Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum or Lingzhi) is the most widely used and studied herb in the world. Treasured for its immune boosting and calming effects.
Because of its many benefits, recorded over thousands of years of traditional use and now being substantiated in modern research, it’s an herb that deserves praise.
There are current studies ongoing in the United States, China, Japan and Europe. These studies include therapeutic use of Reishi Mushroom for aggressive cancer treatments, untreatable or persistent depression, neuralgia, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s and more.
Reishi Mushroom’s immune boosting and calming effects are significant. Research has shown Reishi to be beneficial in fighting Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, and for cancer patients overall.
It shouldn’t be surprising since Reishi mushroom is also known as “the Immortality Herb.”
The reason Reishi is even considered for cancer patients, is because of it’s ability to boost the immune system overall, improving white blood cells, activating killer T-cells, improving lymphocyte function (which fights infection), and help reduce overall inflammation.
Reishi is wonderful for sleep
People tell me all the time that they’ve tried everything to help them sleep and they just can’t settle down.
I always ask if they’ve tried Reishi.
It’s not a traditional sleep herb, so it gets overlooked for persistent or occasional insomnia. Reishi is not sedative, which is why it’s often overlooked, but has the ability to help control cortisol levels which then allow the body to sleep more deeply, for longer periods and helps alleviate bad dreams and irritability.
It’s worth noting, that if you’re the type of person that tends to keep running at top speed all day even if you haven’t been sleeping and you take Reishi in the middle of the day, you may feel a bit like taking a nap,
Rest assured, it’s more of an “my body feels like it can finally rest. ” You’ve finally calmed to a level you haven’t been to for awhile on your own. The good news is most people report that it actually helps alleviate fatigue when taken daily.
Reishi is also wonderful for restlessness
I include it in my favorite hot chocolate, which I’ve been known to make in the middle of a stressful day as well as in the evening.
It’s full of phytonutrients with raw cacao, a scoop of Reishi mushroom, a scoop of Pearl powder, some tumeric and a little bit of cinnamon if it’s cold outside.
Reishi also has benefits for anxiety and depression
– likely a result of how it helps regulate cortisol levels and the triterpene’s that bring a sense of calm.
Ladies – Studies show that taking reishi regularly also reduces hot flashes, pelvic inflammation and pelvic congestion as well as overall pain.
Reishi also improves liver function by reducing liver sluggishness.
Reminding us how important it is to assist the liver and improve circulation when you feel like you can’t calm down.
If you’ve noticed, all of these Shen nourishing herbs help improve movement throughout the body. In Ancient medicine theory stagnation =pain. And included both physical pain & emotional pain. Opening up the pathways – (think Detox & circulation) are key to relieving that pain.
When you think about it, it’s a beautiful way to support the Heart ♥️ By assisting it in its job to circulate Blood that nourishes and detoxifies all the organs of the body.
Product recommendations:
Reishi mushroom has to be extracted in both water and alcohol in order to get all of the benefits. Back when I was in Herb school, I bought a dried reishi mushroom, thinking it would be fun to learn to prepare … oh boy was I wrong.
First, it took a power tool to cut it, then you had to extract it in water for hours and follow that extraction with an extract in alcohol. the final product was a combination of the two extracts at the correct percentages. The math basically blew my mind. (and I’m good at math!)
Plus, My house smelled Awful for days.
I finally put the liquid in the freezer, thinking I would find an easier way to accomplish my goal at another time, only to accidentally mistake it for chicken broth a few months later and ruin a huge pot of soup 😫(hint: it doesn’t taste like regular mushroom broth).
Needless to say, I leave the extracting to the experts.
the good news is that extract powders that have been through the correct processing become stable enough to use in hot drinks, baked goods and more.
Reishi powder is MY preferred way to go – but there are other options too:
Jing Herbs has a 10:1 extract powder that I use and recommend. 50 grams goes a long way. You can find it here. They also carry a liquid extract & capsules.
Reishi is also an ingredient in Adrena Soothe, which you can find at my Fullscript account under catalog>favorites>Anxiety support.
and Dragon Herbs has an amazing assortment of Reishi products that are worth checking out.
And last but not least, HOST DEFENSE. They are an amazing company that focuses only on medicinal mushrooms. They have several Reishi Products available as well as combination products that have substantial research behind them. Also available in my fullscript account under catalog>Favorites>Anxiety, sleep or inflammation support
At the time of this writing – COVID-19 has created increased demand for many of out most trusted herbs. Fullscript is working hard to keep up with demand. Make certain you are ordering from reputable sources as adulterated products pop up when demand is high.
If you’d like a personal recommendation, you can always set up a simple consult with me and I’ll help you find the best way to get started for your specific concerns.