Reishi Mushroom (Lingzhi) – Ganoderma Lucidum
Reishi Mushroom (also called Lingzhi Mushroom and Ganoderma Lucidum) is an edible fungus that improves the immune system. It is used to prevent and treat influenza, avian flu, swine flu, bronchitis, asthma, allergies, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cancer, peptic ulcers, insomnia, liver disorders, kidney diseases, AIDS. It is also helpful for reducing stress, fatigue, altitude sickness, and herpes pain.
Composition & Active Constituents
Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum) contains several bioactive constituents and they might synergistically work to provide health benefits. It contains polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, dietary fiber, peptides, triterpenoids, phenols, and amino acids. Polysaccharides are found in water-soluble extract and triterpenoids in ethanolic extracts. It also contains several minerals including copper, iron, zinc and selenium and vitamins such as Vitamin C. (1)
Medicinal Properties of Reishi Mushroom
Reishi Mushroom has following healing properties.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Immunity enhancer
- Antioxidant
- Anti-tumor
- Anti-cancer
- Anti-fatigue
- Anti-osteoporotic
- Neuroprotective
- Anti-diabetic
- Soporific (Sleep inducing)
- Antihypertensive
- Cardioprotective
- Antihyperlipidemic
- Anti-viral
- Anti-allergic
- Hepatoprotective
- Adaptogen
Reishi Mushroom has anti-inflammatory, immunity enhancer, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-fatigue, anti-osteoporosis, neuroprotective, and anti-diabetic actions. Its main action observed on stomach, intestines, lungs, liver, heart, immune system and mind.
Reishi Mushroom Indications
Reishi Mushroom has following therapeutic indications:
- Stress disorders
- Insomnia (Sleeplessness)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Neurasthenia
- Inflammation
- Bronchitis
- Asthma
- Lung cancer
- Recurrent upper respiratory infections
- Altitude sickness
- Fatigue
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart diseases
- Hyperlipemia
- Atherosclerosis
- Leukopenia
- Peptic ulcer
- Liver disease or hepatopathy
- Hepatitis B
- Chronic hepatitis
- Anorexia
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Food allergies
- Shingles-related pain
- Viral infections
- HIV disease
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney disease – nephritis
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Tumors and cancer
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
Reishi Mushroom Benefits
Reishi Mushroom reduces inflammation, increase energy level, and improves overall health and general well-being. Generally, its health benefits are attributed to its antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-microbial actions. It slows the process of aging and helps to have a good control on blood pressure and other diseases.
Tumor and Cancer
Reishi Mushroom is a supportive medicine to conventional cancer treatment. However, it is not the first-line treatment for tumor and cancer. It stimulates the immunity and exerts antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-metastatic actions, which are helpful as an adjuvant to other anti-cancer medicines. Overall, it checks the growth of the tumor and likely to prevent metastasis. How much it is effective for preventing metastasis is yet not known. (2)
Insomnia (Trouble Sleep)
Reishi (Lingzhi) Mushroom improves sleep. The improvement in sleep can be observed within 3 days of its use. In traditional medicine, it is used as soporific (sleep inducing) and tranquilizing agent for the treatment of the sleeplessness or trouble sleeping. It induces relaxation, reduces sleep latency, and increases overall sleep time.
A study suggests Lingzhi Mushroom extract prolongs sleep time and exerts hypnotic effect. Its 3 days regular use significantly increased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time and overall sleep time in rats. (3)
Dosage & Administration
Reishi mushroom is available in the form of dehydrated powder (also called crude dried mushroom), ethanolic dry extract, water extract, and tincture.
Eating Cooked Reishi
The yellowish red portion of reishi is bitter in taste, so it is not used as food. As a food, its white outer edge is cooked like other vegetables and eaten in moderation. It has a meaty taste. In high amounts, it can cause stomach upset.
Dehydrated Reishi Powder Dosage
| The general dosage of dried Reishi mushroom powder is as follows. | |
| Children | 15 mg per Kg body weight |
| Adults | 1 to 3 grams (Optimal Dosage: 2 grams in most of the cases) |
| Maximum Possible Dosage | 9 grams Per Day (in divided doses) |
| Doses: 1 to 3 Doses per day (Generally, it taken once a day on empty stomach) | |
| Best Time to Take Reishi: After food; It is also taken on an empty stomach, which can cause stomach upset in some people (especially when taken in high dosage), so it is the best to take it with food or after food. | |
| Adjuvant: Warm water | |
Note: The dehydrated reishi mushroom powder is also called “basic extract”, which is 10 times more potent than fresh reishi mushroom because the water content is removed. Therefore, the dosage of fresh reishi mushroom should be between 10 to 30 grams and can be maximum up to 90 grams per day wherever required or as a food.
Ethanolic Dry Extract of Reishi Mushroom
| Ethanolic Extract of Reishi Mushroom Dosage: | |
| Children | – |
| Adults | 6 mg (standard dosage) |
| Doses: 1 to 2 Doses per day | |
| When to Take: After Food | |
| Adjuvant: Warm water | |
Reishi Mushroom Tincture
Dosage described here is for the tincture prepared using 5:1 ratio i.e. 5 Parts Alcohol (100 Proof) and 1 Part Reishi Mushroom Powder.
| The general dosage of Reishi Mushroom Tincture is as follows. | |
| Children | – |
| Adults | 5 to 20 drops or 0.25 to 1 ml (Ideal Dosage: 5 drops 3 to 5 times a day) |
| Maximum Possible Dosage | 60 drops or 3 ml per day |
| Doses: 3 to 5 Doses per day | |
| When to Take: Generally, suggested taking it before a meal. When it is used in high dosage, it should be taken after a meal to avoid digestive upset. | |
| Adjuvant: It can be diluted in water or juice. Otherwise, it can also be taken putting directly under the tongue. Diluting it in water is the best way to consume Reishi Tincture. | |
