Mycologist, Clinician & Research Scientist
Christopher Hobbs, PhD, LAc
Monday, January 23, 2023
Delve into new research that shows that mushroom fiber is the most effective type of prebiotic fiber — helping to regulate mood, immunity, blood circulation, sleep, and sexual function, while lessening the threat of many cancers by up to 33%.
For thousands of years, cultures around the world have relied on mushrooms for their incredible health-promoting and medicinal properties.
Mushrooms were widely used in ancient Egypt. East Asian traditions and Indigenous cultures embrace mushrooms’ healing power. The Chinese have called reishi mushroom the Elixir of Life.
Now, Westerners are recognizing mushrooms’ nutritional and medicinal properties for the body, mind, and spirit.
And it’s no wonder! Mushrooms can strengthen your immune system, help prevent cancer and heart disease, improve digestion, support healthy bones, boost cognitive function, and much more — according to decades of worldwide scientific research.
Meanwhile, the scientific community continues to uncover the many ways psilocybin (aka hallucinogenic mushrooms) can help ease depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD.
Mushrooms are a very sustainable food source that’s simple to grow, and simple to gather — either online or in the forest. They can also help you transition to a more plant-based diet with their abundance of protein, fiber, and vitamins.
With all these benefits at your fingertips, where should you begin if you want to make the most of mushrooms’ healing powers — and integrate them into your life in a lasting way?
Join us for a 7-week live video course with Dr. Christopher Hobbs, internationally renowned author and herbalist, and learn how to boost your wellbeing as you bring the scientifically proven benefits of mushrooms into your daily life.
In this information-packed online video course, you’ll:
- Learn to incorporate mushrooms into your diet, health journey, and spiritual life
- Discern the quality of your retail mushroom supplements
- Discover how mushrooms are among the most powerful and safest remedies for boosting your immune response because of their cell-wall polymers
- Learn how certain mushrooms can stimulate your immune processes responsible for cancer and tumor suppression
- Explore important antioxidants found in mushrooms that seem to have a profound impact on aging
- Learn the best methods for cooking with mushrooms
- Try techniques for making mushroom powders and teas at home
- Properly dose mushrooms to make the most of their healing properties
- Discover ways mushrooms can help you modulate and regulate your immune system to prevent bacterial or viral infections
- Discover the importance of mushrooms for keeping our forests and ecosystems healthy and thriving
- Learn about the many benefits of gilled mushrooms, chaga mushrooms, cordyceps, turkey tail, reishi, lion’s mane, and more
- Explore how psilocybin works in the brain to help alleviate childhood trauma, PTSD, addiction, and mental illness
- Discover key ways to recognize types of mushrooms, ranging from morels to wood ears
- Learn the best times of year and types of weather to forage mushrooms
As more wellness seekers learn about the many benefits of mushrooms, misinformation is on the rise. After many years of speaking, teaching, writing, and treating patients, Dr. Hobbs is well-versed in the most essential information you need to bring mushrooms into your routines for safe and effective natural healing.
A fourth-generation herbalist and licensed acupuncturist, Dr. Hobbs has a doctorate from UC Berkeley — and is beloved by his students for his ability to share the benefits of mushrooms in actionable, clear, and inspiring ways they can implement right away.
During your seven weeks together, Dr. Hobbs will walk you through five of the most popular healing mushrooms — and teach you to be an informed shopper, a skilled forager, and a confident cook. He’ll explain the dosing guidelines you’ll need to make the most of mushrooms’ healing benefits, and much more.
“Christopher Hobbs is a recognized master of herbal healing and plant medicine…”
This course demystified the many uses of mushrooms for strengthening immunity (including fighting cancer), and as a vehicle for personal expansion and transformation. Christopher Hobbs is a recognized master of herbal healing and plant medicine, and was readily approachable throughout the course.
— Gregor, Healdsburg, California
What You’ll Discover in These 7 Weeks
In this 7-week transformational intensive, Dr. Hobbs will guide you through the fundamental skills and competencies you’ll need to successfully create transformational food and medicine in your kitchen — or gather it from the wild, online, or in health food stores and supermarkets.
