The Japanese call this mushroom Reishi, the Chinese Lingzhi, and the Europeans identify it as the lacquered tinder fungus. This became its biological name - Ganoderma. lucidum .
Reishi is a tinder fungus, that is, a mushroom that grows on wood. It has a shiny cap and a long stem and captured the imagination of the inhabitants of the Eastern Hemisphere at least two thousand years ago. This is evidenced by images preserved in ancient Chinese and Japanese works of art. The first ruler of ancient China, the author of the "Bible" of medicinal plants, called Lingzhi "the miraculous king of herbs" (221–206 BC).
The Chinese Emperor Yan wrote about the miraculous mushroom: “If you eat it regularly, it makes your body light and young, prolongs your life, and turns you into an immortal who never dies.” The Chinese didn’t say this for the sake of a catchphrase; they truly considered this mushroom to be a cure for all diseases and the first remedy for aging.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have dubbed it the "mushroom of immortality" to describe the comprehensive health support they believe Reishi can provide.
According to scientists of the past, Reishi will help cure or prevent many diseases. In ancient Japan, he was declared a deity and given honors. Naturally, with such fame, the demand for Reishi was very high. In all countries where its medicinal properties were known, the accidental discovery of Reishi mushroom was considered a sign of God's Mercy. Because finding Reishi in the wild was a great success. Special conditions are required for its growth. In "Ben cao gan mu" (1578), the most popular Chinese book on natural medicines, the Lingzhi mushroom was considered a tonic, something that gives longevity. In Eastern medicine, Reishi is used not only to treat diseases, but also prophylactically, it is prescribed to replenish vital energy and vigor at any age.
Reishi mushroom is a soprotroph, meaning it grows and feeds on dying trees. He has a kidney-shaped cap with a diameter of 5 to 15 cm, which is covered with a woody crust from reddish brown to bright red and gives the impression of varnished wood. On the sides, the cap adjoins a wrinkled cylindrical stem of the same shade and a height of 5 to 20 cm. The pulp of Reishi is dark brown with a leathery consistency resembling cork, bitter in taste, without a special smell. Ganoderma lucidum, in the wild grows mainly in the southern and southeastern regions of Asia in dense mountain forests, usually on the trunks of rotting plum trees.
Reishi spores are very tough, clinging to any tree bark, but can only germinate at a certain temperature and on certain types of trees. Wild plum is considered the ideal wood. As the famous physician Ibn Sina claimed, out of 10,000 wild plums, only ten will take root. Indeed, this mushroom is incredibly capricious, and it was very difficult to find it in the wild. And since the healing properties of Reishi were incredibly valued, it was expensive. A lucky collector of medicinal mushrooms, having once attacked the Lingzhi mycelium, could live comfortably for many years, keeping his tree a secret, because every year he harvested and sold it to Chinese court doctors.
In ancient times, Reishi was valued at its weight in gold. In China and Japan, there are many legends about people with cancer who traveled long distances to find a healing mushroom. Therefore, for a long time it was available only to the nobility. The Chinese tried to artificially grow the mushroom for many centuries, but it was only in the early 1970s that Japanese researchers succeeded. Reishi cultivation began with Shigeaki Mori, a Japanese man who spent more than 15 years of his life searching for an effective method of cultivating wild Reishi spores on specially prepared plum sawdust. From that moment on, Reishi became easily accessible to ordinary people and is considered one of the most valuable medicines in Eastern medicine.
Reishi scientific research
Reishi is currently the most popular in the category of medicinal mushrooms, dietary supplements, and for good reason - it has so much to offer. The mushroom is widely cultivated in Asia, and is no less popular in the United States. Annual sales of Reishi worldwide reach over 2 billion US dollars.
Research interest in Reishi has grown rapidly over the past 18 years. While in 2002 only 185 scientific articles were published on the healing properties of the mushroom, in 2020 this number has increased to over 800 articles, most of which are based on the findings of the practical effects of Reishi in various diseases.
