Eva Fauma, M.A., Lecturer

“True health does not come from isolated nutrients or substances, but from mindful habits and a holistic lifestyle. The potential of medicinal mushrooms for human health can only be fully realized when we combine the time-tested knowledge of traditional healing systems with the findings of modern research and understand them as part of a comprehensive approach to health.”

This conviction shapes the work of Eva Fauma, M.A.—a nutritionist and expert in traditional European medicine and mycotherapy—who is now regarded as one of the leading specialists in holistic health promotion and medicinal mushrooms. With her seminal work *Medicinal Mushrooms: Significance, Availability, and Application” (co-authored with Dr. Manuela Anger, Facultas/Maudrich) and other publications such as “Women’s Herbal Pharmacy: Recipes for a Lifetime” and “Food & Care” (Ärzteverlag), she has elevated the topics of mycotherapy and preventive nutrition to a level that is both scientifically sound and practically applicable.

Scientific Roots

She studied nutritional science at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Vienna. Building on this academic foundation, she embarked on an unconventional path that led her, through early experiences in food technology, to the realization that nutritional science is far more than just the sum of macronutrients and micronutrients. This insight led to the founding of the Institute for Preventive Nutrition—an institution that not only treats symptoms but focuses on preventive and holistic health promotion. Her specialization in Traditional European Medicine (TEM) makes her an important voice for the rich European healing tradition, which often receives less attention than Eastern healing systems.

Personal motivation

In her professional work, she focuses on preventive nutrition and the use of medicinal mushrooms as part of a holistic health approach. As a lecturer at the University of Krems and at teacher training colleges in Upper Austria, she passes on her knowledge to the next generation. She works as a nutritionist, an expert in workplace health promotion, and a sought-after speaker with people who want to take responsibility for their own health. In doing so, she places great emphasis on conveying knowledge in an accessible way and on combining traditional healing wisdom with scientific research.

Innovation, Standards, and Research

A central focus of her work is the integration of medicinal mushrooms into comprehensive health approaches, grounded in scientific evidence. She studies the bioactive components of mushrooms—including their immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and adaptogenic properties—and their application in mycotherapy.

Her current research focuses on mycotherapy as the perfect synthesis between traditional healing knowledge (mushrooms have been used therapeutically for centuries across various cultures) and scientific research (today, polysaccharides, triterpenes, and other active compounds have been well studied). Her publication “Medicinal Mushrooms: Significance, Availability, and Application” provides in-depth knowledge about various medicinal mushrooms—from oyster mushrooms to maitake to tinder fungus—and highlights their pharmacological properties as well as their practical applications. Particularly impressive is her ability to convey complex scientific content in a way that is both understandable and practically applicable—whether in lectures, cooking classes, or through her media appearances.

Literary Contributions

Her works demonstrate her expertise in various areas of holistic health: *Women’s Herbal Pharmacy: Recipes for a Lifetime* guides women through all stages of life and highlights gender-specific health promotion, while *Food & Care* presents nutrition as an integral part of a holistic lifestyle. These publications from renowned publishers such as Facultas/Maudrich and Ärzteverlag underscore the scientific quality and practical relevance of her work.

A particular strength – a holistic perspective

She knows how to combine traditional healing knowledge with modern nutritional science and advocates for an integrative understanding of health—as the interplay of mindful behaviors, a holistic lifestyle, and natural remedies. Her work makes it clear that, for her, medicinal mushrooms are not isolated dietary supplements, but rather tools for optimizing health within a comprehensive preventive approach. At the Mycoverse Foundation, she contributes her expertise in mycotherapy, Traditional European Medicine, preventive nutrition, and knowledge dissemination, helping to ensure that the healing power of mushrooms is not only researched but also applied in practice—and ensuring that the foundation fulfills its mission of making the power of medicinal mushrooms available to humanity.

At a time when modern medicine often relies on synthetic solutions, she reminds us that nature has provided solutions to health issues for millions of years. Through her tireless work in sharing knowledge—her books, lectures, and teaching—she inspires thousands to take responsibility for their own health. In doing so, she makes a significant contribution to a future of health that is scientifically grounded, focused on prevention, and interconnected like a fungal mycelium.