A Mushroom Fit for Royalty

Ganoderma Lucidum, aka Reishi, is becoming a popular mushroom and for great reason! It is considered the “Queen of Mushrooms” due to its long history of medicinal use, its adaptogenic properties, and its cultural symbolism. Reishi is a Japanese name for this useful species of Ganoderma. Traditionally, it was hung in the entryway of the home to help keep bad spirits from entering. Reishi was also associated with good luck when marrying. In Chinese medicine, Reishi, aka Lingzhi, was known as the divine mushroom because of its strong action to protect and help heal the spirit as well as the body.

A Long History

The first mention of Lingzhi was in the book “Divine Husbandman’s” dating from 200 to 250 CE and based on an even earlier oral tradition. In the Bencao Gangmu, the most famous Chinese herbal treasure, at least five species of Lingzhi, or Ganoderma, were written about: yellow, white, black, purple, and red. They relate to the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) and five internal organs (kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen, and heart). Reishi also has a strong history of use in Korean, Indian, and Japanese cultures.

Magic or Medicinal?

As of 2020, over 800 research articles have been published with Reishi-like fungi being the primary focus of study and clinical trials on the rise. While correct doses, species, type of extract, and duration of use is still being researched, we do know for a fact that mushrooms are a powerhouse of benefits to us! Let’s take a look at just some of the magical benefits of Ganoderma lucidum:

• Adaptogenic properties help stabilize the immune system and acts as an immunomodulator
• Protects against pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and parasites
• Helps improve quality of sleep and may even help relieve insomnia
• Helps reduce anxiety and nervousness, and can work as a natural stress reliever
• Reduces dermal oxidation (meaning it protects against skin damage, wrinkles, and other signs of aging)
• Supports the endocrine system which helps achieve hormonal balance
• Rich in triterpenes that help improve circulation
• Rich in polysaccharides which help lower blood pressure, stabilize blood sugar, and inhibit tumor growth in some cancers
• The Ganoderic acids help to improve oxygen flow, boost liver functionality, and inhibit histamine response (which greatly helps those with seasonal allergies)
• Plus, current studies are exploring Reishi combined with a high fat diet and seeing that it may help prevent gut inflammation, the proliferation of fatty tissue, and the buildup of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream that can lead to digestion issues and weight gain.

What’s in Store for Reishi?

One of the major ways Reishi is utilized is for cancer immunotherapy. While few clinical trials and human studies are available outside of China, Reishi is still widely used in cancer support programs. Also, many animal studies clearly show antitumor and immunological effects. In one study, 96 patient volunteers taking 1.5g a day of Reishi-like mushroom extract for 12 months had a decrease of about 40% in the size of precancerous adenomas in the colon compared to an increase of about 73% in those receiving a placebo. Another research group found that 30 out of 34 patients with advance stage lung cancer who took 1,800mg of water-based Reishi extract (meaning a tea, coffee, or powder of tea or coffee) 3 times daily for 3 months experienced a significantly increased immune response, particularly an increase in natural “killer cell” activity.

While clinical trials, studies, and research are continuously increasing, we do know these mushrooms have amazing properties to heal and protect our bodies!

Sage & Sunshine 🌿☀️
~Savanna

Sources:
Header Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/ganoderma-medicinal-mushrooms-1829862/
Content Photos: nutraingredients.com, inaturalist.org, and retrospectjournal.com
Content: Derived from book, online, and class studies and compiled by Savanna for this blog. The largest resource used was “Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide” written by Christopher Hobbs