune system. Pleuran is an insoluble beta-glucan found only in oyster mushrooms that interacts with Peyer’s patches, which are immune-influencing sites in the small intestines. These small groups of follicle-like tissues are connected to the lymphatic system. They work as part of the immune system’s early warning system and will alert and activate lymphocytes, white blood cells that intercept and stop bacterial and viral invaders. 

Once pleuran binds to macrophage receptors in the intestinal wall, protective responses are activated. Pleuran also prevents viral infiltration and replication and encourages healthy gut bacteria, which also boosts immune resistance to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

Cold and flu season affects everyone, especially kids. When you consider that children typically have had less time to develop strong immune systems and spend much of their days in close proximity with other kids, it’s easy to see why upper respiratory infections are so common. In fact, they typically get 6 to 8 colds per year. Not surprisingly, these infections spread to entire families, with everyone either becoming ill or taking care of those who are under the weather. At that point, time off from school and altered work schedules become the norm, no matter how careful you are. If this situation sounds familiar, I’m here to tell you that it does not need to be inevitable.

As I mentioned earlier, if your children get upper respiratory tract infections throughout the cold and flu season, which typically corresponds with the school year, keeping them healthy is critical for your entire family. Clinically studied for safety and efficacy, pleuran shows great results for stopping infections in kids.

For example, one study reported that the majority of children taking this extract for three months, starting in August, saw a drop in illnesses by over 50 percent compared to the year before. They went from an average of 8.9 infections per year to just 3.6 during this treatment time.  Considering how that corresponds with their time in school, I think that’s quite impressive.
Another clinical study examined the preventive effects of oyster mushroom pleuran on children and found virtually the same results. After three months of treatment, the number of upper respiratory tract infections was reduced by half. And includes fewer ear infections and less cases of bronchitis, the common cold, laryngitis, and even pneumonia. Plus, it was extremely well-tolerated by the children in the study and got a high approval rating for effectiveness from 85 percent of their parents.

Yet another clinical study reported similar results after supplementing with pleuran—50 percent fewer respiratory tract infections during the treatment time. Again, that included fewer instances of ear infections, bronchitis, and the common cold. Plus, the effects appeared to last even after the treatment period, showing that it truly strengthens and trains the immune system to defend against a variety of illnesses.

One study that combined oyster mushroom pleuran and vitamin C reported that 36 percent of the children taking this combination didn’t have any respiratory infections during the active treatment period. Bear in mind that the children participating in this study had previously dealt with at least 5 infections in the year leading up to the study. Pleuran also reduced frequency of other flu and flu-like illnesses and cases of lower respiratory tract infections. Researchers found that this combination appeared to assist in antibody production and help mature the immune responses in the children, which may explain the preventative effects seen even after the supplement was no longer being taken.

In addition to colds, many children and adults suffer from recurring seasonal allergies that cause just as much havoc as any infection, and sometimes actually lead to increased infections because of the way allergies tax the immune system. But here too, pleuran from oyster mushrooms can help.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections found that pleuran reduced the number of eosinophils, white blood cells typically associated with intense allergic responses. It also moderated the levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), antibodies that surge to cells in the nose, lungs, skin, or throat that then release compounds that cause allergy symptoms, like sneezing, itching, or coughing. If you or your children contend with seasonal allergies, daily use of pleuran before and during peak allergy season can definitely help.

Clinical research shows that oyster mushroom pleuran has remarkable benefits in adults, too.

If you’ve ever come down with a cold after physically-demanding activity, then you’ve experienced a common issue. Even though physical activity is a must for good health, exercise can sometimes deplete the strength of the immune system, leaving a person open to illnesses. Fortunately, pleuran addresses that very problem.

Placebo-controlled clinical studies showed that after periods of intensive exercise, oyster mushroom pleuran prevented upper respiratory infections, preserved infection-fighting levels of natural killer (NK) cells, and strengthened white blood cell activity. By comparison, the placebo group saw their NK levels drop by 28 percent, making them much more prone to illness.

Oyster mushroom pleuran finely tunes immune responses in cases of autoimmune conditions as well. For example, individuals with Crohn’s disease are often susceptible to other infections, including respiratory illnesses, even though their primary concern is an intestinal disease. This can be due to their immune-suppressing medications or the autoimmune condition itself. 

Fortunately, a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study reported pleuran significantly prevented secondary illnesses during the 12-month regimen. It worked well with the participant’s conventional medication and did not trigger any Crohn’s symptoms. 

