The lingzhi mushroom, also known as ‘reishi mushroom’ (translating as supernatural mushroom) is a categorical term for many mushrooms within the Ganoderma genus. The term lingzhi is usually used to refer to Ganoderma Lucidum and Ganoderma Tsugae. G. Lucidum, which are used as a natural medication in East Asia and now across the globe. Its use in medicine dates back to over 2,000 years ago, which puts it as one of the oldest mushrooms to ever have been used medicinally.
There are many health benefits associated with lingzhi, and no known side effects, which makes it a highly popular alternative remedy. Lingzhi contains ganoderic acids which are similar in composition to steroid hormones. They also contain polysaccharides such as beta-glucan and coumarin as well as alkaloids.
As with many ancient medicines, there is some scientific research to back up the traditional usage of lingzhi. Here we will look at what some of those might be.
Anticancer
For instance lingzhi has been shown to have anticancer properties as a result of triterpenes which can prevent the spread of tumors. Polysaccharides are also known to help immune function and have cancer fighting properties too. In several studies lingzhi has been shown to help fight cancer in numerous other ways – for instance in an animal test ganoderma was found to prevent cancer metastasis.
Testosterone
Lingzhi helps to produce something akin to steroids. This means that it can help to trigger an anabolic state where the body rebuilds itself and grows muscle. At the same time it can also help to inhibit an enzyme which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone which leaves more testosterone in the body and makes it great for sexual function and muscle growth. This function has also implicated it in treatment of ‘benign prostatic hyperplasia’ or ‘BPH’ which causes enlargement of the testicles – as this has been connected to high levels of dihydrotestosterone.
Blood Thinning
Ganoderma has blood thinning properties and that means that it can be used to help treat high blood pressure and inflammation as a result.
Liver Health
The inclusion of ganoderic acid suggests that lingzhi can be used to help treat liver disease in humans.
Antibacterial
As well as strengthening immune function in general ganoderma has specific antibacterial and antiviral properties and can help to combat HSV-1, HSV-2, influenza (the flu), stomatitis and more.
Vasodilation
Because lingzhi contains alkaloids (consisting of nitrogen) and adenosine, this makes it a powerful vasodilator. This means that it causes the blood vessels to dilate allowing more blood, oxygen and nutrients to get around the body. This results in greater energy and more rapid healing. It also further reduces blood pressure.
Antibacterial
As well as strengthening immune function in general ganoderma has specific antibacterial and antiviral properties and can help to combat HSV-1, HSV-2, influenza (the flu), stomatitis and more.
Inner serving: Dry, 6-12g;
This product contains polysaccharides, nucleotides, furans, sterols, alkaloids, triamcinolones, greases, a variety of amino acids and proteins, enzymes, organic palladium and a variety of trace elements. Mainly containing amino acids, peptides, proteins, fungal lysozyme, and carbohydrates (reducing sugars and polysaccharides), ergosterol, triterpenes, coumarin glycosides, volatile oil, stearic acid, benzoic acid, alkaloids, Vitamin B2 and C, etc.; spores also contain mannitol, trehalose, etc.
Reishi polysaccharides have immune regulation, blood sugar reduction, blood lipid reduction, antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-tumor effects; triamcinolone compounds can purify blood and protect liver function; Reishi a variety of preparations have sedation, anticonvulsion, strong heart, anti-arrhythmia, antihypertensive, anti-cough flat wheezing effect;
Reishi toxicity is small, mouse abdominal injection of chi chiothog liquid LD50 for 38.3 ±1.04g/kg, chi chi chirol extract abdominal injection, mice LD50 for 6.75g/kg, irrigation The stomach MLD is 165g/kg, cold alcohol extract is less toxic, daily gastric irrigation of rats 1.2g/kg and 12g/kg, a total of 30 days, growth and development, liver function, electrocardiogram, etc. are not toxic.
1, the treatment of annual stomach disease: 1.5g, chopped, soaked with old wine to take. (Hangzhou Medicinal Plant Journal)
2, cure nerve weakness, dizziness, sleep at night: Lingzhi 1.5-3g. Fried water, 2 times a day.
3, treatment of chronic hepatitis, nephritis, bronchial asthma: Lingzhi baking dry research, boiling water flushing, each 0.9-1.5g, 3 times a day.
4, cure coronary heart disease: Reishi slice 6g, add water to cook 2h, take, sooner or later 1 time each.