Join the Livestream — or Stream Later to Watch at Your Convenience
You’ll connect with Dr. Hobbs and experience his teachings through livestreaming video via any connected device. This connection is easy to use and will enhance the impact of his teachings and demonstrations. Can’t make it live? After each class, you can stream the video and audio recordings to enjoy anytime and anywhere at your convenience.
Weekly Sessions Mondays at 11:00am Pacific
This course will feature LIVE teachings, interactive training sessions, experiential practices, and Q&A with Dr. Hobbs. Each session will build harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to delve into five popular mushrooms and all their wellness properties.
Module 1: Introducing Mushrooms for Optimal Health, Cognition & Longevity (January 23)
For thousands of years, people have used mushrooms for both food and medicine. The Chinese have called mushrooms the “elixir of life.”
As a food, mushrooms are cholesterol-free, as well as low in calories, fat, carbs, and sodium, and they are the highest fiber source and loaded with high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Throughout history, mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes to promote good health, fight illness, enhance memory, and increase longevity.
Today, mushrooms are having a proper moment in history. They have been the subject of clinical research studies around the world that show they are amazing immune-supporting activators, protecting us from a wide range of pathogens as well as cancer.
During this opening session, you’ll learn how mushrooms, when used correctly, hold the capacity to change your life in an immediate and powerful way.
In this module, you’ll:
- Get started with a variety of resources, including the world-class field guides
- Explore the transformative power of mushrooms, including how they can help address the biggest problems in our world
- Discover that mushrooms are the best way to transition to a more plant-based diet — they’re very tasty, nutritious, and far more sustainable
- Learn that mushrooms are superfoods, high-quality protein, and much more... as food-medicine, they are part of herbal medicine traditions — rich in fiber, antioxidants, and super nutrition
- Explore exciting new research! — mushrooms are the most potent source of prebiotic fiber for diversifying our microflora
Module 2: Using Mushrooms Medicinally to Transform Your Health (January 30)
In this module, you’ll learn the practical applications for adding mushrooms to your diet, creating powerful medicine for every body system. Dr. Hobbs will explain how easily you can incorporate mushrooms into your daily life — for healing different ailments and symptoms, but also for prevention.
You’ll see how different fungi have individual adaptogenic properties of the most prominent superfood varieties and how incorporating them into your daily routine can take your health, longevity, and performance to the next level.
In this module, you’ll:
- Explore the healing power of mushrooms for the most common symptoms and ailments
- Discover how to slow the aging process by adding mushroom food-medicine to your diet
- Learn the specific mushroom species and medicines to help with...
- High blood sugar; insulin balance
- Heart health
- Immune weakness
- Mood imbalances
- Cognition and memory
- Liver support
- Respiratory tract infections
- Nerve and cognitive support
- Chronic inflammation
- Prebiotics
- Cardiovascular support
- Weight management
- Understand how eating just two portions of mushrooms weekly can provide major benefits
- Learn to properly dose mushrooms to make the most of their healing properties
Module 3: The Best Ways to Source (in the Field or the Store) & Prepare Mushrooms to Save Money & Consistently Eat Well (February 6)
In this module, you’ll discover where you can procure mushrooms — through foraging in the woods, growing your own, or purchasing them in the market.
If you’re looking for them in the wild, you’ll learn to discern whether they’re safe and under what conditions and places you can find the best medicinal and edible mushrooms. (And the entire final module will be dedicated to foraging! )
You’ll also learn cooking techniques that allow you to maximize their healing properties. You’ll also learn how to source organic mushrooms and make your own products like a double-extraction tea to jumpstart your healing process.
In this module, you’ll learn:
- The basics on how to find mushrooms in the wild
- How to take a spore print — a rainbow of colors!
- The joys of foraging with the family, friends, or alone as a meditation
- Best practices for finding in the market the best edibles and medicinals
- A simple method to evaluate quality
- To make your own medicine — potent mushroom powders at ¼ the cost!
