Edible mushrooms come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors and can support your health in significant ways.* The Reishi mushroom is no different. In this article, you will learn how the Reishi mushroom can benefit your well-being.*
We’ll also go over basic facts about this fungus and give you a few easy ways to incorporate it into your daily supplement regimen. Then, you can take advantage of this amazing mushroom on a daily basis. Let’s start with what it is and where it grows.
What Are Reishi Mushrooms?
The Reishi mushroom goes by a couple of different names. Scientifically, it is known as Ganoderma lucidum, but you might also hear it called Ling Zhi or even “the mushroom of immortality.”
That’s a pretty big claim for a small mushroom. But it’s true that the Reishi mushroom has been revered for thousands of years in China and historically used in Asian countries for health and longevity.*1
This fungus is native to Europe, Asia, and North America and prefers tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates with plenty of deciduous hardwoods such as oak and maple.
However, it is not extremely common in the wild and has been cultivated due to the high demand for this mushroom.1 Only two or three out of 10,000 mature hardwood trees have Reishi growing on them, with oak and maple being the most common.
A mushroom’s fruiting body is the part that is above ground and typically foraged. The Reishi mushroom we’re talking about today is “a large, dark mushroom with a glossy exterior and a woody texture.”1
Reishi mushrooms are edible, but they have a bitter taste and tough texture. The good news is that you don’t have to cook with the raw mushroom to take advantage of Reishi mushroom benefits.
If you prefer an easier method, you can find these mushrooms in a supplement, such as a capsule or powder form.
We mentioned that the Reishi mushroom is known as “the mushroom of immortality” and has been used for longevity, but let’s talk now about the modern uses and benefits of this brown fungus.*
Reishi Mushroom Benefits
Reishi Mushrooms May Provide Immune Support*
One of the ways the Reishi mushroom shines within the health and wellness world is that it provides immune support.* It’s not the only mushroom that does so. Many mushrooms, Reishi included, contain a specific polysaccharide called beta glucans.
Beta glucans have been shown to support immune health and function.* The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reports, “When animals were fed beta glucans, some cells of their immune system became more active.”*2
With its immunomodulating effects, the Reishi mushroom can help support hormonal balance and help regulate the immune system.”*
The Reishi mushroom is also considered a tonic for the vital energy that Traditional Chinese Medicine calls qi.* This is a force field around the body that helps maintain overall health and vitality.*
Reishi Mushrooms Are Adaptogens*
Reishi mushrooms are adaptogens. However, this word can be confusing. Adaptogens are, simply put, herbs or mushrooms that normalize the body and help it respond to and “adapt” to various types of stress.*
Adaptogens are used to support energy levels and the stress response system.* Adaptogenic herbs help your body cope with the effects stress can have on your health.
Reishi Mushrooms May Help Support the Liver*
In addition to supporting your immune system and your body as a whole, the Reishi mushroom helps to support your liver.* This is important since the liver processes and cleans your blood while also producing bile, which is involved in digestion.3
Reishi has been shown to have “hepatoprotective properties,” which is the scientific way of saying that it helps protect the liver.*
Researchers conducted a study on mice treated with a Ganoderma lucidum spore and commented that, “The medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum has been shown to have hepatoprotective effects.”4
It has also been noted that this protective mechanism of Reishi “might be due at least in part to its superoxide scavenging effect.”5
Reishi Mushrooms May Help Brain Support*
Last but certainly not least, Reishi mushrooms may support mental clarity, which is something everyone wants more of.*
Reishi Mushroom Side Effects and Precautions
Remember that before you start using any new herbal supplement, Reishi mushrooms included, you should consult your healthcare practitioner, especially if you are already taking any medications or have an existing medical condition.
Reishi Mushrooms for Your Well-Being*
As we’ve uncovered, Reishi mushrooms can help keep your body at its best.* Reishi mushroom health benefits include immune support and liver support.* Plus, this fungus promotes mental clarity and is an adaptogen, which means it can help your body better adapt to and cope with stress.*
REFERENCES:
1 Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757
2 Reishi Mushrooms.
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/reishi-mushroom
3 Liver: Anatomy and Functions.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/liver-anatomy-and-functions
4 Protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum spore on cadmium hepatotoxicity in mice.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22659462
5 Evaluation of the hepatic and renal-protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum in mice.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11789593