Reishi Mushroom - Ganoderma Lucidum

Red Reishi, Ganoderma Lucidum, Ling Zhi, is a herbal mushroom known to have miraculous health benefits.

Reishi mushroom is known for its healing and body system-balancing properties. We will discuss how it is being used to balance the immune system and improve a variety of serious health conditions. Reishi comes in a variety of forms including powdered and liquid extracts, teas and even coffees.

It is non-toxic and can be taken daily without producing any side effects.

When it is taken regularly, it can restore the body to its natural state, enabling all organs to function normally.

Immune modulator – regulates and fine tunes the immune system.

Studies have shown that reishi mushrooms have the ability to regulate or balance the immune system, whether the immune system is overactive in the case of autoimmune diseases or underactive in the case of chronic illness. Researchers also noted that reishi supports T-cells in attacking tumours, inhibits the growth of human leukemic cells and helps to re-establish normal levels of white blood cells.

Reishi has been shown in studies to help 80 percent of people with heart problems. It is known to reduce and balance cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower platelet aggregation, which reduces the incidence of blood clots and strokes, as well as migraines. Reishi’s calming and energy-regulating properties appear to be key to its beneficial influence on blood pressure and the immune system.

Japanese research demonstrates the effectiveness of reishi mushroom in inhibiting histamine release, which means it is useful in the treatment of type 1 allergies, including anaphylactic shock, atopic dermatitis, hay fever, hives, drug allergies, and bronchial asthma.

Red Reishi is primarily composed of complex carbohydrates called water-soluble polysaccharides, triterpeniods, proteins and amino acids. Researchers have identified that water-soluble polysaccharides are the most active element found in Red Reishi that have anti-tumour, immune modulating and blood pressure lowering effects.

Reishi helps regenerate and protect the liver from toxicity. Researchers state, “Reishi appears to accelerate the clearance of drugs from the system through its effect on the liver.” This helps to explain why Reishi is used in Traditional Chinese medicine for poisoning and chronic hepatitis. In a three-month clinical study, acute hepatitis-B patients showed significant improvement, even after only one month of treatment.

Another major active ingredient found in Red Reishi are triterpenes , called ganoderic acids. Preliminary studies indicated that ganoderic acids help alleviate common allergies by inhibiting histamine release, improve oxygen utilization and improve liver functions. Triterpenes are bitter in taste and the level of the triterpene content contained in a product can be determined by the bitterness.

Red Reishi enhance our body’s immune system.

Regular consumption of red Reishi can enhance our body’s immune system and improve blood circulation, thus improving better health conditions. Generally, Reishi is recommended as an adaptogen, immune modulator, and a general tonic. Red Reishi is also used to help treat anxiety, high blood pressure, hepatitis, bronchitis, insomnia, and asthma. A full list of reported benefits can be found here.

A considerable number of studies in Japan , China , USA , and the UK in the past 30 years have shown that the consumption of red Reishi has been linked to the treatment of a vast range of diseases, common ailments, and conditions. From asthma to zoster, the applications of red Reishi seem to be related to a multitude of body organs and systems.

However, most of the scientific research that has been conducted appears to strongly support red Reishi’s role as a normalizing substance – a nutritional supplement that can yield medical benefits through its normalization and regulation of the body’s organs and functions.

The role of Red Reishi in maintaining a healthy lifestyle can best be explained through the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) point of view because none of the known active components taken alone is as more effective than the consumption of Reishi itself. Whereas Western medicine focuses on the “cure” after the disease has already occurred, TCM, established through over 2,000 years of human observation, focuses on disease prevention by sustaining the right balance within the body through proper nutrition, exercise, and meditation. Reishi is an important adaptogenic herb in TCM in helping the body maintain this balance and also restore the balance when one is sick. For scientific studies done on Reishi please see the Research or Articles section.

Researchers have identified that water-soluble polysaccharides are one of the active ingredients found in Red Reishi that have anti-tumour, immune modulating and blood pressure lowering effects.

Another active ingredient is triterpenes, a class of them found in Reishi is known as ganoderic acids. Studies have indicated that ganoderic acids help alleviate common allergies by inhibiting histamine release, improve oxygen utilization and improve liver functions.

According to classical literature, Reishi is classified as a superior herb. Superior herbs are said to be non-toxic and can be consumed in large quantities and for a long period without any side effects.

After 2,000 years, there are still no side effects reported in available literature and clinical studies. However, very sensitive individuals may experience some detoxification symptoms such as mild digestive upset, dizziness, sore bones, and skin rashes during the initial period of intake. This is the excretion of accumulated toxic matters from modern day foods and vigorous activities of the body metabolism. These are all normal signs of recovery and an indication that the medicinal effect of Red Reishi is functioning well. These detoxification symptoms will usually go away within a few days of continuous use of Reishi.

Reishi’s calming effect reduces the nighttime restlessness and nagging thoughts that can bring on sleep disorders. Research also shows that taking reishi before bed lengthens the restful, REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. Reishi’s calming effects are valuable to those who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It will also help calm children whose nervous systems have been hijacked by caffeine, sugar, sugar-substitutes and mood-altering food coloring. Reishi is a supplement that can be taken on a daily basis. It provides strong support for a long and healthy life. To experience the many Reishi Mushroom benefits use it daily in whatever form suits you best!

Taking a source of Vitamin C with Reishi can help reduce any side effects which may occur upon the initial intake of the herb.

Yes. Reishi is a natural health supplement and there are no reported contraindications in over 2,000 years of study. However, all immune-modulating substances such as Reishi should be taken with care for patients undergoing organ transplants and using immunosuppressive drugs.

Reishi is a health food supplement that is useful for all age groups.

However, once again it is recommended to consult a qualified health physician just to be safe when taking any dietary supplement.

Reishi products are available in tablet, capsule, or granular form. A good Reishi product should be in an extract or essence form.

Like any other product, not all Reishi are created equal. Reishi products have different levels of quality depending on the manufacturer. Factors such as the method of cultivation, the quality of the plant’s mother fungi, the growing conditions, and the processing method used to extract the Reishi essence from the Reishi mushroom all play an important role in determining the potency of a Reishi product.

As the Japanese are the originators for cultivating Reishi commercially, products from Japan generally use the best cultivation technique called the natural wood log method to cultivate high-grade Reishi.

Before deciding on which product to use, also make sure that it is properly and clearly labelled with the ingredients, extract ratio, manufacturer or importer address, and product origin. Any authentic, high-quality, and safe health supplement will contain this information.

While mushrooms such as shitake, maitake, and cordyceps, all share similar immune boosting properties, Red Reishi has also the longest history and has been known to be effective in the treatment of the widest range of health conditions. Unlike other mushrooms, only Red Reishi has many important compounds such as triterpenes (ganoderic acid) that gives Reishi its unique characterisic of being bitter in taste.