What Are the Benefits of Reishi Mushooms?

For thousands of years, Eastern healers have touted the health-giving benefits of the mushroom species Ganoderma lucidum, known as reishi in Japan and ling chi in China. In recent decades, the beautiful orange fungi's fame spread throughout the world.

Primary Health Benefits

• In Stamets' chart of the various mushrooms' therapeutic benefits, only reishi scored 16 out of 17 properties. The properties most strongly associated with reishi are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, respiratory aid, cholesterol reducing and tumor suppressing.

Other Properties

• According to Stamet, reishi can also be used as an anti-candida, anti-stress and anti-viral tool. Additionally, it positively affects blood pressure, blood sugar, the cardiovascular and immune systems, kidneys, liver and nerves.

Significant Studies

• One of the first clinical trials on reishi occurred in China during the 1970s, when up to 90 percent of the 2,000 bronchial patients given reishi syrup reported substantial improvement. More recent studies suggest that the reishi mushroom contains the relatively rare combination of anti-inflammatory and immunity-enhancing properties.

How to Use

• Reishi teas, tisanes, tablets and even candies can be found in health food stores and catalogues. One company pairs it with another mushroom, Cordyceps, in a number of "CordyChi" products, including extracts, capsules, teas and even pet food. Consult a physician or nutritionist for proper dosage.

Cautions

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet evaluated reishi mushrooms. However, Asian cultures have used and revered this mushroom for at least 2,000 years while reporting only positive impacts on health.