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Health Benefits of Reishi Mushroom

There is no denying that mushrooms are plentiful.  There are many different varieties of the mushroom contained throughout the world, and some of the mushrooms have not even been discovered yet.  In fact, according to Mercola, the world’s number one natural health website, “Of the 140,000 species of mushroom-forming fungi, science is familiar with only 10 percent, according to world-renown mycologist Paul Stamets, who has written six books on the topic.”  However, not all mushrooms are good for you.  Some are poisonous, while others are famously linked with drug use.  But there are many benefits of edible mushrooms in general.  The list below highlights just a few of these benefits.

• Weight management
• Improved nutrition
• Increased vitamin D levels through your diet
• Improved immune system function

Imagine a mushroom so powerful that it contained much greater benefits than most.  Do you think this sounds too good to be true?  It is not.  

The reishi mushroom is the superhero of mushrooms, with amazing benefits. Reishi is commonly known as Ling Zhi  (lingzhi) in Chinese, and it is considered an herb.  The mushroom is rare in nature and is mostly cultivated today using advanced agricultural techniques.  As one source states, “Only two or three out of 10,000 such aged trees will have lingzhi growth, and therefore its wild form is extremely rare. Today, lingzhi is effectively cultivated both indoors under sterile conditions and outdoors on either logs or woodchip beds.”  Trying to find this mushroom in the wild would be futile.  However, you can easily buy the mushroom or an extract form of it online or in health stores.  Because of its potent benefits, it is easy to find.

The amazing benefits of the reishi mushroom are many.  They cross many diseases and common health issues, and the science to back up the claims exists in many cases.  The reishi mushroom is known to help in the following areas:

• To treat fatigue
• To lower high cholesterol
• To treat HIV and AIDS – Laboratory studies suggest that reishi mushroom may stimulate certain cells of the immune system.
• To lower high blood pressure – Laboratory studies suggest that reishi mushroom may lower blood pressure.
• To stimulate the immune system – Laboratory studies suggest that reishi mushroom may stimulate the immune system.  A small clinical trial showed that reishi can enhance immune response in advanced-stage cancer patients.
• To reduce inflammation – Laboratory studies suggest that reishi mushroom may have an antihistamine effect, which has not been tested in humans.
• For increased strength and stamina
• To treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) – One study suggests that reishi extracts may improve urinary flow in men with slight-to-moderate LUTS.
• Noncancerous tumors in the colon and rectum (colorectal adenomas) – Research suggests that taking reishi mushroom extract daily for 12 months reduces tumors in people with colorectal adenomas.
• Clogged arteries – Research suggests that taking a specific reishi mushroom product (Ganopoly) reduces symptoms of clogged arteries.  This can include chest pains and shortness of breath.
• Diabetes – Research suggests that taking a specific reishi mushroom product (Ganopoly) daily for 12 weeks reduces hemoglobin.  But it will not reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
• Hepatitis B – Research suggests that taking a specific reishi mushroom product (Ganopoly) for 12 weeks reduces how much of the hepatitis B virus is circulating in the body, and it improves liver function in people with this condition.
• Lung cancer – It does appear to improve immune function and quality of life in people with lung cancer, but it is not shown to shrink tumors.
• Shingles-related pain

As you can see, the amazing benefits of the reishi mushroom are wide ranging and far reaching.  However, as with all herbs, it is important to talk to your doctor to ensure that the treatment is right for you and if it should be done in conjunction with other treatments or used alone.  Plus, you want to make sure that you are aware of any potential drug interactions the mushroom may have with drugs you take such as blood thinners, for example.  Moreover, you want to be aware of any side effects the mushroom may have in general.  If all signs point to taking it, let this superhero go to work for a healthier you!