About Dr Alla

My name is Alla Kiroshka, although most people know me as Dr. Alla.

I was born in Moldova, one of the former Soviet republics, now an independent country. As the daughter of two medical doctors, I grew up surrounded by the world of medicine, and from an early age I knew that caring for people would be my life’s path.

In 1983, I qualified with honors as a Medical Doctor (M.D.), specialising in Facial Reconstructive surgery. I loved my work and the precision of the operating theatre, and for several years I practised with great dedication.

However, life took an unexpected turn when I developed a severe allergic condition that forced me to step away from surgery. Despite access to excellent medical care, the cause of my condition could not be identified, and conventional treatments did not bring improvement.

My health deteriorated significantly. I became extremely weak, struggled with daily activities, and at times even found breathing difficult. It was a frightening period, and I felt my life changing in ways I could never have imagined.

During this time, a family friend - a professor of natural medicine in China - learned of my condition and suggested that I consider taking medicinal mushrooms, which had long been used in traditional practice. He recommended three varieties: Reishi, Maitake, and Shiitake.

In those days, obtaining such products in the Soviet Union was nearly impossible. Eventually, he found a creative solution. One day I received a huge medical reference book in the mail. Hidden between its pages was powdered mushroom material - carefully placed there so it could reach me.

With no instructions available, I cautiously determined my own intake and began using the mushrooms.

Within a few weeks, I started noticing gradual improvements. My strength and energy slowly returned, my appetite improved, and over time my overall condition stabilised. This experience profoundly changed the direction of my life.

Many years later, medicinal mushrooms remain a regular part of my personal wellness routine, and that early experience became the foundation of my lifelong interest in studying their role in supporting health.

As I couldn’t return to the operating theatre, I chose to pursue another long-held dream - establishing my own medical enterprise.

In early 1990’s, I founded one of the first privately owned medical clinics in Moldova. At the same time, while continuing my academic development, I began researching medicinal mushrooms more deeply, building on my own personal experience.

However, at that time, political and trade restrictions made it extremely difficult to import medicinal mushroom products or make them available to others. This strengthened my determination to eventually live in a country where I could pursue this work freely.

A few years later, that opportunity came when I immigrated to South Africa. I lived there for more than 15 years, in Cape Town, where I was finally able to begin helping others access medicinal mushrooms.

After extensive research, I established trusted sources for high-quality raw materials and began importing, encapsulating, distributing and selling medicinal mushroom supplements.

This marked the beginning of what later became MediMushrooms.

Over time, as my practical experience and research expanded, I introduced additional varieties to the range - including Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps - carefully selected because of their complementary properties and long history of traditional use.

Throughout these years, I continued reviewing both scientific and traditional literature. In total, I studied more than 1,800 scientific reference works from around the world. A sample of these sources is shared on the Reference Works page.

Using this accumulated knowledge and decades of practical experience working with clients, I later developed the MediMushrooms Symptoms Chart - designed as a simple guide to help people choose the varieties most suited to their individual needs.

After visiting New Zealand in 2006, I felt a deep connection with the country’s natural beauty and lifestyle. In 2007, I made the decision to move there with my family and continue developing my MediMushrooms work in this new environment.

In July 2008, I opened the Organic Health Centre in Bishopdale, Christchurch, where I provided health consultations and made MediMushrooms products available locally. Around the same time, I also introduced another range of natural dietary supplements called Simplicity.

A year later, I relocated the centre to a more central Christchurch location. This allowed me to expand my vision of a holistic health space, bringing together various complementary practitioners, including acupuncture, massage therapy, reflexology, Bowen therapy, and Reiki.

Over the following years, my Simplicity range grew significantly, eventually including more than 100 natural supplement products. I remained closely involved in sourcing ingredients and ensuring that all products met New Zealand’s regulatory requirements.

As my work in New Zealand expanded, I decided to focus my full attention there and later sold the South African branch of MediMushrooms. While I initially continued supplying raw materials and formulations to maintain consistency, the South African operation later chose to source its own materials independently. As a result, I can no longer oversee or guarantee the quality of products sold through that branch.

Throughout these years, I have maintained close relationships with trusted cultivation partners, ensuring that the mushrooms used in MediMushrooms products are grown in their natural environments and meet strict quality standards.

