1950s: The Forgotten Power of Fungi
In the 1950s, the Western world began to delve into the untapped potential of nature for medical advancements. Penicillin, derived from a fungus, was heralded as a miracle drug after World War II, transforming public perception of fungi from obscure organisms to life-saving allies. Despite this, the era focused more on technological progress than on natural remedies, and functional mushrooms remained in the shadow. However, in Eastern traditions, particularly in China and Japan, medicinal mushrooms like Reishi and Shiitake had been deeply ingrained in cultural and healing practices for centuries. This decade quietly set the stage for what would become a broader interest in fungi’s benefits in the coming years.