REISHI MUSHROOM Ganoderma lucidum "Ling Zhi"

Reishi is both a food and a medicine.

Since ancient times Oriental medicine has classified healing plants, but there have only been a handful considered as the Superior Medicines. Reishi mushroom (or Ling Zhi= "spirit plant") is top among these rare and prized medicinals which are said to give long life, assist all healing processes, are suited for all people and combine with other medicines. Reishi is reputed to "keep the body light and young and to lengthen life." It contains a large number of beneficial polysaccharides and triterpenes as well as alkaloids, steroids, lipids, oleic acid, adenosine, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Current clinical studies reveal this impressive mushroom to be a highly effective therapy for nearly all major disease states and to confer "nonspecific immunity" through longterm regular use. Just a few of the disorders Reishi has proven itself beneficial for include allergies, cancer, liver disease, Alzheimer's, heart disease, AIDS, radiation exposure, external wound healing and chronic bronchitis. Reishi is also suitable for calming anxiety and promoting sound sleep.

Consider the fact that the compounds this organism produces enable it to assimilate the tough lignans of dead hardwood.  The dried mushrooms are seen in shrines as objects of veneration and the strange lacquered-like beauty of the woody bodies is certainly suited for display.

Preparation

About 5 gms is generally simmered into a tea, consumed over a day or two.

SPECIAL INEPENDENT SITE

This independent site carries a huge amount of information on reishi mushrooms including research and links to other sites.

http://www.reishi.com/

RESEARCH LINKS

Cancer Research UK

"Medicinal mushrooms: their therapeutic properties and current medical usage with special emphasis on cancer treatments."

http://sci.cancerresearchuk.org/labs/med_mush/med_mush.html

Pub Med

Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits proliferation of SW 480 human colorectal cancer cells.

http://www.reishi.com/News/Ganoderma%20lucidum%20extract%20inhibits%20proliferation%20of%20SW%20480%20human%20colorectal%20cancer%20cells.html