The Rise of Reishi: The Ultimate Anti-Inflammation Mushroom

• What is Reishi Used For?
• Reishi Benefits
• Dosage
• Summary
• References

Reishi—with the scientific name of Ganoderma lucidum—is a fungus that has been used for centuries with the belief of promoting health. It is also known as lingzhi or the “herb of spiritual potency”, revered as a potent medicinal mushroom.

Coming across reishi mushrooms in the wild was so rare at one time that only emperors and nobility had access to them. Fortunately, reishi is now cultivated on a variety of substrates so everyone can consume this divine fungus as much as they please. If you’re ready to consume this mushroom like the set of royalty you are, let’s dive in and find out why the ancient Chinese valued their reishi tea so much.

What Is Reishi Used For?

Historically, reishi tea was used to treat a variety of health conditions, including fatigue, anxiety, liver dysfunction, and cough.

Reishi is commonly consumed to improve the immune system, lower blood pressure, regulate blood glucose levels, reduce inflammation, neutralize allergies, and regulate the endocrine system, and as a way to balance hormone levels.^[1]

Benefits of Reishi and the Research That Backs It Up

The active compounds responsible for the health benefits of reishi are:^[2]

• Triterpenes – For anti-inflammation^[3]
• Polysaccharides – Improve your immune system response^[6]
• Ganoderic acids – Inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells^[4] and reduces inflammation^[8]

Here is a glance at a few of the studies on these unique compounds and their proven health benefits.

The triterpene acids and sterols in reishi exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.^[3]

There are many studies on the cancer-inhibiting action of reishi mushrooms. Ganoderic acids present in reishi mushrooms inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.^[4] Compounds in reishi mushrooms also inhibit and kill prostate cancer cells.^[5]

Since breast cancer and prostate cancer are two of the deadliest forms of cancer, regular consumption of reishi tea is a simple anti-cancer prophylactic measure.

Certain compounds in reishi initiate the immune response.^[6] In other words, improved immune system function is one of the known reishi health benefits. The immuno-stimulating effects of reishi are responsible for its tumor suppression action.^[7]

Reishi reduced inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis by optimizing immune system function.^[8] In short, reishi mushrooms reduced inflammatory markers, indicating it contains anti-inflammatory compounds. Reishi also protects the liver from toxicity.^[9]

How and When to Take Reishi

Reishi supplements are available in many forms, including powders, capsules, teas, and tinctures. The general recommended dosage of reishi is 1,000-4,000 milligrams per day of dry powder or 1,000-1,500 milligrams per day of extract.^[10]

One can consume reishi at any time of day, but most people enjoy a cup of reishi tea around noon or before bedtime. Consume reishi at regular intervals for optimal benefits.

Summary

The vast number of reishi health benefits is exactly why we included it in MoonBrew. Delicious and healthy, discover for yourself why reishi tea has been sought after for centuries.

References

1. Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
2. Boh B, Berovic M, Zhang J, Zhi-Bin L. Ganoderma lucidum and its pharmaceutically active compounds. Biotechnol Annu Rev. 2007;13:265–301.
3. Akihisa, T., Nakamura, Y., Tagata, M., Tokuda, H., Yasukawa, K., Uchiyama, E., Suzuki, T., & Kimura, Y. (2007). Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor-promoting effects of triterpene acids and sterols from the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Chemistry & biodiversity, 4(2), 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.200790027
4. Jiang, J., Grieb, B., Thyagarajan, A., & Sliva, D. (2008). Ganoderic acids suppress growth and invasive behavior of breast cancer cells by modulating AP-1 and NF-kappaB signaling. International journal of molecular medicine, 21(5), 577–584.
5. Stanley, G., Harvey, K., Slivova, V., Jiang, J., & Sliva, D. (2005). Ganoderma lucidum suppresses angiogenesis through the inhibition of secretion of VEGF and TGF-beta1 from prostate cancer cells. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 330(1), 46–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.02.116
6. Cao, L. Z., & Lin, Z. B. (2002). Regulation on maturation and function of dendritic cells by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides. Immunology letters, 83(3), 163–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-2478(02)00087-1
7. Gao, Y., Zhou, S., Jiang, W., Huang, M., & Dai, X. (2003). Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients. Immunological investigations, 32(3), 201–215. https://doi.org/10.1081/imm-120022979
8. Ho, Y. W., Yeung, J. S., Chiu, P. K., Tang, W. M., Lin, Z. B., Man, R. Y., & Lau, C. S. (2007). Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines in activated rheumatoid synovial fibroblast. Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 301(1-2), 173–179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-006-9409-y
9. Kim, D. H., Shim, S. B., Kim, N. J., & Jang, I. S. (1999). Beta-glucuronidase-inhibitory activity and hepatoprotective effect of Ganoderma lucidum. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, 22(2), 162–164. https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.22.162
10. Reishi Mushroom Dosage: How Much Reishi to Take. (2022, March 8). Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.remeday.com/mushrooms/reishi-mushroom-dosage
11. REISHI MUSHROOM: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-905/reishi-mushroom