A clinical report from the Institute of Biotechnology in Malaysia reported that a freeze-dried mushroom extract reduced bilirubin to normal after just three months of use, stabilizing liver function.
As a result of other observations, Reishi extract reduced blood cholesterol levels, thus lowering blood pressure.
Reishi has been clinically proven to inhibit the release of histamine, which prevents allergic reactions. The mushroom also stabilizes immunoglobulin levels and reduces the number of excess antibodies. In other words, Reishi is a natural antihistamine. Based on research at the Tokyo Institute of Carcinogenesis, the Japanese government officially listed Reishi as an anticancer agent (Willard 1990). Clinical reports and practical experience have shown that its immunostimulating polysaccharides may be beneficial for patients with HIV infection and AIDS.
Reishi has also been clinically proven to treat alopecia (baldness). Reishi extracts are popular in Japan for hair growth.
Clinical trials are currently ongoing. Additional research is needed to confirm the effective dose of the powder or mushroom extract and the duration of its use.
Reishi composition
In addition to fiber, carbohydrates and fats (mainly unsaturated fatty acids), vitamins B, C and D2, minerals - potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, iron, zinc, copper, barium and even silver, there are compounds that determine the healing properties of the mushroom. The wide health benefits that Reishi provides are explained by the high content of biologically active substances: polysaccharides (mycologist Paul Stamets reports that the fruiting body contains up to 40% beta-glucans); more than 137 triterpenes such as lanostane, removed from the mycelium, the fruiting body of the mushroom, its spores. The mechanism of action of nootropic mushrooms has not been fully studied, but every year scientists discover new properties of mushrooms, which are sometimes even hard to believe. Reishi acts as an adaptogen and as an immunostimulant and as an antioxidant and even as an antidepressant.
In fact, the spectrum of medicinal properties of Reishi is very wide. It is effective in the treatment and prevention of many diseases, is used to strengthen and cleanse the body, improve memory, physical strength, and increase performance, which will help get rid of fatigue and bad mood. Reishi mushroom is also effective for weight loss, as it allows you to speed up metabolism, normalize metabolic processes, and cleanse the body.
Reishi is able to increase vitality, improve mood and sleep.
Reishi polysaccharides and beta-glucans. Benefits for the immune system, liver, cholesterol control and hypoglycemic properties.
The fruiting body of a mushroom consists of densely packed cells surrounded by a hard layer of polysaccharides or glucans. The function of polysaccharides is to protect the cell, they form an incredibly dense and strong cell wall. Polysaccharides are divided into alpha-glucans and beta-glucans Among the polysaccharides, the most important are beta-glucans, which stimulate the immune system. In practice, they optimize the efficiency of white blood cells, creating powerful antiviral, antibacterial and antitumor protection.
In addition, it is noted that some beta-glucans reduce high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, others work as hepatoprotectors, and still others can prevent the formation of fibrosis.
A subgroup of beta-glucans, such as ganoderan B and D, are hypoglycemic, with some evidence suggesting that they lower blood sugar levels and improve glucose utilization in tissues. Researchers found that fatigue decreased and well-being improved after 8 weeks of supplementation. Beta-glucans also contribute to hypoglycemic effects, increasing insulin sensitivity, which is very important in the treatment of diabetes.
Reishi for oncology
Reishi has a long history of traditional use in the treatment of cancer, and many cases of spontaneous remission have been attributed to it. Currently, medical centers in Japan, Canada, America and other countries are actively conducting research to study the medicinal properties and possibilities of using Reishi in official medicine for the treatment and prevention of cancer. This mushroom is widely used in cancer support programs. Many animal studies clearly demonstrate its antitumor effects as well as immunological efficacy. In one study, 96 volunteer patients took 1.5 grams/day of Reishi extract for 12 months. They experienced an approximately 40 percent reduction in the size of precancerous colon adenomas (based on colonoscopy).
Reishi beta-glucans activate immune cells - macrophages, thanks to which the immune system can act more effectively against pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and cancer cells. Reishi beta-glucans accelerate the maturation of immune cells, increase the lifespan of macrophages several times. Due to this, the antitumor activity of immunity increases, and tumor necrosis factor also increases.
