“The Mushroom of Immortality” (aka Reishi)

Ganoderma lucidum, otherwise known as Reishi mushroom, has fascinated humans for centuries.

Ganoderma lucidum gets its name from the latin word “lucidus” which means shiny or glossy. In Japanese, Reishi means “Spiritual Mushroom”. The Japanese also called this mushroom mannentake, or “10,000” year mushroom, possibly attributed to its longevity benefits.

Reishi's Chinese name, Ling Zhi, roughly translates to “Divine Mushroom”.

Ranging anywhere from five to twenty centimeters in diameter, G. lucidum has a wood-like texture and a shiny surface especially when wet.

The fruiting body appear in many different colors: blue, black, red, white, yellow, purple, and red, with red showing the most health-enhancing benefits.

It has white pores under the cap which disperse a brown powder and a yellow stem, which eventually darkens to brown or black.

Reishi is found mostly in subtropical regions like China, Asia, and Europe, although can also be found in the Amazon and southern regions of North America. It obtains its nourishment from decaying or dead organic matter and is found on hardwoods such as oak and elm trees.

Because of the large range of races and subspecies, G. lucidum must be correctly identified to avoid confusion with one of its relatives like G. oregonense and G. tsugae (Stamets).

Portrayed in history through art, myths, legends, and poems, Reishi was a prized medicinal herb said to be reserved for nobility use only. Monks and meditators used Reishi to gain tranquility and focus.

Nourish the Shen & Calm the Mind

G. lucidum is listed in the Shen Nong Ben Cao as an herb that Nourishes the Heart and Calms the Mind(spirit). It is Sweet, somewhat Bitter, and Neutral and enters all five Zang organs: Heart, Liver, Lungs, Kidneys, and Spleen.

The Materia Medica suggests using G. lucidum with caution in patients with Excess conditions, as it mostly works in cases of deficiency.

In Chinese medicine, the Shen incorporates consciousness, thought, mental activity, and emotional response. G. tonifies Heart Qi & Heart Blood. It can be used singly for this purpose.

The Shen resides in the Heart; Heart imbalances manifest not only physically (as palpitations) but also mentally, presenting disorders such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and insomnia.

Other symptoms of Shen disturbance include anxiety and depression. Reishi is being researched for its anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects in stress-induced and exercise-induced damage in mice. Researchers put the mice through a series of stressful tests (swimming and timed shocks) and found the mice had decreased responses linked to fear and anxiety when given Reishi extract.

One study tested Reishi alcohol extract for its sleep benefits on mice. This study suggested that the extract was able to promote sleep via serotonin-involved pathways, but had varying results based on differences in gut microbiota. This suggests a connection between the Gut and the brain.

Heart Health

In addition to its influence on the mental-emotional aspect of the Heart, Reishi has also been clinically studied for its effects on the actual heart muscle and the cardiovascular system.

Its been shown to lower plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels, protecting the arterial walls from atherosclerotic damage. It increases systolic volume, contractibility of the heart muscle and reduces oxygen consumption. It was shown to increase capillary circulation of the heart muscle and platelets in rats.

Qi & Blood Tonic

G. lucidum can tonify the Qi, nourish the Blood, and works on deficiency consumption.

The Heart and Liver are connected through their relationship with the Blood, and the Spleen and Lungs are Organs responsible for Qi production; since G. lucidum enters all five Zang Organs, it is able to both tonify the Qi and nourish the Blood.

Respiratory Support

The Lungs are the Organs in charge of respiration.

Reishi is said to tonify Lung Qi, transform Phlegm, and stop coughing and wheezing due to deficiency Cold or Phlegm-Dampness.

Reishi enters the Lungs and is indicated for chronic coughing and wheezing due to Lung and Kidney Qi deficiencies, especially in children and elderly (Holmes).

In Chinese medicine, the Lungs and Kidneys have a relationship in regulating breath: the Kidneys are said to “grasp the Qi” that the Lungs send downward. If the Kidneys are unable to grasp the Qi, respiratory disorders such as asthma may occur.

