6 Awesome Health Benefits Of Reishi Mushrooms
There are many varieties of reishi, the most common of which has a soft, cork-like texture and an ear-shaped cap that ranges in color from red-orange to black. The reishi mushroom has a rather bitter, woody taste, which is why it is traditionally prepared in a tea or as an extract. It wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century that researchers began to rigorously study the medicinal properties of the reishi mushroom, which is known to the scientific community as ganoderma lucidum.
Due to its growing status as a veritable panacea, the reishi mushroom is now cultivated commercially throughout the world and is available in a variety of formats from teas and tinctures to capsules and can even be found in superfood protein powder blends.
How the Reishi Mushroom Works
Over the past several decades, dozens of different studies conducted in Japan, China, the U.S. and the U.K. have demonstrated that reishi mushrooms are capable of offering protection against numerous diseases or illnesses, including:
Because they work as an “immune modulator,” reishi mushrooms can help restore hormonal balance, bring the body back to homeostasis and regulate activity of the immune system, including fighting tumors and cancerous cells. Research shows that reishi mushrooms act like a normalizing substance, regulating various cellular functions and systems, including the endocrine (hormonal), immune, cardiovascular, central nervous and digestive systems.
1. Defends Against Tumor Growth and Cancer
Just like other anti-inflammatory foods, reishi mushrooms contain several types of important anti-cancer nutrients, including antioxidants (such as the kinds called polysaccharides and triterpenoids), beta-glucans and amino acids. Researchers believe that one of the most beneficial components of the reshi mushroom is its polysaccharides, which are a water-soluble type of nutrient found in carbohydrate foods that are known to have anti-tumor abilities.
Polysaccharides, also found in other beneficial plant foods like sweet potatoes or beets, along with triterpenoids are immune-modulating substances that seem to defend DNA and stop cell mutations while protecting healthy cells. According to some studies, certain medicinal mushrooms fight cancer because polysaccharides have important biological benefits including antioxidant, neuro-protective, radio-protective, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis and anti-fatigue abilities.
2. Improves Liver Function and Detoxification
TCM differs from “Western medicine” in some ways because it emphasizes disease prevention, instead of simply treating symptoms once they appear. Within the body, one of the main focal points of TCM is the liver, since the liver is responsible for helping clean, process, store and circulate healthy blood and nutrients. Adaptogen herbs or supplements like reishi mushooms are one piece of the puzzle when it comes to maintaining the right balance within the body (other important aspects include a healthy diet, exercise and meditation) because they’re believed to help strengthen the digestive system, where nutrients are actually broken down and absorbed.
Adaptogens can improve liver function and prevent liver disease, resulting in numerous benefits because this allows waste and toxins to be flushed from the body more efficiently, improving immunity against diseases that can develop over time. A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms found that reishi induces hepatoprotective effects on acute liver injury because it contains antioxidant properties and fights harmful immune responses that slow down liver function.
3. Promotes Heart Health and Balances Blood Pressure
Triterpenes found the reishi mushroom seem to have blood pressure-lowering abilities as well as benefits for blood-clotting and cholesterol, likely because they help lower inflammation within blood vessels and arteries while also restoring hormonal balance. High blood pressure or high cholesterol can sometimes be caused by hormonal issues, including thyroid disorders or high amounts of stress, but reishi mushrooms help restore optimal hormonal levels and also strengthen the cardiovascular system.
In addition to lowering blood pressure, reishi can improve overall circulation, lower inflammation that worsens heart problems, and prevent clogged arteries or high cholesterol levels. Some early research suggests that taking reishi mushroom supplements (including ganopoly) reduces symptoms of clogged arteries, chest pains and shortness of breath.
4. Helps Balance Hormones and Fight Diabetes
Research suggests that several antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in reishi mushrooms change the way that nerves transmit messages to the brain, improving various functions within the endocrine and central nervous systems and balancing hormones naturally. Reishi mushroom supplementation is used to lower symptoms of diabetes, fatigue and hormonal imbalances, while improving fertility and reproductive health.
The reishi mushroom lowers the amount of toxins or heavy metals that can accumulate within the body and cause sluggishness, which is why these mushrooms are tied to improved energy levels, better concentration, improved memory and even better quality sleep. Clinical studies have also shown that reishi extract exerts mild anti-diabetic effects and improves dyslipidemia. Some research suggests that taking reishi mushroom supplements for 12 weeks reduces severity and complications of type 2 diabetes, since it can raise hemoglobin levels but not blood sugar levels.
5. Fights Allergies and Asthma
One of the active ingredients of reshi mushrooms is triterpenes, a type of ganoderic acid that is tied to a reduction in allergies and histamine reactions associated with asthma. It’s this reason why the reishi mushroom is an asthma natural remedy. Triterpenes are capable of lowering allergic reactions because of the way they affect the immune system, strengthen the digestive organs, protect the gut lining, lower inflammation, inhibit a histamine release, improve oxygen utilization and improve liver functions.
6. Reduces Risk for Infections and Viruses
Reishi mushrooms are considered a natural antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal substance. Aside from reducing allergies, triterpemes offer protection against microbial infections, viruses and fungal infections. Triterpenes can be found in many plant foods that taste somewhat bitter, a sign that they’re protective in nature and defend the plant against predators. In studies, isolated triterpenes have been shown to strengthen the lining of the digestive organs, fight off “bad bacteria,” help good bacteria replenish and protect against cell mutations.
Because reishi mushrooms can improve blood circulation and lower inflammation, they can help resolve infections more quickly, reduce pain and fight fatigue. Reishi mushrooms have been used to help treat symptoms and underlying causes of urinary tract infections, respiratory and sinus infections, hepatitis, bronchitis, and even the HIV and AIDS viruses.
