Agaricus blazei (Agaricus brasiliensis, Himematsutake, 姫松茸)

is a species of mushroom, that research has shown can stimulate the immune system and exhibit anti-cancer activity.

These effects are thought to be due to the mushroom's high concentration of low molecular weight polysaccharides.

Unlike some other medicinal mushrooms, Agaricus blazei was not cultivated in the East until fairly recently. This mushroom was imported to Japan from Brazil and cultivated in the 1970s.

In Japan, Agaricus blazei is a highly popular alternative medicine, which is used by close to 500,000 people.

This mushroom can be used to treat Polio, escherichia coli and Western equine encephalitis.