Reishi, also known as
the “mushroom of immortality”, is a formidable fungi that has been revered for
its beneficial properties for millennia.
Reishi is a polypore
mushroom, growing in damp, dark forests and the occasional rotting log. It is
increasingly cultivated on logs, sawdust, and woodchips as the polypore
mushroom becomes more popular. The fruiting body has a red veneer exterior with
a fanlike, renal-shaped appearance. Bitter in flavor, reishi continues to gain
global attention as a mushroom of health and divinity.
Reishi contains over 400
different bioactive compounds including triterpenoids, polysaccharides,
nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids, proteins, peptides and trace
elements. The bioactive compounds in Reishi mushrooms work on a cellular level,
providing support to bodily systems that help them function optimally. The mushroom
proteins contain all the essential amino acids our body needs to stay healthy.
The low total fat content and high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids
are considered significant contributors to Reishi’s health value.
As reishi mushrooms
contain polysaccharides, specifically beta-glucans, which are known to support
overall wellness and the body’s immune defenses to stay feeling healthy, it is
often consumed as an adaptogen to balance the body and mind. In Traditional
Chinese Medicine, reishi was typically employed as a tonic herb to support the
body’s vital energy or Qi. It is used to balance Qi, ease the mind and relieve
cough and asthma, and is recommended for dizziness, insomnia, palpitation and
shortness of breath.
Potential uses of Reishi
mushrooms include:
- Alleviating common anxiety and restlessness
- Supporting healthy lung function
- Managing occasional sleeplessness
- Strengthening the processes of the immune system
- Providing powerful antioxidants for cellular health
- Helping the body adapt to environmental stresses
There are over 2,000
different species of Reishi mushrooms. Ancient Chinese texts discuss the six
colors of reishi.
The most common and
well-known color is the red variety. The other colors are blue, yellow, black,
white and purple.
Red Reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi)
Red reishi is the best
known of all Reishi fungi. The most popular species is Ganoderma lingzhi (or
lucidum).
The red Reishi is known
to support the healthy function of internal organs like the liver, lungs and
heart. Of all the varieties, red is traditionally considered to be superior to
other colors because of its high polysaccharide content, such as beta-glucans. It also has very high antioxidant content and thus supports cellular health
and functional inflammatory responses.
Black Reishi (Amauroderma rugosum)
It shows a similar
antioxidant capacity to most medicinal mushrooms. The black Reishi has been
used in interesting folk practices throughout Asia.
Purple Reishi (Ganoderma sinense)
Similar in genetic
composition to the red Reishi, it is sought after for its more delicate taste
and immune-system supporting benefits.
Yellow Reishi (Ganoderma curtisii)
With a biochemical profile very similar to red Reishi, containing the same beneficial polysaccharides, it has many of the same health-promoting benefits as the more common red variety, such as anti-tumor, supporting the immune system and the liver as well as antibiotic.
Blue Reishi (Trametes versicolor)
Blue Reishi, or
sometimes called green Reishi, is more well-known as Turkey Tail (Trametes
versicolor) or Yunzhi in Chinese. This mushroom grows all over the world and is
one of the most popular functional mushrooms.
Turkey Tail is very well
known in Asia since two effective cancer-fighting drugs have been developed
from it: Polysaccharide K (PSK) in Japan and Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP) in
China. It is also loaded with prebiotics, which helps maintain a healthy gut balance
and helps reduce indigestion.
In addition, Turkey Tail
supplements can help promote healthy cellular responses in cats and dogs
suffering from malignant cell growth. The beta-glucans in Turkey Tail mushrooms
also help to balance the immune responses in dogs with auto-immune disorders.
White Reishi (Laricifomes Officinalis)
More commonly known as Agarikon, white Reishi was used as a treatment for tuberculosis and smallpox. Recent studies have shown it to possess antimicrobial properties.
As the Reishi mushroom is a
hard, dense polypore, so you might not necessarily eat it as food. Once it is
processed into a powdered extract, it can be used in recipes, taken in capsule
format, decocted as a tea, blended into warm beverages and coffees, or
employed as an ingredient in culinary creations.
In general, Reishi is a
very safe medicinal plant with few side effects or risks. However, if you are
taking anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, or high blood pressure medication —
or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding — be sure to talk to your doctor before
supplementing with Reishi.