- Techniques to make powders and teas at home
- Delicious and healthy ways to cook mushrooms — including traditional dishes with important medicinal mushrooms
Module 4: All About Fungi — An In-Depth Examination for a Well-Rounded Understanding of the Mushroom World (February 13)
Mushrooms grow abundantly in the wild — they’re unique and are neither a vegetable nor a plant. In this module, you’ll explore how mushrooms live, get their energy, and grow. You’ll build on some of what’s already been covered and continue to cultivate a better understanding of how to identify mushrooms of all kinds and, most importantly, how to avoid the toxic ones.
You’ll explore how important mushrooms are to our ecosystem and how they offer answers to some of the most pressing issues of our times — medically and environmentally. Mushrooms can help restore habitats devastated by pollution and they can create sustainable fuel. Mycelium, the vegetative part of the mushroom, exude enzymes — antimicrobial and antiviral compounds that create a cellular foundation for rich soil and sustain what’s necessary for life.
In this module, you’ll:
- Continue to deepen your awareness of and refine your ability to identify the major types of medicinal and edible fungi in the wild
- Learn the top 5 medicinal mushrooms you can find in the woods
- Discover how important mushrooms are for keeping our ecosystems healthy and thriving — including how fungi help the forest recover and speed the growth of new trees
- Explore how edible fungi can transform agricultural and home-garden yard waste into valuable protein and nutrient-dense food
- Receive a Cultivation Primer — growing your own is so satisfying!
Module 5: Exploring the Top 5 Medicinal Mushrooms for Immunity, Anti-Inflammation, Heart Health, Anti-Anxiety & More (February 27)
Edible mushrooms have nutritional benefits — ALL of which contain vitamins, selenium, protein, and fiber. There are, however, many different species of mushrooms that provide additional wellness benefits.
In this module, you’ll be learning about five of the easiest, healthiest mushrooms to procure in the woods or the marketplace — shiitake, reishi, lion’s mane, chaga, and cordyceps. Plus, a few more in brief. You’ll learn where they grow and the variety of ways that herbalists use them today.
In this module, you’ll:
- Discover how chaga mushrooms are rich with antioxidants and beta glucans, and offer immune and heart support — they’re also anti-inflammatory, they’re good for lowering blood pressure, and they increase energy levels
- Explore the many ways cordyceps mushrooms, found high in the Himalayas, provide great immune support by helping maintain blood sugar levels and providing oxygen on a cellular level, which improves heart health
- Learn that turkey tail mushrooms are the most potent immune modulators — they have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, are full of antioxidants, and contain prebiotics that enhance gut health and help nourish helpful bacteria
- Discover the way reishi mushrooms provide relief for inflammation, cardiovascular issues, liver detoxification, and stress reduction
- Explore how lion’s mane mushrooms bring relief for anxiety and mild depression symptoms — as well as improve your memory
Module 6: Considering the Invitation Offered Through Mushrooms to Raise Consciousness & Heal Unresolved Trauma (March 6)
The opinions expressed here are those of the presenter and are not representative of Shift Network employees, customers, or other presenters. Christopher Hobbs is not recommending the use of psychedelic mushrooms. He is presenting the historical relationship of psychedelic medicines with humans for over 3,000 years, current clinical research, as well as his own 30+ years of experience with them. Dr. Hobbs leaves it up to each participant to make his or her own choice.
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms,” have been used for healing by Indigenous cultures for thousands of years. Psilocybin was outlawed in the 1970s despite the inroads being made by the medical community on its healing properties. Today, scientific studies show that psilocybin-assisted therapy can produce better and more consistent results than any other form of treatment for depression and addiction and other ailments. Beyond psychiatric issues, psilocybin has also been shown to transform the human psyche on an existential, philosophical, and spiritual level. Microdosing regularly might provide long-term cognitive and memory benefits based on preliminary research. Clinical trials are in progress.