Vitamin C is one of the best-known immune boosters. Taken for prevention, it may reduce the incidence of colds by as much as 50 percent. But it is key to get vitamin C regularly during the year and at the first signs of illness, because it can be used up quickly when your immune system is under attack. Vitamin C also has a natural antihistamine effect and alleviates allergy symptoms, making it an excellent partner to pleuran.

In fact, vitamin C was combined with oyster mushroom pleuran in some of the clinical studies I’ve mentioned here. Those same studies reported that compared to vitamin C alone, the combination of pleuran and vitamin C showed double the effectiveness in preventing flu symptoms and respiratory infections.

The higher levels of pleuran, vitamin C, and the addition of zinc for acute relief was perfect for cases like mine when I was traveling. It’s the right choice for any adult who suddenly finds themselves dealing with an infection.

In acute cases, zinc can be especially helpful. This mineral is also recommended for illnesses ranging from seasonal flu viruses to COVID-19. It prevents viruses from replicating and helps keep your existing defenses strong. Zinc also helps your body adapt and fight bacteria or viruses that it has never encountered in the past. This powerful nutrient has been found to reduce the duration of cold symptoms by 42 percent compared to a placebo, but like vitamin C, it needs to be taken at the first sign of an illness. So it’s understandable that the researchers who pioneered pleuran as a natural medicine also recommend a short-term boost that includes zinc.

Pleuran from oyster mushrooms has also been shown to be effective in preventing or reducing the symptoms that accompany herpes (HSV-1) flare-ups. This is good news for anyone who uses conventional drug treatment, because in much the same way that antibiotics can cause bacterial resistance, long-term use of the antiviral medication acyclovir can cause viral resistance. Plus, people struggling with herpes often develop respiratory flu-like symptoms because their immune system is already taxed. Fortunately, pleuran can help. In a clinical study, participants with HSV-1 were provided with either a placebo or a combination of a higher dosage of oyster mushroom pleuran (300 mg), vitamin C (160 mg), and zinc (10 mg) for the first 10 days of the treatment. These nutrients were given at higher levels as a way of jump-starting the immune response.

The results came quickly. Within only five days, a higher proportion of individuals in the pleuran group were already free of herpes symptoms. After the intensive, acute phase of treatment, participants took the lower, daily maintenance dosage level of pleuran (100 mg) and vitamin C (100 mg) for 120 days–the same level I’d recommend to adults and children to prevent colds, flus, and other infections. As seen in other studies, those taking the pleuran combination in this long-term segment saw the duration of any accompanying respiratory symptoms, like runny nose and cough, greatly reduced compared to the placebo group. 

My own experience with a respiratory infection while traveling was that this same high dosage form knocks out illnesses very fast, whatever the cause. You can determine whether or not you’d like to follow that with a daily maintenance dose just to keep the immune system well poised to stop any further illness. If you’re susceptible to respiratory tract infections, ear infections, or other issues, it may be a good idea.

For the extract I recommend, the oyster mushrooms are hand-harvested and carefully separated from their caps. The stems are kept at a cold temperature following harvest, with refrigerated trucks used to transport them. This prevents enzyme damage to pleuran, and helps it retain its immune-strengthening actions. The stems are then dried and concentrated for the valuable pleuran content. Pleuran must be taken on an empty stomach. As I described earlier, pleuran needs to come into contact with specific cells in the intestines in order for it to work. Food can block pleuran from making this contact and render it ineffective. To get the full benefits of pleuran, take it 30 minutes before or 2 hours after a meal. 

Daily Immune Strength for Children and Adults: For a safe and effective combination that helps you and your children sail through cold and flu season with ease, I urge you to add a combination of 100 mg of pleuran and 100 mg of vitamin C to your daily regimen. Clinical studies found that children responded best when this formula was taken at or before the beginning of the school year, and continued on through March. Of course, adults and children can take it daily, especially during allergy season when reactions to pollen are at their height, or when the potential for asthma symptoms is greatest.

Acute Cold and Flu Relief in Adults: Oyster mushroom pleuran is extremely valuable for battling virtually any challenge to the immune system. 
A 300 mg dosage of pleuran combined with 160 mg of synergistic vitamin C and 10 mg of zinc works quickly to relieve runny nose, sore throat, congestion, and ear infections, and helps speed recovery.

I can tell you from experience that pleuran stops infections and relieves symptoms. Taken daily, it also prevents colds, flus, ear infections, allergies, and asthma. Pleuran is incredibly effective and safe, with 25 years of research and real-world use to back it up. If you want to protect yourself and your family and stay strong through–and beyond–cold and flu season, I urge you to add pleuran from oyster mushrooms to your regimen today.