Reishi Mushroom
Species Name: Ganoderma lucidum
Also Known As: Ling zhi, lingzhi, red reishi, and reishi.
The reishi mushroom is a tree fungus that grows in six different colors, with the red mushroom being the most common.
The large, kidney shaped and corky textured dark mushroom has a brown cap with distinctive growth rings that appear in a semicircular pattern. Reishi mushrooms grow to 8 inches or more in diameter.
They grow in moist and temperate forested sections of Asia, Europe, South America, and the United States.
The typical mushrooms consist of about 90 percent water while the reishi is made up of around 75 percent water. The reishi mushroom is rarely found in the wild as it is specifically attracted to dead plum, a deciduous oak species known as quercus serrata, or the pasonia (peony) trees.
Only two or three such trees out of 10,000 will have reishi mushroom growth. Since this mushroom is so rare in the wild, it has been a very revered substance. Today the reishi mushroom is artificially cultivated and widely available.
What is reishi mushroom extract? Reishi mushroom extract is made from the whole mushroom cap excluding the mushroom shaft. The mushroom cap is dried and typically used to make a tea.
The extract is typically available as dried and powdered mushrooms, and in tinctures, tablets, capsules, and syrup.
Home Remedies Using Reishi Mushroom Extract:
Benefits of Reishi Mushroom Extract:
Historically reishi mushrooms have long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a treatment for bronchial asthma, coronary heart disease, depression, dizziness, hay fever, impotence, insomnia, stomach ulcers, and debility generated as a result of long-term illness.
Today, reishi mushroom extract is utilized for many reasons, including as a general tonic believed to promote vitality while it balances blood pressure, cleans the blood, stimulates liver actions, and helps the body fight the effects of aging and stress.
Reishi mushroom extract works as an antioxidant against free radicals. It is used to protect against the effects of radiation and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Reishi is often utilized in the treatment of cancer patients. It is believed to reinforce the membrane of cancerous cells, thereby impeding the spread of these cells.
Reishi mushroom extract is often used to treat the heart muscle by improving blood flow and reducing oxygen consumption. Regular use of this extract can eliminate cholesterol build-up, increase blood circulation, and then maintain healthy cholesterol levels and platelet activity.
This mushroom extract may also increase the production of interferon, which helps cells fight viral infections and tumors while stimulating the immune system.
This extract is often recommended to relax skeletal muscles, calm the central nervous system, and fight against the stimulating effects of caffeine and possibly other stimulants.
Side Effects of Reishi Mushroom Extract:
Reishi mushroom extract is considered generally safe as the mushroom has been used as food for thousands of years.
Rare possible side effects from reishi mushroom extract include dizziness, dry mouth, upset stomach, nose bleed, sore bones, gastrointestinal distress or irritated skin.