5, the treatment of accidental poisoning bacteria: Lingzhi 120g, water frying clothing. (2-5 from Liu Bo's "Chinese Medicinal Fungus")
6, rhinitis treatment: Lingzhi 500g, chopped, small hot water fried 2 times, each time 3-4h, combined frying liquid, concentrated with multi-layer gauze filtration, filter add distilled water to 500ml, nasal drops, 2-6 drops each time, 2-4 times a day. (National Chinese Herbal Medicine Compilation)
7, treatment of mastitis: Reishi 30-60g. Fried water.
8, cure the mouth sores: Reishi research broken, oil adjustment affected. (7, 8 from Hunan Pharmaceuticals)
1, Chi chi: sub-entity umbrella shape, bacteria cover (bacterial cap) hard wood bolt, semi-circular or kidney-shaped, diameter 10-18cm, thickness of about 2cm. The shell is hard, yellow, gradually turned red-brown, shiny, ring-shaped and radiant wrinkles, with thin and flat edges, often slightly inside the roll. The bacteria meat is nearly white to hazel, the surface of the bacteria cover is white to light brown, consisting of numerous fine tubular holes (bacterial tubes), the tube has a carrier and spores. Cylindrical, side-by-side, 7-15cm long, 1-4cm thick, red-brown to purple-brown, paint-like gloss. The spores are small and tawny. The air is slightly fragrant and the taste is bitter.
2, purple chi: the shell is purple black or brown black, paint-like luster. The bacteria meat and the tubes under the lid are rusty brown. The fungus handle is 17-23cm long.
3, cultivation of Reishi: sub-solid is strong, fat, diameter 12-22cm, thickness 1.5-4cm. The outer shell is often covered with a large amount of dust-like tan spores.
Function
Nourishing
and strong. Used for brain strengthening, anti-inflammatory,
diuretic, and kidney benefit. Ganoderma has a wide range of
applications. According to the dialectics of traditional Chinese
medicine, since Ganoderma lucidum enters the five internal organs and
replenishes the qi of the whole body, the heart, lungs, liver, spleen
and kidneys are weak and can be taken. The diseases that Ganoderma
lucidum treats involve various systems such as breathing,
circulation, digestion, nerves, endocrine, and exercise; covering
internal, external, women, children, and five sense organs diseases.
The fundamental reason lies in the great effect of Ganoderma lucidum
in strengthening the body, strengthening the immune function and
improving the body's resistance. It is different from general
medicines that have a therapeutic effect on certain diseases. It is
also different from general nutrition and health foods that only
supplement and strengthen a certain aspect of nutrient deficiency. On
the whole, it adjusts the balance of human body functions and adjusts
the internal vitality of the body. Regulate the body's metabolic
functions, improve autoimmunity, and promote the normalization of all
internal organs and
organizm
functions.
However there are some side effects of lingzhi which one needs to be careful of and these. Although lingzhi is generally considered side effect-free, it should not be consumed by those with a very low blood pressure, those taking other hypertension medications, or those going into surgery. While low blood pressure is a good thing, if it becomes too low, this causes dizziness and nausea and prevents the formation of blood clots which causes open wounds to bleed continuously. Consult with your doctor before using lingzhi and make sure that they are aware that you are using it before you go into surgery.
Further, while extra testosterone results in more drive, libido and musculature, it can also cause baldness and acne. Lingzhi increases testosterone in such small amounts that it is unlikely to have these effects. However if you do notice spots, it may be worth cutting out the lingzhi temporarily to see if that helps.
Adverse reactions
Oral Reishi has no adverse reactions, but Reishi injection has allergic reactions, generally after 20-30 minutes of injection, light people have urticaria, short heart, chest tightness, abdominal pain, stomach pain, vomiting, throat edema, severe allergic shock or allergic encephalitis.
1, empirical and external feelings of the first start-ups do not want to use.
2, Reishi is a strong platelet aggregation inhibitor, so suffering from hemorrhagic diseases and bleeding tendencies of people with caution.
3, allergic physique with caution.
Finally, some people may experience allergies to lingzhi. If you have allergies to fungi or mold, then you should avoid using lingzhi.
Lingzhi
may be the second most popular herb in China. Lingzhi has many
health
benefits, as some herbalists
suggest.
What
is lingzhi?
Lingzhi is a mushroom containing sterols, coumarin,
mannitol,
polysaccharides, and triterpenoids [ganoderic acids].
