It was only a matter of time before medicinal mushrooms started to hit the headlines. In addition to being a rich source of vitamins and minerals, mushrooms offer an entourage of health benefits, most widely known for their anti-inflammatory and immune regulating properties – and goodness knows we’ve realised the importance of a healthy immune system during this little chapter of human existence! As such, over the past few years, it’s likely that mushrooms have popped into your awareness in some form. So, what are mushrooms exactly? The first kingdom to exist on earth: technically speaking, they sit somewhere between the kingdoms of animals and plants; with both plants and animals relying heavily on the world of fungi for life support. Most of the time their work is invisible to the naked eye. Intricate structures of mycelium (essentially a mushroom’s root system) creating an intricate web-like structure just below the surface of the earth. This system is largely responsible for complex nutrient exchange between the soil, trees, wild animals and insects. You might say they provide balance to the natural world all around us.