In this module, you’ll:
- Discover how psilocybin works in the brain to alleviate childhood trauma, PTSD, addiction, and mental illness
- Explore what clinical trials are finding as they delve deeper into research on depression and addiction
- Learn what microdosing is and why it generates higher levels of creativity, increased focus and mindfulness, and reduced anxiety
- Understand the ways psilocybin increases neurogenesis to strengthen brain circuitry and grow new circuitry
- Learn how to find facilitators — both lay practitioners as well as licensed counselors, psychologists, and other professionals — to lead visualized journeys with mushrooms for help achieving higher consciousness and psychological wellness
Module 7: Mushroom Foraging for Fun, Finances & Community Resiliency (March 13)
In this final module, you’ll learn how to get into the woods and start scouting mushrooms!
Foraging has become popular in the past few years, but most people only know or look for a few best-known species like chanterelles, porcini, and oyster. Quite a few more species are delicious and can be easily identified with a good field guide and some help from experienced mushroomers. It’s important that you are knowledgeable about what you’re searching for. Hunting mushrooms, noting their uniqueness, and learning their secrets will help deepen your connection to nature and the world around you.
In this module, you’ll:
- Discover key ways to recognize types of wild mushrooms, ranging from morels to wood ears
- Learn to find, identify and harvest the top edibles — reishi, porcini, matsutake, chanterelles, edible russulas, and more!
- Understand the best times of the year and types of weather to forage mushrooms
- Learn how to regeneratively harvest mushrooms so they continue to grow year after year
- Discover ways to join a passionate and fun mycological society to build community and continue your enjoyment of mushroom hunting
The Healing Power of Mushrooms Bonus Collection
In addition to Dr. Hobbs’ transformative 7-week virtual course, you’ll receive these special bonuses to take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.
Medicinal Mushrooms for Cellular Defense
PDF Guide From Dr. Christopher Hobbs
This 36-page color booklet offers a great overview of the medicinal and nutritional benefits of mushrooms when added to your diet and as health supplements.
Tables and charts help you find the information you need at a glance, and this guide also includes a number of mushroom recipes you can make at home to supercharge your nutrition. Stuffed mushroom caps, mushroom barley soup, and a pizzetta are just a few of the delicious recipes you’ll find in this handy booklet.
What Graduates of Dr. Christopher Hobbs’ Courses Are Saying...
“... the course was like a mystical journey into a magical world with Dr. Hobbs as an inspiring guide.”
As a result of taking this course, I feel much more confident about foraging for mushrooms. The information about the different characteristics of mushrooms and what to look for when identifying mushrooms is invaluable. The course was loaded with useful and applicable information ranging from foraging to preparing and using mushrooms as a food and medicine for body, mind, and spirit. For me, the course was like a mystical journey into a magical world with Dr. Hobbs as an inspiring guide.
— Paulette Angela Bennett, clinical herbalist and Qigong instructor
“Dr. Hobbs is a wonderful and visionary teacher.”
Dr. Hobbs is a wonderful and visionary teacher. He presented the material in depth and yet also simply and accessibly. Highly recommend the course for anyone hoping to increase their knowledge of medicinal mushrooms.
— Cynthia S., Point Reyes Station, California
“The course has been invaluable.”
I learned so much about the medicinal benefits of mushrooms for humans and the environment! I was able to immediately apply the information to my life. The course has been invaluable.
— Jamie, Bay Area, California
“Dr Hobbs is very knowledgeable and an excellent teacher.”
This course was a wonderful quick dive into many different aspects of fungi. Nutritional and medicinal uses of mushrooms, what to look for when buying mushroom products, how to cook them, foraging for them in the wild, and general information about them as well. Dr Hobbs is very knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. I absolutely loved this course.
— Danielle Caster, Woodland, California
Join the Global Community
Transform Your Health & Raise Your Consciousness With the Healing Power of Mushrooms offers some of the most transformational online teachings available, within a thriving global community of learning and practice.
Join fellow students and practitioners to support and inspire each other as you integrate the teachings and practices that Dr. Christopher Hobbs will share in this powerful training.
You’ll join an international community on the leading edge of manifesting a world grounded in the principles of cooperation, harmony, and reverence for all of life.
