About 10 years ago Willis Mitchell was invited to forage for mushrooms. “I was just fascinated. Oh my God! This is food? This tastes amazing! And then I found out they’re highly medicinal and I could not stop educating myself about them!”
His passion eventually led to the recent opening of an apothecary, The Loving Fungi, on NW Colorado Avenue in Bend. Willis has created a variety of mushroom or plant-based products that he says have medicinal qualities. Products include tea, powdered chocolate, a coffee alternative as well as tinctures, oils and minerals. Willis says each product provides a different boost to things like energy, mood, cognition, immunity, or addresses a specific ailment.
Standing in front of shelves filled with dozens of bottles, Willis explains what a few of them are. “We have three wild harvested mushroom seasonings that are very popular. These have elements like porcini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms that have a delightful umami flavor. We have many beneficial blends to choose from – a popular one for cognitive and mood boost is our Brain Bliss blend. We have supportive medicinals for hormonal balance like our Chariot and Chalice capsules for men and women, as well as our Full Send tincture to help with the building blocks of testosterone. The thing we’re finding is that most people could benefit from using is our Shilajit Resin and Ormus mineral drops to remineralize depleted or deficient stores, as well as to boost well being. Our foods don’t have them in high enough concentrations anymore due to modern farming practices and we need them daily for most bodily functions”
Many of the products generally start around $30, but Willis says a small jar will last several months because the mixtures are potent. He stresses that customers should ask questions and educate themselves to make sure a product doesn’t conflict with any medication.
“One of the original blends that we have been making for years that is very popular is our Zen Mind tincture. Reducing daytime anxiety, calming and soothing the nervous system – It consists of four plants and a mushroom ally that help to slow down the electrical currents of the nervous system. I think most people could benefit from that nowadays,” he says.
The products he makes are sold under The Loving Fungi label, but he does sell other products in his store from companies that match his ethos such as Premier Research Labs, Global Healing, Remedy Link and Analemma structured water. He also sells a variety of crystals and Orgonite.
In the evenings, Willis is hosting monthly classes. The first one is about astrology. Each month focuses on a different planet and its correlating essence medicines. Each session is $100, which includes a bottle of the essence and a printout of your personal natal chart with information about that planet’s influence on your life. The next class, which features Jupiter, is March 26 at 6:30pm.
The store also has an EMF free treatment room where different practioners will give massages and other services.
While The Loving Fungi is now open, Willis is planning a grand opening celebration on March 21 that will include music, drinks, a raffle, practitioners and vendors. The party will start at the store, then move to Palate coffee in the evening.
The Loving Fungi
Wed-Fri Noon-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
Grand Opening Celebration Sat. March 21
519 NW Colorado Ave., Bend
thelovingfungi.com/
This article appears in the Source March 5, 2026.
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