Sources have mentioned the use of Reishi supplements in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer, as well as prostate cancer.
Reishi triterpenoids exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines. A study of 48 breast cancer patients reported a reduction in fatigue, anxiety, and depression in the treatment group ( Reishi spore powder 3 g/day), along with improvements in immune parameters.
Triterpenes in Reishi. Inflammation, allergies, autoimmune diseases.
In addition to beta-glucans, the fruiting body of Reishi and spores contain important bioactive components - triterpenes. These compounds counteract the production of histamine and inhibit allergic reactions, reduce such manifestations as itching, swelling, rashes, contribute to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antitumor effects. Triterpenes are similar to steroid hormones. While studying the chemical composition of the Reishi mushroom, the American Cancer Institute identified 137 triterpenes, one of which is Lanostan. This compound inhibits the creation of antibodies, thereby preventing allergic reactions. Scientists are now trying to synthesize the resulting substance. But in terms of action, it will differ, for example, from antihistamines or from hormones such as cortisol. Improving the body's condition with allergies with Reishi is a long process (takes 1-2 years), but reliable and effective and does not cause any side effects. Chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, atopic dermatitis and other allergic diseases are successfully treated in the East with the help of triterpene compounds from Ganoderma lucidum - Reishi. According to clinical studies in the clinic of the Japanese doctor Goro Chihara - 60% of patients with allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract significantly improve their condition, even if they have already used hormonal treatment before.
The triterpene compound lanostane may be beneficial in autoimmune diseases by inducing long-term remissions.
Some of Reishi's triterpenes also have anti-inflammatory properties, which provides results similar to those of cortisone, but without the typical side effects of this drug, as its action is completely different.
According to research by Professor Stavinoha, a pharmacologist at the University of Texas at San Antonio in the USA (Stavinoha et al., 1991 and 1995), Reishi is an extremely useful alternative to cortisone therapy. Further evidence of its anti-inflammatory efficacy is the research that has shown that Reishi has anti-inflammatory effects equal to those of diclofenac (Voltaren), a potent NSAID anti-inflammatory drug (Joseph et al., 2009).
Reishi triterpenes are alcohol-soluble compounds and can be "extracted" from the fruiting bodies by alcohol extraction, and for this purpose alcohol tinctures or alcohol extracts are traditionally made. Some sources note the high content of triterpenes in Reishi spores, due to which this product is gaining increasing popularity in the world.
Reishi triterpenes benefit the cardiovascular system
Ganoderma triterpenes reduce blood viscosity and prevent the appearance of blood clots, so it is useful for preventing cardiovascular diseases and their consequences in the form of a heart attack or stroke. Additionally, some studies have shown Reishi to have the ability to lower cholesterol levels, improve ECGs, and reduce chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath. Allows you to avoid myocardial hypoxia, improve metabolic processes and increase immunity high content of organically bound germanium in the mushroom. It is he who contributes to the saturation of blood and heart with oxygen and the restoration of the gastric mucosa. Usually herbalists of China and Japan prescribe a long-term course of Reishi - about a year, but it is effective and without negative consequences.
Some studies have shown that Reishi stabilizes blood pressure.
Reishi for liver diseases
This mushroom has hepatoprotective properties (increases the liver's resistance to the effects of pathological factors and restores its functions in various injuries), thanks to which the liver is treated. It is triterpenes that are the key components in this process. They remove various poisons, so Reishi is very useful for hepatitis. In a clinical study of 355 cases of hepatitis B, when patients were treated with Wulingdan tablets. Their main component was Reishi. As a result, 92.4% of patients had positive results.