Here’s What You’ll Receive
Seven 105-Minute Class Sessions With Christopher Hobbs, PhD, LAc
Experience a unique opportunity to be mentored by and learn from renowned herbalist, acupuncturist, mycologist, clinician, and research scientist Dr. Christopher Hobbs from the comfort of your own home. Each class includes a livestreaming video option and will guide you to delve into five popular mushrooms and all their wellness properties. Course sessions are on Mondays at 11:00am Pacific.
Seven Video Recordings of Class Sessions
After each class, the video will be available for you to stream in a high-quality format. You’ll never have to worry about missing a session, and you can watch anytime and anywhere at your convenience.
Seven Audio Recordings of Class Sessions
After each class, the audio will be available for you to stream. You’ll never have to worry about missing a session, and you can listen anytime and anywhere at your convenience.
Seven Transcripts of Class Sessions
You'll also receive the entire class transcription after each session is completed. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given.
Seven 15-Minute Interactive Group Practice Sessions
With live class attendance, there will be a 15-minute optional interactive practice session directly following each class. You’ll be placed in an intimate group with several other participants on the conference call to interact, share, and do additional practices to help you further integrate the weekly lessons. Practice sessions are available for live attendance only and are not recorded for playback. If you’re unable to attend the calls live, the Facebook online community group allows you to connect with each other and find alternative times to interact.
Interactive Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
Between class sessions, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each week’s lesson.
Online Community
Our exclusive Facebook online community is the perfect place to continue your discovery process after each class. Here, you can continue the discussion about your course materials and interact with your fellow students to take your exploration to an even deeper level.
The Healing Power of Mushrooms Bonus Collection
- Medicinal Mushrooms for Cellular Defense
PDF Guide From Dr. Christopher Hobbs
An Unprecedented Opportunity to Join the Online Training, Transform Your Health & Raise Your Consciousness With the Healing Power of Mushrooms
We feel honored that Dr. Christopher Hobbs has chosen to partner with The Shift Network to offer this exclusive LIVE online training. This is a unique opportunity to interact directly with a renowned herbalist, acupuncturist, mycologist, clinician, and research scientist whose powerful insights and pioneering work are helping us heal and awaken ourselves and our world.
If you’re serious about delving into five popular mushrooms to boost your health and expand your consciousness, then you owe it to yourself, your loved ones, and our world to take this one-of-a-kind training.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your own evolution, click the register button below to reserve your space now.
Your Satisfaction Is 100% Guaranteed!
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed! If you don’t absolutely LOVE Transform Your Health & Raise Your Consciousness With the Healing Power of Mushrooms — or don’t feel that it meets your needs — please submit your refund request form on or before February 6, 2023 and we’ll happily issue qualifying customers a refund.
More Praise for Christopher Hobbs, PhD, LAc...
“I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants an in-depth knowledge of herbal medicine and energetic principles.”
Thank you for a terrific course. I especially appreciated the organization of the material by major body system and the holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment. The blend of lectures, slide presentations, and text provided a thorough, well-rounded, integrated course on herbal medicine. The lessons were very detailed and thorough, and I learned a tremendous amount from them. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants an in-depth knowledge of herbal medicine and energetic principles.
— Julie Herzog, Elderberry Herb Farm, Sharon Springs, New York
“Thank you for creating this program!”
In the past, I never thought I’d do well with this type of program, as I prefer a classroom setting. However, once I saw Christopher’s presentation, I realized how in-depth and good this program would be for me. I have enjoyed each chapter and even though some is overview, I still learned more than I knew before. I have encouraged others to take this program because of the incredible instructional background and development, and how easy this is to fit into my current busy lifestyle. I am excited to progress onward through this study, and know this work will lead me to more of what I like in the herb profession.
— Kelly Clonts, manager at Peachtree Natural Foods, Atlanta, Georgia
“I have explored many herbal-distance learning programs, and this course is by far superior.”
