The most complete knowledge of Ganoderma lucidum ever

The Reishi mushroom, known scientifically as Ganoderma lucidum and traditionally in Chinese as Lingzhi, is a dark-colored fungus revered in several Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Korea, for its medicinal properties. It's considered an adaptogen, which means it's believed to help the body cope with stress and enhance the immune system.

In traditional and alternative medicine, Reishi is esteemed for its potential to:

• Strengthen the immune system to prevent or treat infections

• Alleviate fatigue

• Reduce high cholesterol and high blood pressure

• Enhance strength and stamina

• Treat HIV/AIDS

• Prevent or treat cancer

• Mitigate inflammation

Reishi can be consumed in whole form, though it's most commonly used in powdered or extract form. The typical dosage for dry Reishi extract ranges from about 1.5 to 9 grams per day.

Is bigger Reishi better?

Wild Reishi mushrooms vary greatly in shape and size, while cultivated Reishi typically grows larger and more uniformly in greenhouses. The quality of Reishi is determined not by its size but by the concentration of its bioactive components, such as polysaccharides and triterpenes. Thus, larger Reishi does not necessarily mean it's of higher medicinal or health value.

Is bitter Reishi and spore powder better?

Research indicates that the bitterness in Reishi mushrooms is mainly due to triterpene compounds, with the level of bitterness varying among different varieties. The concentration of triterpenes in Reishi spore powder is much lower than in the mushroom body. While some Reishi spore powder products may taste bitter after processing, the bitterness does not directly correlate with quality.

Is cultivated Reishi inferior to wild Reishi?

The debate between the efficacy of wild versus cultivated Reishi is ongoing. While wild Reishi cannot meet clinical demand, successful cultivation since the 1970s has made cultivated Reishi the primary product in the market. Both wild and cultivated Reishi possess strong functions in promoting macrophage phagocytic activity and have similar anti-stress and anti-fatigue effects. Advances in cultivation technology can enhance the effectiveness of cultivated Reishi, sometimes surpassing wild Reishi. Cultivated and wild Reishi contain essential bioactive ingredients like polysaccharides, triterpenes, proteins, and organic germanium, and both can be used clinically.

This summary highlights the importance of bioactive component concentration over size or bitterness and that both cultivated and wild Reishi have their place in clinical use.