Reishi acts as an antitussive agent, relaxing smooth muscles and antagonizing spasms caused by histamine reactions.

In Chinese drug stores, G. lucidum tablets are sold for chronic bronchitis.

Adaptogenic Properties

G. lucidum is in a special class of herbs called adaptogens. Adaptogen herbs are beneficial in adapting to mental, physical, and environmental stressors.

One requirement of an adaptogen is that it is non-toxic. They work as tonics that can often be used over a long period of time. The Shen Nong Ben Cao states that G. lucidum is “sweet, warm, and non-toxic …long term consumption will lighten the body and prevent aging, extend one’s life, and [make one an] immortal” (Bensky 936).

Adaptogen herbs are believed to work through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, a combination of endocrine glands responsible for stress regulation (Kubala 2021).

Immune Support

Mushrooms in general provide strong immune supportive properties.

They offer defense against microorganisms through modulating immune system response and restoring immunodeficiency.

It seems to function more as a biological response modifier rather than having direct activity against microorganisms and diseases like cancer.

Some immune system functions that Reishi can stimulate include macrophage production, natural killer cell and T-cell activation, T-cell, and tumor-necrosis production. It significantly increased INF production from T-lymphocytes in one study.

Reishi is being widely studied for its use against cancer. Specific cancers include prostate, breast, lung, and glioma cancer.

Alcohol extracts of reishi were found to stimulate apoptosis of cancer cells and limit tumor growth.

In another study, reishi was studied against human prostate cancer cells and its effects on cell proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. The study showed that Reishi inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis (Jiang et. Al 2004).

In a study on Reishi extract and its effects on breast cancer, the extract was shown to downregulate the transcription factor NF-Kappa B, which mediates tumor cell proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis (Jiang et. Al 2004).

Patients responded favorably when using Reishi during chemotherapy and radiation, likely due to increased Natural Killer cell and leukocyte activity.

Also, four different studies showed that cancer patients’ quality of life improved when using Reishi as opposed to the control group.

Although these studies did not conclude that G. lucidum alone provided enough evidence for use in cancer treatment, they did find that it had potential in enhanced tumor response and stimulating host immunity.

Liver Health

Reishi has also been shown to provide hepatoprotective benefits when studied in mice. The toxic compound of the Amanita mushroom was used to induce liver toxicity in mice.

Silymarin, a hepatoprotective constituent from Milk Thistle seeds, was used as the control substance.

Treatment with either G. lucidum extract or Silymarin extract showed a decrease in (ALT) and (AST) levels. ALT and AST level increases correlate with liver damage.

Both extracts also individually significantly increased antioxidant activities and decreased Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which is an indicator of liver damage (Wu et. Al 2016).

This study shows G. lucidum extract having similar value to Silymarin extract, which has been used traditionally amongst herbalists for liver health.

Nutritional Profile

G. lucidum fruiting body is nutrient-rich, with B-complex and vitamin D as well as minerals potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, iron, zinc, and copper (Wachtel-Galor 2019). Mushrooms contain all essential amino acids and are high in lysine and leucine. The medicinal constituents of G. lucidum include triterpenoids, beta-glucans, polysaccharides, and ganomycin. Polysaccharides derived from Reishi are anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antiulcer, antitumorigenic, and immune-stimulating.

In a study using rat models, polysaccharides of G. lucidum were reported to decrease the concentration of blood glucose, promote insulin secretion, improve glucose tolerance, regulate fat concentration in the blood and postpone the development of diabetic complications.

Another study showed Reishi extract high in polysaccharides stimulated wound healing and mitigated post-burn infection.

The cell walls of a mushroom are made up of 80% polysaccharides and half of these are beta-glucans.

The researchers state that beta-glucans of fungal origin are strongly immune-stimulating, largely because beta-glucans are not synthesized by humans and create an innate and adaptive immune response upon introduction.