I absolutely love this course! I have explored many herbal distance learning programs and this course is by far superior. The material is presented so that it’s easily understandable with great references, making the information easy to retain. The course goes beyond theory, and presents practical information that you can begin using immediately. I am finally making my own herbal remedies that are benefitting myself, my family, and friends. I would highly recommend Dr. Hobbs’ program to anyone interested in studying the wonder of herbs!
— L.M. Vellucci, martial arts instructor, Redmond, Oregon
“I highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of herbal medicine.”
The course has been an amazing adventure for me. There is so much information packed in a very organized way that builds from one lesson to the next. There’s an underlying theme throughout that helps one grasp concepts along the way. I especially loved the way that problems in each body system are addressed with well-defined herbal formulas that one can make. The information about the herbs themselves is invaluable, and I know I will be referring back to this course always. The course quizzes are a way to consolidate the information gained from each lesson, and at the end of each lesson one can continue with the additional projects listed, so the learning goes on! I highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of herbal medicine.
— Monique Portanger, registered and licensed occupational therapist
About Christopher Hobbs, PhD, LAc
Dr. Christopher Hobbs is a fourth-generation internationally renowned herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, herbal clinician, research scientist, consultant to the dietary supplement industry, expert witness, botanist, and mycologist with over 40 years of experience. The author and co-author of over 20 books, Dr. Hobbs lectures on herbal medicine worldwide.
He has taught at numerous universities and medical schools, including Bastyr University and the National School of Naturopathic Medicine. He taught classes for over seven years at University of California, Berkeley, as a PhD graduate student in evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, plant chemistry, and ethnobotany, and also as a faculty lecturer. Dr. Hobbs taught a fully accredited lab class in all aspects of herbal medicine at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s a virtual course?
A: It’s a great way to engage live and pre-recorded teachings and each other from the comfort of your home! All you need is a computer, mobile device, or telephone. If there’s more than one person in your household taking the course, you’ll each need your own connection. We use Zoom video conferencing to make it just like an in-person event, where you can ask questions and deepen your exploration of the course themes.
There’s no additional charge for connecting to Zoom with your computer or mobile device. Please note that dialing Zoom from your telephone is a toll call; your telephone service provider will charge you according to your existing long-distance calling plan. International access numbers are available.
“I’ve never seen a course so well put together ever...”
I had never participated before in an online course. The packaging, presentation, inclusion, and Facebook postings created a wonderful, safe cocoon within which to participate. I’ve never seen a course so well put together ever — not in all the years of taking college classes — and I had my doubts about doing an online course. The wealth of organization and ease of learning materials and support made this fun as well.
— Claudia F., Medford, Massachusetts
Can I still benefit from the course if I miss the live classes?
A: Absolutely! You can stream the recordings and download the transcripts of all course sessions, so you never need to worry about missing live calls. You can also engage with the full community and leaders in our private online community group.
Q: Can you tell me about the private online community group?
A: We’ll have a private online community group for all course participants on Facebook that will support you in making connections with others, sharing insights, engaging in discussions, and completing homework assignments that can supplement your transformational journey. You’ll have the ability to share your experiences, projects, and growth throughout the course.
Q: Are there scholarships available for this training?
A: Yes, we always make a certain percentage of spaces available for partial scholarships, for those who otherwise would not be able to enroll at the regular rate. If you’d like to apply for a scholarship, please review our guidelines, which include a link to our online application form.
Q: What’s your refund policy?
A: Your satisfaction with The Shift Network and this course is our highest priority! We offer a satisfaction guarantee so that you can sample the course risk-free. The deadline to receive a full refund is February 6, 2023. To request a refund, please click on this refund request form and submit your request. Qualifying refunds will be processed within five business days and an email confirming the refund will be sent. However, we’d love to have a chance to address and resolve your concerns first. If there’s something we can assist you with, please email us at support@theshiftnetwork.com and we’ll be happy to help! (No refund requests accepted after the above date or with scholarship awards.)
Q: How can I reach Customer Support?
A: Please visit our Customer Support Center, where you should be able to find the answer to your question or the solution to your problem. And if you can’t, you can submit an online request form and we’ll get right back to you.
