Benefits and Uses of Reishi Mushroom

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)—“The Mushroom of Immortality”

This article takes a closer look at the powerful and effective herbal medicine known as Ganoderma Lucidum—commonly called Reishi mushroom, or Ling Zhi in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Mushrooms have been part of the natural pharmacopeia for thousands of years and have recently regained their popularity in herbal medicine. Reishi is known as a “mushroom of immortality” and is one of the most researched herbs in the world. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reishi is known for nourishing the Shen—a term that refers to the spirit and the connection between body, mind, and soul. It’s also considered an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body adapt to stress in a way that’s unique to each individual. While “adaptogen” has become a bit of a buzzword lately, Reishi truly lives up to the name with its gentle yet powerful support for overall well-being. It is also an effective immune modulator, nervine tonic, and hormone-balancing herb that can bring balance to the body and spirit.

There are often no real short-term effects felt when taking this herb but more long-term impacts on the body’s overall vitality, so, I like to look at Reishi as a self-care practice as you begin to incorporate it into your daily routine. This herb of longevity can help protect your heart and cardiovascular system as well as promote detoxification and liver health. It also can help in supporting your spiritual growth, assist in calmness and stress reduction, and benefit cognitive functions.

According to Shen Nong's Ben Cao Jing, one of the oldest Chinese Materia Medicas, "Long-term consumption of Reishi mushroom will lighten the body and prevent aging, extend one's life, and make one an immortal."

There are many ways to enjoy the benefits of Reishi, depending on your lifestyle and preferences. It’s available in forms like capsules, teas, powders, and liquid extracts. Personally, I find the extracts to be incredibly versatile—you can simply mix a dropperful into hot water for an instant, earthy tea, or blend it into your morning smoothie, matcha, or even a golden milk latte for an added wellness boost. Capsules are a great option too, especially if you're looking for a quick and easy way to incorporate Reishi into your daily routine.

If you're wondering where to start, Host Defense is a brand I trust and recommend. Their products are crafted with care and backed by science, created by Dr. Paul Stamets—one of the most respected and well-known mycologists in the world. Whether you're just getting to know this powerful mushroom or looking for new ways to integrate it into your life, there's a Reishi format for everyone. Let’s dive deeper into why this mushroom has been treasured for centuries and how it can support your health today.

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Benefits of Reishi Mushroom

• Detoxification

  Studies have shown that Reishi mushroom can help regenerate liver cells more quickly and can be beneficial to overall liver health.

• Nourishing the Spirit

  Reishi is known to help boost one’s spirit and relationship with oneself. This mushroom’s benefit to the Shen has been documented for thousands of years within ancient Chinese medical texts.

• Boosts the Immune System

  The immune system is a complex biological system that fights off infection and disease as well as cleanses the body of natural toxins. There are a lot of research studies that show the impact of medicinal mushrooms on the human immune system. Disorders of the immune system can result in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases or cancer. One benefit of Reishi is that it contains high levels of beta-glucans, one of the most powerful immune system boosters. 

• Improves Cognitive Ability and Energy Levels

  Reishi can help stimulate nerve growth and boost memory and cognitive function.

• Improves Cardiovascular Health

  Reishi has been used in countless studies to show its beneficial impact on cardiovascular health such as coronary heart disease and its impact on lowering blood pressure. Modern-day research has studied reishi extracts in conjunction with a variety of conditions, such as cancer, and cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses with success.

• Tumor Modulating Impacts

  The extract of this mushroom has been used in countless scientific studies in regard to cancer research, especially breast cancer. It has proven many times to be beneficial in conjunction with modern-day cancer treatments such as chemo and radiation therapy.

• Improves Respiratory Health

  Conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, or other chronic respiratory conditions have some big improvement when treated with Reishi extracts. It has been shown to help the immune system respond better to histamine reactions and help deter allergic reactions.

Chinese Medical Analysis

Found on pages 935-937 within Benskys Materia Medica (One of the main Chinese medical herbal texts, there is a full description of this herb and its properties).

• Properties

  Sweet, Neutral

• Channels Entered

  Heart, Liver, Lung

• Key Characteristics

  Calms the spirit while augmenting Qi, Nourishing Blood

• Dosage

  3-15 grams in decoction, 1.5-3 grams in pills/powders

• Cautions/Contraindications

  Use with caution in patients with excess conditions, very rare side effects have been reported, they include vertigo, dry mouth/ nose, nausea, epistaxis, constipation, or diarrhea

• Actions and Indications

  -Calms the spirit, augments Heart Qi, tonifies Heart Blood

  -Tonifies Lung Qi, transforms phlegm, stops cough and wheezing

  -Tonifies Qi, Nourishes the Blood

 Pharmacological Effects of Reishi

The book named Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, discusses Ganoderma Lucidum from a Western pharmacological perspective. It is known to have many beneficial aspects and is full of triterpenes, polysaccharides, organic acids, and other constituents such as resins, alkaloids, mannitol, amino acids, glucosamine, purines, and coumarin.

• Immune enhancing properties

  Helps increase many aspects of the immune system such as monocytes, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, cytokines, tumor necrosis factor, and interferon.

• Cardiovascular Support

  Increases cardiac contractility, lowers blood pressure, and increases resistance to hypoxia in cardiac muscles.

• Antibiotic

  Broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, inhibits the growth of many unwanted microbes such as E. coli, B.dysenteriae, pneumococci, streptococcus, and staph.

• Other Benefits

  Hepatoprotective, Antidiabetic, Antitussive, Expectorant, Sedative, Analgesic, Anti-asthmatic, Anti-neoplastic

“Besides Reishi’s

anti-tumor and immuno-modulatory properties, Reishi also helps counteract stress. The crude extract of Reishi has been found to be more effective in fighting free-radical damage than isolated, synthetic compounds. It also contains bitter triterpenes. These strengthen the circulatory and immune systems, tone the liver and protect the body from physical stress.”

- Michael Tierra

Potential Side Effects

You should be aware that Reishi does have some very rare yet known side effects in high doses, including abdominal upset, dizziness, nose bleeds and dry mouth and throat, according to "Natural Pharmacy" author Schuyler W. Lininger.

• Dizziness

• Dry mouth

• Itching

• Nausea

• Stomach upset

• Rash

*Please check in with a well-versed healthcare practitioner if you are planning on incorporating Reishi mushroom into your life especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a blood disorder, or low blood pressure, or will be undergoing surgery.

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References

• 1. Bensky, D., Gamble, A., & Kaptchuk, T. J. (1993). Chinese herbal medicine: Materia medica. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press.

• 2. Chen, J. K., Chen, T. T., & Crampton, L. (2004). Chinese medical herbology and pharmacology. City of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press.

• 3. Tierra M., Treating Cancer with Herbs: an Integrative Approach. Twin Lakes, Wisc.: Lotus Press; 2003.

• 4. Lininger, S. W. (1999). The natural pharmacy. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health.

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