All MediMushrooms products are manufactured in New Zealand at purposely-built and certified facilities, where comprehensive quality controls and testing procedures are applied according to New Zealand regulations.

I remain personally involved in overseeing the entire process - from the rigorous quality control of the raw material through to final production.

Tragedy struck when Christchurch was rocked by two massive earthquakes. The first one, measuring 7.1, struck on 4th September 2010 and caused tremendous destruction but fortunately no deaths. The second one which followed six months later on 22nd February 2011 was more destructive and resulted in the death of 185 people.

Organic Health Centre, based on Colombo St, in the heart of Christchurch, was severely damaged. Later it was demolished, along with many other buildings in central part of this beautiful city.

This unexpected event marked a turning point for my business and required me to adapt to the changing times. Up to that point, my business had operated primarily in person, with the website serving mainly as an informational resource.

Now, with the storefront gone and the central city in ruins, I started transitioning to a predominantly online model.

Today, MediMushrooms International is primarily online-based business and is available 24-7 to people all around the world, allowing easy access to MediMushrooms products. 

We are excited to be serving clients in over 70 countries.

I continue to offer health consultations remotely and stay closely involved in all aspects of the business.

MediMushrooms is, and will remain, a family-run enterprise sprawling over two generations.

My vision is supported by a dedicated team, including my husband and two sons, who are actively involved in various areas of the business. Our twin daughters, the younger family members, are gradually learning the various aspects of the business, while our extended team provides invaluable support to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

My goal has always been to provide reliable, carefully sourced and rigorously tested medicinal mushroom supplements grounded in medical knowledge, scientific research, and decades of practical experience.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of supporting thousands of people on their health journeys.

What began as a deeply personal experience became a lifelong mission - to share knowledge, offer guidance, and provide carefully selected natural products that people can trust.

For me, MediMushrooms has never been just a business. It is a continuation of my commitment as a medical doctor to help others care for their health in a thoughtful, balanced, and responsible way.

I encourage you to explore the website to learn more about these remarkable medicinal mushrooms, and the incredible benefits that the MediMushrooms products have to offer. 

Choose the approach that feels right for you.

With best wishes for your health and wellbeing,
Dr. Alla.

For those interested in a detailed overview of Dr Alla’s medical qualifications, scientific research, and international business experience, the following summary provides a chronological view of her professional journey.

Dr Alla was born in Moldova, where she grew up in a family of medical doctors.

From an early age, her early academic focus included intensive foreign language studies alongside a strong scientific foundation, she developed a strong interest in healthcare, and the responsibility of caring for others.

In 1983, she graduated with honours from the Kishinev State Medical Institute (University of Medicine of Moldova), qualifying as a Medical Doctor.

She subsequently undertook extensive postgraduate medical training in multiple specialised fields, including advanced specialisations in:

• Orthopaedic Stomatology
• Facial Reconstructive Surgery
• Reflexology and Acupuncture
• Experimental Surgical Research

From 1990 to 1993, she completed postgraduate research at the Scientific Surgical Centre of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in Moscow. Her doctoral work focused on the development of new biological dissolving suture materials.

Dr Alla began her medical career in a rural hospital practice.

After that, she continued her medical career as a practising facial-reconstructive surgeon in major clinical hospitals in Moldova.

In early 1990s, Dr Alla founded one of the first privately owned medical clinics in Moldova, demonstrating early leadership in both medicine and entrepreneurship which was an uncommon achievement at that time during major political and economic transition.

This marked the beginning of her long entrepreneurial journey, combining medical expertise with business leadership.

In 1993, Dr Alla immigrated to South Africa, where she spent 15 years building and managing successful businesses across multiple industries, including:

• Health supplements manufacturing
• Import and export operations
• Tourism enterprises
• Property development

Dr Alla’s entrepreneurial nature allowed for this diversity of business interests.

During this time, her long-standing interest in medicinal mushrooms grew into a professional focus.

She founded the MediMushrooms Centre, overseeing sourcing, product development, and distribution.

Over many years, Dr Alla conducted extensive research into medicinal mushrooms, reviewing more than 1,800 scientific research and traditional reference works from around the world.

Equally important was her practical experience working directly with thousands of clients, which provided valuable insights into how medicinal mushrooms could be used responsibly as part of long-term wellness support.