Reishi for the nervous system
Reishi triterpenes also affect human cognitive abilities, they have a powerful effect on the nervous system, and contribute to the healing effect in mental illnesses. The famous scientist Christopher Hobbs recommends Reishi mushroom for insomnia, and the Japanese scientist Professor Takashi Mizuno recommends it as a means for "mental stabilization". The traditional name of Reishi - "spirit mushroom" indicates the sedative effect of its triterpene components, and many herbalists appreciate its benefits in cases of insomnia. Reishi is traditionally believed to promote longevity. It has been shown that the mushroom extract inhibits the development of Alzheimer's disease. Its polysaccharides and triterpenes exhibit neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects, and Reishi spores have demonstrated the ability to protect neurons from apoptosis and improve cognitive dysfunction.
Forms of Reishi.
There are many types of supplements on the market called Reishi, Lingzhi, Lychee, Ganoderma. These supplements use different parts of the mushroom, often offered under the same name.
Fruiting bodies are the fungus itself, the mycelium – or mycelium – the root part, as well as spores in powder form.
Each of these parts has its own advantages and corresponding cost.
Fruiting bodies are directly what we call mushrooms, sold in the form of whole fresh or dried mushrooms, very often in China they are sold in markets and local markets.
In supplements, Reishi fruiting bodies are sold in the form of mushroom powder . This is quite convenient because the fruiting bodies are ground to a certain fine fraction, it is the grinding that allows you to increase the bioavailability of the active ingredients of this mushroom.
Reishi spores can be found in powder form rich in triterpene compounds, best when they come with the cell wall already broken, which means that there will be a high bioavailability of its active components. In this form, they can be consumed simply by washing them down with water.
How to get Reishi
Remember that Reishi has two types of compounds: water-soluble polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and alcohol-soluble triterpenes.
From the mushroom powder of the fruiting bodies of this mushroom, you can prepare an alcohol tincture, water infusion or tea, as well as a decoction.
Preparation of Reishi alcohol tincture. Bioavailable triterpenes.
Reishi contains alcohol-soluble compounds such as triterpenes, there are over 130 species of them, they are found in the fruiting bodies and spores of Reishi.
To prepare the infusion, you need to take 10 g of Reishi mushroom powder , pour it into a glass jar, add 500 ml of vodka, close the jar tightly with a lid. Leave it in a dark place for 15 days, shaking the jar daily. You can start taking it from the 15th day. Adults can take 1-2 teaspoons per half a glass of water 2-3 times a day for 2 months.
Reishi decoction. High availability of beta-glucans
Pour one tablespoon of mushroom powder with 500 ml of water and boil for 30 minutes. Then cool. Take 50 ml before meals three times a day. The resulting decoction should be stored in the refrigerator.
In the absence of contraindications, such a mushroom drink will bring enormous benefits to the body, will contribute to its strengthening and recovery.
Preparing an aqueous infusion or tea
One teaspoon of mushroom powder from fruiting bodies is poured with 100 ml of boiling water and left to infuse. When the drink cools to room temperature, it should be drunk before meals. Repeat the procedure three times a day.
It is very convenient to consume like regular tea without cooling to room temperature.
You can also add the powder when brewing coffee at the rate of 0.5 - 1 teaspoon per cup of coffee. This ingredient will give the drink a specific flavor.
Contraindications and side effects of Reishi
Mushrooms act not as aggressors and invaders (antibiotics, synthetic vitamins), but gently and naturally.
Potential side effects include dry mouth, upset stomach/diarrhea, rash, and headache. Although uncommon, anyone experiencing side effects should discontinue use immediately and consult a doctor.
An individual allergic reaction is possible.
Pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking Reishi supplements.
One of the benefits of Reishi mushroom is its immune system-modulating effects. Therefore, possible side effects from Reishi mushroom can sometimes occur when the immune system is altered or may be the result of awakening a dormant immune system response.
These side effects are harmless, except in rare cases of a true allergic reaction.
Important: Given that this mushroom is very difficult to find in the wild, especially without experience, and its cultivation can cause a lot of problems, for medicinal purposes it is recommended to purchase ready-made dry raw materials from trusted manufacturers.
This article is not a medical recommendation, but is provided for informational purposes only and should not be used as a guide to the treatment or prevention of disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your doctor or other appropriate healthcare professional for clarification.