Its suspected that the principal site of beta-glucans interactions are in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

Triterpenoids are alcohol-soluble. Triterpenoids are plentiful in G. lucidum and likely behind its bitter taste. They are alcohol-soluble and The triterpenoids believed to lower lipid profiles and provide antioxidant effects.

In one study, G. lucidum extract exhibited anti-oxidant properties that inhibited the proteins that stimulate hyperpigmentation. In yet another study, triterpenoids of G. lucidum were extracted and studied for its effects on pro-inflammatory TNF alpha and NF-Kappa B cytokines.

This study showed that G. lucidum extract high in triterpenoids exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects on macrophages through inhibiting cytokine signaling pathways.

Extraction & Preparation Methods

The constituents of G. lucidum are extracted through different methods, mainly water extraction and alcohol extraction. The separate extracts can then be combined to create a dual-extract product.

Since G. lucidum has a wood-like structure, water extraction is done via decoction.

Bring water to a low simmer and add 3-15 grams of G. lucidum, allowing it to simmer with a lid on for at least 15 minutes.

Alcohol-soluble fractions of G. lucidum show anti-viral activity against viruses herpes simplex 1 and 2, vesicular stomach virus, influenza and HIV (Stamets 44). The tincture is given at a dose of 10 ml t.i.d. (Huang 1999).

Other than extracts, G. lucidum is available commercially in other forms.

The water and alcohol extracts can be freeze-dried and turned into powder.

G. lucidum powder is often pressed into tablets and sold in Chinese drug stores for its immune-balancing and anti-aging properties.

Supercritical extraction can take mass amounts of G. lucidum and create a concentrate.

The fruiting body can also be made into syrup, which is recommended in doses of 4 to 6 ml daily.

As far as risks and side effects of taking G. lucidum, there are minimal reported side effects, with the most common being nausea.

No significant hematological or hepatological toxicity was reported (Jin et. Al 2016).

Because G. lucidum may have a blood thinning effect, those on blood thinning medication should be cautious.

Also, as with most herbal medicine, pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult a knowledgeable practitioner before consuming G. lucidum.

Cultivating Reishi

Ambitious mycologists and mycophiles are able to successfully cultivate G. lucidum, either outdoors or in laboratory rooms.

Growing G. lucidum is achieved by inoculating a medium (log, straw, etc.) with plug spawns. The importance of growing and cultivating mushrooms with organic methods cannot be understated.

Mushrooms uptake toxins from their environment and store high levels of these toxins.

Stamets proposes the idea of using the remedial nature of these fungi to clean up pollution and demonstrates mushrooms being able to effectively remediate oil-polluted soil (Stamets 2005).

There is an ongoing dispute whether mycelium or fruiting bodies are more medicinally beneficial.

While ancient cultures only used the G. lucidum fruiting body, modern mycologists are finding that all parts of the mushroom G. lucidum have highly medicinal properties, including the spores, mycelium, and fruiting body.

Research has shown that mycelium is just as medicinal as fruiting bodies; for example, glycans isolated from the mycelia and fruiting body of the fungi P. ostreatus showed very similar properties.

The same research suggested that mycelium products can be more beneficial to produce commercially than fruiting body because fruiting bodies take longer to produce and may accumulate heavy metals and toxins in polluted settings (Berger et. Al 2022).

Many health and wellness companies market either the mycelium, fruiting body, or both, for cardiovascular health, immune support, and general wellness.

Some companies, such as Fungi Perfecti, use several medicinal mushrooms together in supplements create a synergistic effect and provide stronger benefits.

One study shows promise in combining Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake extracts (fruiting body, mycelium, and growth medium), with results that proved that the combination of the three was more potent in modulating the immune system than the single extracts alone.

With its unique appearance and multitude of health benefits, there is no doubt that humans will continue to utilize the potential of Reishi into personal and clinical use.

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Mahalo for reading!

-Meghane Hernandez, Maui Acupuncturist and Herbalist

Reishi Dual-Extract

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