Due to its growing status as a veritable panacea, the reishi mushroom is now cultivated commercially throughout the world and is available in a variety of formats from teas and tinctures to capsules and can even be found in superfood protein powder blends.
How the Reishi Mushroom Works
Over the past several decades, dozens of different studies conducted in Japan, China, the U.S. and the U.K. have demonstrated that reishi mushrooms are capable of offering protection against numerous diseases or illnesses, including:
- inflammation
- fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome)
- frequent infections (urinary tract, bronchitis, respiratory infections, etc.)
- liver disease
- food allergies and asthma
- digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome
- tumor growth and cancer
- skin disorders
- autoimmune disorders
- diabetes
- viruses, including the flu, HIV/AIDS or hepatitis
- heart disease, hypertension, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- sleep disorders and insomnia
- anxiety and depression
Because they work as an “immune modulator,” reishi mushrooms can help restore hormonal balance, bring the body back to homeostasis and regulate activity of the immune system, including fighting tumors and cancerous cells. Research shows that reishi mushrooms act like a normalizing substance, regulating various cellular functions and systems, including the endocrine (hormonal), immune, cardiovascular, central nervous and digestive systems.
6 Proven Reishi Mushroom Benefits
1. Defends Against Tumor Growth and Cancer
Just like other anti-inflammatory foods, reishi mushrooms contain several types of important anti-cancer nutrients, including antioxidants (such as the kinds called polysaccharides and triterpenoids), beta-glucans and amino acids. Researchers believe that one of the most beneficial components of the reshi mushroom is its polysaccharides, which are a water-soluble type of nutrient found in carbohydrate foods that are known to have anti-tumor abilities.
Polysaccharides, also found in other beneficial plant foods like sweet potatoes or beets, along with triterpenoids are immune-modulating substances that seem to defend DNA and stop cell mutations while protecting healthy cells. According to some studies, certain medicinal mushrooms fight cancer because polysaccharides have important biological benefits including antioxidant, neuro-protective, radio-protective, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis and anti-fatigue abilities.
2. Improves Liver Function and Detoxification
TCM differs from “Western medicine” in some ways because it emphasizes disease prevention, instead of simply treating symptoms once they appear. Within the body, one of the main focal points of TCM is the liver, since the liver is responsible for helping clean, process, store and circulate healthy blood and nutrients. Adaptogen herbs or supplements like reishi mushooms are one piece of the puzzle when it comes to maintaining the right balance within the body (other important aspects include a healthy diet, exercise and meditation) because they’re believed to help strengthen the digestive system, where nutrients are actually broken down and absorbed.
Adaptogens can improve liver function and prevent liver disease, resulting in numerous benefits because this allows waste and toxins to be flushed from the body more efficiently, improving immunity against diseases that can develop over time. A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms found that reishi induces hepatoprotective effects on acute liver injury because it contains antioxidant properties and fights harmful immune responses that slow down liver function.
3. Promotes Heart Health and Balances Blood Pressure
Triterpenes found the reishi mushroom seem to have blood pressure-lowering abilities as well as benefits for blood-clotting and cholesterol, likely because they help lower inflammation within blood vessels and arteries while also restoring hormonal balance. High blood pressure or high cholesterol can sometimes be caused by hormonal issues, including thyroid disorders or high amounts of stress, but reishi mushrooms help restore optimal hormonal levels and also strengthen the cardiovascular system.
In addition to lowering blood pressure, reishi can improve overall circulation, lower inflammation that worsens heart problems, and prevent clogged arteries or high cholesterol levels. Some early research suggests that taking reishi mushroom supplements (including ganopoly) reduces symptoms of clogged arteries, chest pains and shortness of breath.
4. Helps Balance Hormones and Fight Diabetes
Research suggests that several antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in reishi mushrooms change the way that nerves transmit messages to the brain, improving various functions within the endocrine and central nervous systems and balancing hormones naturally. Reishi mushroom supplementation is used to lower symptoms of diabetes, fatigue and hormonal imbalances, while improving fertility and reproductive health.
The reishi mushroom lowers the amount of toxins or heavy metals that can accumulate within the body and cause sluggishness, which is why these mushrooms are tied to improved energy levels, better concentration, improved memory and even better quality sleep. Clinical studies have also shown that reishi extract exerts mild anti-diabetic effects and improves dyslipidemia. Some research suggests that taking reishi mushroom supplements for 12 weeks reduces severity and complications of type 2 diabetes, since it can raise hemoglobin levels but not blood sugar levels.
5. Fights Allergies and Asthma
One of the active ingredients of reshi mushrooms is triterpenes, a type of ganoderic acid that is tied to a reduction in allergies and histamine reactions associated with asthma. It’s this reason why the reishi mushroom is an asthma natural remedy. Triterpenes are capable of lowering allergic reactions because of the way they affect the immune system, strengthen the digestive organs, protect the gut lining, lower inflammation, inhibit a histamine release, improve oxygen utilization and improve liver functions.
6. Reduces Risk for Infections and Viruses
Reishi mushrooms are considered a natural antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal substance. Aside from reducing allergies, triterpemes offer protection against microbial infections, viruses and fungal infections. Triterpenes can be found in many plant foods that taste somewhat bitter, a sign that they’re protective in nature and defend the plant against predators. In studies, isolated triterpenes have been shown to strengthen the lining of the digestive organs, fight off “bad bacteria,” help good bacteria replenish and protect against cell mutations.
Because reishi mushrooms can improve blood circulation and lower inflammation, they can help resolve infections more quickly, reduce pain and fight fatigue. Reishi mushrooms have been used to help treat symptoms and underlying causes of urinary tract infections, respiratory and sinus infections, hepatitis, bronchitis, and even the HIV and AIDS viruses.