Lingzhi mushrooms grow
wild on decaying logs and tree stumps in
the coastal provinces of China. Lingzhi
mushroom grows in six
different colors, but the red Lingzhi is the popular. Lingzhi
has
been used to treat general fatigue and weakness, asthma, insomnia,
and
cough for thousand years. Lingzhi's Chinese name ling zhi
means the herb of
spiritual potency. Other names for lingzhi
include lingzhi [Ling chih, Ling zhi, reishi,
Ganoderma
lucidum]. Lingzhi mushroom extract is a popular supplement with
an
impressive array of reputed health benefits in Asia!!
What
are the scientific evidence for the health benefits
claims of
lingzhi? Are there any side effects?
Antioxidative
activities
Lingzhi [Ganoderma Lucidum] mushroom extract
demonstrated anti-oxidative
activities against heart toxicity in
mice in a dose-dependent manner. [Wong
KL et al
Antioxidant activity of ganoderma lucidum (reishi) in
acute ethanol-induced heart toxicity.
Phytother Res. 2004
Dec;18(12):1024-6.]
Immunocompetence
Lingzhiwas
safe to horses with respect to the CBC and blood biochemistry
data
after the Lingzhi dosing. Reishi (ganoderma lucidum)
increased the percentage of
CD5+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes
and the amount of specific antibody
production in horses. [Lai
SW et al, Influence of ganoderma lucidum on blood biochemistry
and
immunocompetence in horses. Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(6):931-40.]
A
fraction (F3) of a Lingzhi polysaccharide extract was shown to
activate the
expression of IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-gamma,
TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, G-CSF and M-CSF.
[Chen
HS et al, Studies on the immuno-modulating and anti-tumor activities
of Ganoderma
lucidum (Reishi) polysaccharides. Bioorg Med Chem.
2004 Nov 1;12(21):5595-601]
Blood
pressure, LDL and Coronary artery disease
Ganoderic
acids (of Lingzhi) may lower blood pressure and LDL (the
bad
cholesterol}. These specific triterpenoids may also help
reduce blood platelets from
sticking together -an important
factor in lowering the risk for coronary artery disease.
Two
controlled clinical trials have shown that reishi could lower high
blood pressure
significantly . [The
people with hypertension in the second study had previously not
responded
to medications, though these were continued during the
study. Kammatsuse K, Kajiware N,
Hayashi K. Studies on Ganoderma
lucidum: I. Efficacy against hypertension and side effects.
Yakugaku
Zasshi 1985;105:531–3. Jin H, Zhang G, Cao X, et al.
Treatment of hypertension by
ling zhi combined with hypotensor
and its effects on arterial, arteriolar and capillary pressure
and
microcirculation. In: Nimmi H, Xiu RJ, Sawada T, Zheng C.
(eds). Microcirculatory Approach to
Asian Traditional Medicine.
New York: Elsevier Science, 1996, 131–8.]
Altitude
sickness and Hepatitis B
Reishi
may have some efficacy in treating altitude sickness and chronic
hepatitis B.
[Hobbs
C. Medicinal Mushrooms. Santa Cruz, CA: Botanica Press, 1995,
96–107]
Glomerulosclerosis
Lingzhi
[ganoderma lucidum] may suppress endothelial cell cytotoxicity
and
proteinuria in 14 patients of glomerulosclerosis.Futrakul
N et al, Ganoderma lucidum
suppresses endothelial cell
cytotoxicity and proteinuria in persistent proteinuric focal
segmental
glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) nephrosis, Clin Hemorheol
Microcirc. 2004;31(4):267-72.
Diabetes
Mellitus
Reishi
may have some beneficial action in people with diabetes mellitus
and
cancer [Jones
K. Reishi mushroom: Ancient medicine in modern times. Alt Compl Ther
1998;4:
256–66 [review].]
Zhang
HN and Lin ZB, Peking University, Beijing, investigated the
hypoglycemic
effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (reishi
extract) in the normal fasted
mice and the possible mechanism.
They found that reishi extract could lower the
glucose level in
a dose-dependent manner however the reishi extract had no effect
on
islets insulin content. [Zhang
HN et al, Hypoglycemic effect of Ganoderma lucidum
polysaccharides,
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 Feb;25(2):191-5]
Cancer
Lingzhi
has been shown to be a potential agent in the treatment or prevention
of
certain cancers. Clearly, reshishi demonstrates anticancer
activity in experiments
with cancer cells.