Dr Alla has always been directly involved in every aspect of the business:

• Sourcing high-quality raw materials
• Developing encapsulated supplement products
• Building national and international distribution networks
• Supporting clients through personal consultations

This combination of scientific study and real-world application formed the foundation of MediMushrooms International.

In 2007, Dr Alla relocated to New Zealand, drawn by the country’s strong regulatory standards and natural environment, where she continued developing MediMushrooms.

She established the Organic Health Centre in Christchurch, providing consultations and developing additional natural supplement ranges while maintaining strict quality standards aligned with New Zealand regulations.

Following the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010–2011, her business adapted to changing circumstances and transitioned to a primarily online model, allowing MediMushrooms to serve clients internationally.

Today, Dr Alla remains closely involved in every aspect of MediMushrooms International.

She focuses on combining medical knowledge, scientific research, and decades of practical experience in guiding people toward informed, balanced approaches to wellbeing.

Her work remains focused on providing carefully sourced medicinal mushroom supplements supported by rigorous standards and long-term client care.

Dr Alla's scientific and research interest was in developing and perfecting methods of experimental surgery. This work was based in the experimental surgical facility of the University of Medicine of Moldova:

• Replacement of sections of aorta, oesophagus, trachea, urethra and bladder;
• Reconstruction of bone defects using biological tissue in transplantation.

During her early medical career, Dr Alla was actively involved in experimental surgical research, focusing on innovative biological materials used in reconstructive procedures.

Her work led to the development of new methods for producing biological surgical suture materials, resulting in internationally recognised patents. These innovations were presented at scientific forums and received awards at international exhibitions.

Dr Alla has also authored several medical publications related to reconstructive surgery, transplantation techniques, and experimental surgical methods.

These scientific achievements reflect the strong research foundation that continues to influence her approach to natural health - combining careful study, practical experience, and a commitment to responsible application.

Dr Alla has authored and co-authored multiple scientific publications in the fields of reconstructive surgery, transplantation techniques, and experimental surgical research.

Selected publications include:

• Kiroshka A.I., Popovich T.W. — Results of usage of formaldehyde-treated allo-bone for surgical treatment of periodontitis. Published in Formalized allo- and xenogenic materials in transplantology, Kishinev, 1986.

• Kiroshka A.I. — Xenoplastic operations of the oesophagus in experimental surgery. Published in Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation of Oncological Patients, 1988.

• Kiroshka A.I., Timish T.V. — Use of biological materials for plastic surgery of the oesophagus. Published in Actual Problems of Theoretical and Clinical Medicine, 1989.

• Kiroshka A.I., Titarev V.I. — Rare tumour: Malherbe–Chenantais disease. Published in Zdravoochranenie Medical Journal, 1990.

• Kiroshka A.I., Chirosca L.I. — Use of new biological suture material in experimental and clinical practice. Published in Functional Reserves and Adaptation, Kiev, 1990.

Dr Alla is co-inventor of patented medical technologies related to biological surgical materials.

Method for Producing Surgical Suture Material
International Patent Classification: A61L17/00
Publication Number: RU 2040276
Publication Date: 25 July 1995
Inventors: Lyudmila Ivanovna Chirosca, Alla Igorevna Kiroshka

Method of Preparation of Surgical Material
International Patent Classification: A61L17/00
Publication Number: MD 3677 G2
Publication Date: 31 August 2008
Inventors: Lyudmila Ivanovna Chirosca, Alla Igorevna Kiroshka

These innovations contributed to advancements in the use of biological materials for reconstructive surgical applications.

Trade Mark: Certificate of Trade Mark Registration No 781402

Dr Alla’s research innovations have received international recognition, including:

2008 — International Patent Recognition Certificate for innovative surgical material development.

2009 — Diploma and Silver Medal, International Exhibition “Info Invent”, Moldova.

2010 — Diploma of Excellence, International Exhibition “Pro Invent”, Romania.

Dr Alla continues to contribute to awareness and education of general public and health professionals on understanding the benefits of medicinal mushrooms and their role in naturally improving healthy living.

This includes the ongoing work on comprehensive publications exploring the origins, traditional use, and scientific research of these incredibly nutrient-rich medicinal mushrooms.