Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Medicinal mushrooms have been around a minute, but more recently have gained a reputation as the new cool kid on the block (just google it, it’s a-lot!). It can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out what each of them do.

When it comes to our little Reishi mushroom, its medicinal qualities are impressive to say the least.

For 2000 years, Reishi has been classed as one of the great original adaptogen herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. It can do amazing things for our immune systems thanks to the polysaccharides, peptidoglycans and triterpenes which are the three major active constituents in Reishi.

Grinding it into a powder enhances the bioavailability of those constituents, but that’s not to say eating them isn’t good for you too.

Actions: Immune modulating and enhancing, anti-tumour, adaptogen, tonic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, nervine.

Indications:  Adjunct therapy in cancer treatment, chronic infections, autoimmune, chronic immune deficiency, convalescence, post viral syndromes, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, tonic for the elderly,

Pregnancy / Breastfeeding safe: Yes.

 

Reference:

Bone, K: The Ultimate Herbal Compendium: Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) 2007, Pg. 57

The Herbal Extract Company: Full Monograph - Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)