Our Story

Hi, I'm Dr. Anna Sitkoff, co-founder of Lucidum Medicinals, practicing naturopathic physician, and medicinal mushroom researcher and educator.

Since childhood I've been fascinated by the natural world's power to heal and sustain us.

My journey into the world of medicinal mushrooms began during one of my family's most challenging periods—my father's treatment for leukemia.

Seeking complementary treatments, we encountered medicinal mushrooms at the Osher Center for Integrative Health in San Francisco.

This experience ignited my passion for mycology and natural medicine, leading me to begin researching and teaching about medicinal mushrooms, and ultimately, after my father’s death, to complete my Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine.

going deep

During my medical education I spent many hours on laboratory research investigating the impact of medicinal mushroom extracts on the same type of leukemia cells that proliferated in my father.

During this time I continued writing and teaching, eventually leading me to author the Medicinal Mushrooms chapter in the industry standard Textbook of Natural Medicine, and to have my research published in the prestigious Journal of Immunology.

As I entered clinical practice I was disappointed by the quality and effectiveness of commercially available mushroom products for my patients, most of which lacked potency, precision, and clinical efficacy.

I teamed up with my husband, Dr. Matt Baran-Mickle, also a practicing naturopathic physician, and our dear friend Mikail, an entrepreneur and life-long mushroom enthusiast, to bring clinically-relevant mushroom medicine to my patients and to you.

As Chief Science Officer I guide our team in formulating clinical-grade, system-targeted mushroom formulas that embody the precision and care inherent in effective natural medicine.

Lucidum Medicinals embodies our vision of a world where we can all spend our time on what matters: caring for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

When we’re not spreading mushroom medicine to the world, you can find us foraging in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, with our patients, Matt and Anna's little one, or around the dinner table strengthening our mycelial connections with each other and our communities.

I hope you’ll join us.

The Lucidum Difference

Physician-founded, physician-formulated

Lucidum Medicinals is the only mushroom brand founded and formulated by physicians. Dr. Anna brings her decade of experience in mycology and natural medicine to each formulation so that every patient gets what they need, and none of what they don’t. See what other practitioners are saying about Lucidum formulas below.

Formulas, not "blends"

Other brands sell either single mushrooms or “blends” that throw the kitchen sink at you. Single mushrooms lack synergism, while blends with 5+ ingredients lack focus and specificity. Our formulas are carefully crafted for each body system, informed by available scientific evidence and traditional use, using only the mushrooms that matter.

Guaranteed quality & potency

Our mushrooms are tested extensively to guarantee not only safety but potency. Each is tested for key active ingredients, like beta-glucans and terpenoids, as well as for the absence of the alpha-glucans you would find in myceliated grains or “full spectrum” mushroom products.

Extracted for maximum potency

The active molecules in mushrooms are a major component of the fungal cell wall, making them hard to digest and absorb. Our formulas use fruiting body extracted in water and alcohol that is easy to absorb and highly bioavailable so you get the most out of your mushroom medicine.

100% fruiting body - no mycelium or grain

What we know as a mushroom is the fruiting body - what we see above ground, and can harvest in the wild. The below-ground mycelium part of the fungus has no traditional use, and, crucially, cannot be separated from what it’s growing on. Commercial mycelium products are grown on fermented grain - which makes up a substantial portion of the final product. We use potent 100% fruiting body only, so you get the most out of each mushroom.

Committed to mushroom medicine

Mushrooms and natural medicine are not a trend for us - we founded Lucidum Medicinals on a backbone of 10+ years of experience in mycology and natural medicine. We use mushrooms to support a deep life of connection, love, and vitality for our families, our communities, and our patients. We hope you will too.