Reishi or Ling Chi of the Genus Ganoderma
Ganoderma lucidum (Wm. Curtis: Fries) Karsten
Family: Basidiomycetes
Genus and species: Ganoderma lucidum
A bracket fungus with large stalked fan-shaped fruiting body, it grows on living or dead wood of deciduous trees. Ganoderma lucidum has been used medicinally for centuries. The Japanese refer to it as Reishi or Mannentake (10,000 Year Mushroom) while the Chinese or Koreans refer to it as Ling Chi, Ling Zhi (Mushroom of Immortality)
Reishi's use is documented in what is said to be the oldest Chinese medical text, which is more than 2,000 years old. This book contains information on about 400 medicines but lists the reishi as superior. Cultivation of reishi began in the 1980s.
Benefits of Reishi:
The Red variety of Reishi is primarily composed of complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides, triterpeniods, proteins and amino acids). These polysaccharides have been found to have anti-tumor, immune modulating and blood pressure lowering effects.
Triterpenes or ganoderic acids is the other major healing component of Red Reishi. Studies have shown ganoderic acids alleviate common allergies by inhibiting histamine release, improve oxygen utilization and improve liver functions.
Claims following regular consumption of red Reishi include improved immune system and blood circulation, treatment of anxiety, high blood pressure, hepatitis, bronchitis, insomnia, and asthma.
Reishi has proven beneficial in myeloblastic leukemia and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, demonstrating tumor shrinkage, significant changes in hemoglobin counts, and overall quality-of-life markers. The fungus has had positive effects on human macrophages and T-lymphocytes.
Promising effects on the cardiovascular system and liver protectant actions have been found.
Reishi has also been used in the positive treatment of hepatitis. Herpes simplex has also been treated with Polysaccharides isolated from Reishi.
Others include:
- Analgesic
- Anti-allergic activity
- Bronchitis-preventative effect, inducing regeneration of bronchial epithelium
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antibacterial, against Staphylococci, Streptococci, and Bacillus pneumoniae (perhaps due to increased immune system activity)
- Antioxidant, by eliminating hydroxyl free radicals
- Antitumor activity
- Antiviral effect, by inducing interferon production
- Lowers blood pressure
- Enhances bone marrow nucleated cell proliferation
- Cardiotonic action, lowering serum cholesterol levels with no effect on triglycerides, enhancing myocardial metabolism of hypoxic animals, and improving coronary artery hemodynamics
- Central depressant and peripheral anticholinergic actions on the autonomic nervous system reduce the effects of caffeine and relax muscles
- Enhanced natural killer cell (NK) activity in vitro in mice
- Expectorant and antitussive properties demonstrated in mice studies
- General immunopotentiation
- Anti-HIV activity in vitro and in vivo
- Improved adrenocortical function
- Increased production of Interleukin-1 by murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro
- Increased production of Interleukin-2 by murine splenocytes in vitro
Key active constituents :
Beta and hetero-Beta-glucans (antitumour, immunostimulating )
Ling Zhi-8 protein (anti-allergenic, immuno-modulating)
Ganodermic acids – triterpenes (anti-allergenic agents, cholesterol and blood pressure reducing)
While results are promising, research reveals no clinical data regarding the use of reishi mushroom for anticancer immunostimulant effects. More clinical studies need to be performed in order to confirm these benefits.
Taking the plunge and growin' my own Reishi Mushrooms!
Yes, I've decided to try my hand at cultivating my own Reishi Mushrooms at home! Over the years, I've cultivated various edible and exotic plants, and mushrooms. But recently had a burning desire to cultivate Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi Mushroom). Well actually after learning of it's incredible properties, I knew I'd have to cultivate this one for myself!
So this coming November 6 I will begin my efforts using a Peroxide method by R. Rush Wayne, Ph.D. who’s written a marvelous manual titled “Home Mushroom Cultivation with Hydrogen Peroxide” Vol. I. With so much information on techniques for cultivation of mushrooms, I found Rush Wayne's Peroxide method a dream! This mushroom cultivation information is worth looking into as compared with other standard methods we've used to cultivate exotic and medicinal mushrooms.
This method of cultivation does away with many trappings such as the laminar flow hood, glove box, some sterilization in certain cases etc. He’s achieved impressive results with the application of Hydrogen peroxide during various stages of cultivation. Fascinating and exciting read!
NOTE: Please do not contact me regarding Psilocybe sp (magic mushrooms) as I do not cultivate such specimens nor harbor, trade, buy, or sell the sp. spores. This information is intended for anyone interested in cultivating and benefiting from benefits of edible Medicinal varieties. Furthermore, although possession of Psilocybe spores is not illegal, it's cultivation, possession, and consumption is ILLEGAL.
If interested in Mycology and growing your own specimens, I urge you to visit his site at www.mycomasters.com . He’s written several very clear and concise books in PDF format and printed for this purpose.
This woody mushroom highly regarded in traditional medicine and is widely consumed in the belief that it promotes health and longevity, lowers the risk of cancer and heart disease and boosts the immune system.
I’ve listed a few articles on controlled experiments with very impressive and promising results. But back to the cultivation of this miraculous shroomie. Using Wayne’s method of cultivation I will use a tissue culture from the one and only and wonderful www.fungiperfecti.com. The ingenious Rush Wayne suggested the tissue culture would surely increase the beneficial odds of a superior specimen considering the fungiperfecti staff have gone to the trouble of isolating it. So it goes and I agree.
Using the tools and spawning methods suggested by Wayne, his text, and parameter information from Paul Stamet’s “Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms”, I will set to do this and expect good results. I also visited several Mycology discussion boards but had to weed through much talk and posting regarding some of the “Psilocybes” or hallucinogenic variety which I am not interested in. Hell, I have enough dreams of flying at night without being on such hallucinogenics. To each his own I suppose.
I will, in months to come, post my results. Keep in mind, if this first attempt fails, I will go at it again and again until I get it right.
Now for those not interested or willing to cultivate their own Reishi mushrooms, well, the pill form or 100% extract is available! Quality and concentration will of course vary from vendor to vendor. If you seek a high quality extract then www.fungiperfecti.com has it! It is alcohol based.
If you're interested in and searching for Reishi extract products, I've listed below a very reliable directory of vendors I've done business with.
I’ve seen the extracts in 1 and 2 ounce bottles range in price from $20 USD to $125 USD. So which to buy? Does the maxim “You get what you pay for” apply here? Well many of the high end brands I found to be a combination of powerful and healing shrooms. You can get a high quality and improved purity from fungiperfecti.com at a very reasonable price. By the way, I’m no way affiliated with this company but mention them in observance of their years of experience and wonderful contributions to mycology!
I’ll return to this page with updates and details on my mushroom strain's progress. I will also list a growing log for future use in determining what does and does not work and why.
Visit some of the expert sites listed on this page! Fungiperfecti advertises on this page as well as a few other very reputable and knowledgeable vendors. Contact them with product specific questions. I am in no way connected with these sites but list them as highly reputable!
