Safety of Reishi

Reishi mushrooms are an herbal remedy that is advocated by some to help treat cancer, HIV and other diseases that hurt the immune system. Although there is some evidence that Reishi mushrooms have additives that may accomplish this purpose, there are some safety concerns about Reishi mushrooms that should be understood.

Reishi And Drug Interactions

• Reishi mushrooms interact and reduce the effectiveness of certain prescription drugs. These include drugs taken for high blood pressure, chemotherapy drugs, immuno-suppressants or blood thinners.

Side Effects

• Individuals taking Reishi mushroom supplements have reported side effects, including vomiting, nausea, itching, stomachaches and dry throats.

Regulation

• Herbal remedies made from Reishi mushrooms are considered dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and don't go through the stringent approval process that pharmaceuticals are required to go through. This may make some products that contain Reishi mushrooms unsafe.

Manufacturing Process

• The FDA also has an extensive set of regulations on the manufacturing of drugs and other medicines. The manufacturing of Reishi mushroom supplements may not fall under these regulations, leading to the possibility of unsafe or contaminated samples.

Fraud

• Because Reishi mushrooms are still rare, unscrupulous sellers may substitute other types of mushrooms as an ingredient--mushrooms that may imperil the health of the user.