[Sliva D, Methodist Research Institute, IN, Ganoderma Lucidum
(Reishi) in
cancer treatment, Integr Cancer Ther. 2003
Dec;2(4):358-64.]
A
Japanese research group extracted triterpene acid, lucidenic acid P
(1a), and two
triterpene acid methyl esters, methyl lucidenates
P (1b) and Q (2b) from the fruiting
body of the fungus Ganoderma
lucidum (reishi). All of the compounds from Lingzhi
extracted
showed potent inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early
antigen
induction (96-100% inhibition at 1 x 10(3) mol
ratio/TPA). [Lucidenic
acids P and Q,
methyl lucidenate P, and other triterpenoids from
the fungus Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) and
their inhibitory
effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation. J Nat Prod. 2003
Dec;66(12):1582-5]
Colon
cancer Hong
KJ et al, Texas Tech University, found that Lingzhi extract
causes
no cytotoxicity in human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells at doses less
than
10000 microg/ml. Increasing concentrations of reishi
extract reduced prostaglandin
E2 production, but increased
nitric oxide production. Together with other data, reishi
extract
has been shown to have pro-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory functions,
as
well as inhibitory effects on cytokine expression during
early inflammation in colonic
carcinoma cells.
[Effects of Ganoderma lucidum on apoptotic and anti-inflammatory
function
in HT-29 human colonic carcinoma cells. Phytother Res.
2004 Sep;18(9):768-70.]
Breast
Cancer Lingzhi
(ganoderma lucidum) inhibited proliferation of breast
cancer
MDA-MB-231 cells by downregulating Akt/NF-kappaB
signaling. [Jiang
J et al,
Ganoderma lucidum suppresses growth of breast cancer
cells through the inhibition of Akt/NF-
kappaB signaling. Nutr
Cancer. 2004;49(2):209-16.]
Prostate
Cancer Lingzhi
inhibits cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent
manner
by the down-regulation of expression of cyclin B and Cdc2 and by the
up-
regulation of p21 expression for the human prostate caner
cells PC-3. The Lingzhi
inhibition of the cancer cell growth was
also demonstrated by cell cycle arrest at
G2/M phase.
[Jiang J et al, Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation and induces
apoptosis in
human prostate cancer cells PC-3, Int J Oncol. 2004
May;24(5):1093-9]
Ulcer
New
Zealead researchers observed the anti-ulcer activities of Lingzhi on
the rat.
They extracted the water-soluble polysaccharide from
Lingzhi mushroom
(ganoderma lucidum) and inhibited the
indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal
lesions successfully in
rats with the reishi extracts. [Gao
Y et al, Ganoderma lucidum
polysaccharide fractions accelerate
healing of acetic acid0induced ulcers in rates. J Med Food.
2004
Winter;7(4):417-21]
DOSAGE
Lingzhi
can be taken either as 1.5 grams per day of the crude dried mushroom,
1-
1.5 grams per day in powdered form. [Hobbs
C. Medicinal Mushrooms. Santa Cruz, CA:
Botanica Press, 1995,
96–107]
Lingzhi
Spore powder – link to farm
- Enhance
immunity, reduce three high, anti-cancer liver protection, prevention
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SIDE
EFFECTS
Side
effects from Lingzhi can include dizziness, dry mouth and throat,
nosebleeds,
and abdominal upset.
Commercial
Lingzhi Products
Unicity
Bio-Lingzhi Coffee-claimed to be enriched with the purest form of
Ganoderma (reishi)
extract. Unicity Bio-Reishi Coffee contains
20 sachets in a box.
Lingzhi Black Coffee-claimed to contain
premium black coffee, ganoderma extract (i.e. reishi
extract)
and artificial sweetener. Price $9.99 (21g X20 sacs) at
Econoherbs.
Lingzhi Roasted Coffee (Zhi Café)
-claimed to contain coffee beans and ganoderma (i.e.
reishi).
Price $8.99 (6g X20 sacs) at Econoherbs.
Amato Instant Reishi
Tea – claimed to contain Unsaturated fatty acids,
polysaccharides, ß-D-
glucan, Ergosterol, Pro
vitamin D2, Carotene, Minerals, complete proteins. Price $43 (3g X
30
sachets) at kyotan