PSP is an abbreviation of 'PolySaccharoPeptide': now in general known as 'proteo-glycan'. ORIVeDA's PSP-50 is identical to the original PSP as it was developed in China, over 25 years ago. In itself PSP is an improved version of the well-known Japanese PSK, which is even older. (See our FAQ for the differences / similarities between these two)

ORIVeDA's PSP-50 has been cultivated and extracted using the original methods. The only difference is a significant higher purity due to the more advanced 21st century pharmaceutical techniques. Only pure COV-1® mycelium (the 'roots' of the mushroom) was used for the extract, having the highest level of the desired bioactives.

According to the original research the most potent source of 'PSP' is that COV-1® mycelium strain (more details here)  which should ideally have been cultivated using so-called 'deep layer cultivation' (growing it in sterile laboratory tanks, in liquid substrate). This technique is standard in China but hardly used anywhere else, due to the high cost.

Cheap cultivation techniques are using rice/grains to grow mushrooms (solid substrate), but since it is impossible to isolate the spiderweb-like mycelium from the substrate in the end the final product is in fact 'biomass', not mushroom. It is contaminated with undigested substrate in the form of starch; levels can be as high as 80% (!).

Such products are not per definition without potential but in general their actual therapeutic effects are low and the value for money is poor. On top of that these products are in general not extracted, rendering them even less useful. They do not specify any bioactive compounds on their labels and a 2016 test report showed several of these product contained no beta-glucan at all, only starch. Research found that the immunological effects of mushroom extracts are up to 10 times higher when compared against non-extracted powders.

An objective and easy-to-follow mushroom supplement shopping-guideline can be found on our articles page. It explains facts like the above and others, good to know when shopping for mushroom supplements.

Recommended maintenance dosage: 3 capsules p/day. A leaflet with detailed instructions and background is included with every order.

Scientific research uses in general specialized, highly concentrated extracts to investigate the effects of medicinal mushrooms. ORIVeDA extracts are comparable in both composition and quality, so the research results you read about you can also expect from our extracts.

Extracted using hot water followed by alcohol precipitation - the main bioactives are water-solubles with a high molecular weight according to research. Alcohol precipitation is a purification process. It removes useless matter and low molecular weight compounds and thus increases the concentration of bioactives in the final product. The final product contains no alcohol.

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