In Eastern medicine, Reishi mushrooms are known as a “three treasure” herb. Reishi harmonizes Jing (life force), qi (energy), and Shen (spirit). In fact, scientific documents from as far back as the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 8 A.D.) classify Reishi as “Superior,” the highest designation for medicine.
Reishi mushroom contains multiple bioactive polysaccharides and triterpenoids. (1)
Some of the other names for this incredibly powerful mushroom is Ling Zhi, which means ‘spirit plant’, “ten thousand year plant”, “mushroom immortality”, because it seems to promote longevity, “varnished conk” because of its shiny appearance, and “phantom mushroom” because of its scarcity.
The Latin name for the reishi mushroom is Ganoderma lucidum. Gan means ‘shiny”. Derm means “skin”. Lucidum means “brilliant”. The reishi mushroom is known as “the king of all Mushrooms”. Want to increase your longevity? Reishi mushrooms can certainly help with that. In 2009, studies show that the polysaccharides or long chains of carbohydrates, found in the reishi mushroom had lifespan-extending properties. These unique molecules were linked to promoting longevity by boosting the immune system and preventing abnormal blood vessel formations that could lead to life-threatening cancerous growths.
In other words, if you have reishi mushroom extract every day, it could have huge long-term payoffs. Since reishi mushrooms are so nutrient-rich, they contain many healing properties. While the proteins in reishi mushrooms contain all the essential amino acids, they are especially rich in lysine and leucine. They also contain a wide variety of bioactive molecules, such as terpenoids, steroids, and phenols. The chemical constituents of terpenes have been found to have anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic activity.
Reishi mushrooms are recognized for their use in blood sugar regulation, cancer disorders, tumors, preventing cancer, fighting viral infections, boosting the immune system, liver protection, increasing cardiovascular function, enhancing vital energy, increasing memory, and anti-aging effects.
They are often used to help the immune system and provide antioxidant properties. The benefits of having reishi mushroom extracts include:
BOOSTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: The mushroom is said to improve overall health, increase energy levels, and boost the immune system.
HELPING FIGHT FREE RADICALS: Reishi mushrooms are packed with antioxidants. These nutrients help fight free radicals in the body and protect cells from damage. This can help reduce the risk of disease and aging.
REDUCING INFLAMMATION: Reishi mushrooms are anti-inflammatory. They can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to better overall health. Additionally, chronic inflammation is linked to many serious diseases, so reducing inflammation is key!
ANTI CANCER: Reishi mushrooms have anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown that reishi mushrooms can help fight cancer cells and may even prevent the development of certain types of cancer.
Reishi mushrooms are a natural source of vitamins and minerals. They contain important nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, and zinc. This makes them a great addition to any diet! Proponents claim that Reishi can help with a variety of health problems, including:
Anti-Asthmatic, Can help prevent Skin Cancer, Is an Antioxidant, Can help lower blood sugar in diabetics, Can help decrease excess fat storage, lessen fatigue, Improve sleep, and supports the nervous system, Heart, and circulatory system.
Reishi's capacity to strengthen the immune system* is its most well-known advantage. Polysaccharides in Reishi have been demonstrated to have the ability to influence the immune system in studies.[1] White blood cells' inflammatory pathways are even altered*. [2]
Reishi also increased the activity of white blood cells in one trial of athletes under stressful conditions*. [3]
Reishi water extracts have been demonstrated to protect against oxidative stress and dramatically lengthen lifespan in modern clinical animal tests (particularly on nematodes).*[4]
Because of its capacity to promote peace, relaxation, and, more importantly, sleep*, Reishi is also known as the "Spirit mushroom."
In mice and rats, reishi extracts enhanced total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time. [4]
Reishi mushrooms grow on hardwood logs in deciduous woods all over the world in nature. It may be found throughout the summer and fall, but fruiting is most prevalent in the late summer and fall.
The Reishi fruiting body develops considerably more slowly than other mushrooms, and it also takes much longer to decompose, often lingering on trees all winter.
Reishi, thankfully, can be grown naturally in greenhouses using hardwood logs to replicate the natural growth process. Using these natural methods, it takes 9 months to produce a complete Reishi mushroom.
The fruiting body of Reishi is not the only part of the plant that is useful. Triterpene levels are high in the spores themselves.
Every day, billions of these spores are produced by reishi mushrooms, which may be collected individually before the fruiting body is removed.
To make the triterpenes bioavailable, the spores must first be "cracked" open. This is commonly accomplished by subjecting the spores to an ultra-fine milling process.
Reishi is often cultivated in greenhouses outside. Due to the abundance of fresh air, it is able to produce big flat fruiting bodies known as "conks."
Reishi can also be cultivated in a specialized mushroom grow bags that limit the quantity of fresh air available. In this situation, Reishi produces "antlers," which are lengthy finger-like projections.
Antlers may be pretty stunning!
Reishi fruiting bodies include both antlers and conks, and both contain the beneficial beta-glucans and triterpenes that give this fungus its superpowers.
