THE MUSHROOM OF IMMORTALITY

Although the health benefits of the Reishi Mushroom might just now be starting to garner some fresh attention, this wonderful fungus has long been revered as a medicinal powerhouse.

Known by some cultures as the "mushroom of immortality", Reishi has been used for thousands of years to increase vitality, bolster the immune system, support cardiovascular health and promote longevity.

WHAT IS THE REISHI MUSHROOM?

If nothing else, the Reishi Mushroom is stunningly beautiful. It doesn't take the shape of your typical cap and stem mushroom, but rather starts as a pencil like "antler" and forms a fan like formation, or "conk". Because of this, Reishi Mushrooms are easily identifiable, even though they can take on a variety of deep and vivid colors.

In nature, the mushroom grows on dead or dying hardwood trees in deciduous forests all over the world. It can generally be found throughout the warmer seasons, but is most commonly found fruiting in the fall. The fruiting body of the Reishi grows much slower than other mushrooms, but it also takes much longer to decay, sometimes even remaining on trees throughout the winter.

The scientific name for the Reishi is Ganoderma lucidum. It is classified as a "polypore" mushroom, meaning that, rather than gills, its underside is composed of thousands of pores in which it releases its spores. The cap, or "conk", is exceptionally tough and woody, and the taste is extremely bitter, making the mushroom completely inappropriate for culinary use.

Even though the Reishi mushroom will likely never earn a spot at the dinner table, it's amazing powers to heal and support the body make it a perfect candidate for regular supplementation

HEALTH BENEFITS OF REISHI

The reported health benefits of Reishi Mushroom are impressive and convicing.

With both a long history of use, and some serious scientific fire power to back it up, it's easy to see why Reishi is the most commonly used medicinal mushroom in the world.

So what are some of the reasons that people take Reishi for health?

These are some pretty impressive health claims- and suggest that almost anyone could benefit from regular supplementation with Reishi. The common theme from the above health benefits is that Reishi seems to be able to improve overall health, by improving the immune system- supporting the body's natural ability to fight disease and illness.

You can easily see why this leads to the thesis that Reishi mushroom helps promote vitality and longevity, harmonizing the natural rhythms of the body and supporting overall wellness.

So what is actually in the Reishi mushroom that can cause these incredible benefits?

BETA-D-GLUCANS AND TRITERPENES

The two major components that researchers have extracted and identified as beneficial from Reishi are the water-soluble polysaccharides (beta-glucans) and the triterpenes.

The beta-glucans are thought to be responsible for the anti-cancer effect of Reishi mushrooms. They do this by stimulating and strengthening the immune system, which can reduce tumor proliferation and prevent tumor metastasis. Stimulating and strengthening the immune system also has other benefits, such as reducing susceptibility to colds and flu, and preventing other diseases and ailments.

Reishi also contains a group of triterpenes known as "ganoderic acids". Other than causing the mushroom to have an extremely bitter taste, these ganoderic acids are thought to be responsible for supporting organ health, notably the liver and heart, improving blood circulation and reducing the incidence of allergies.

Traditionally, Reishi is not taken to combat a specific disease or illness after it has taken hold- but is rather intended to be taken regularly, along with proper diet and exercise.

This helps to support overall health and harmony in the body, which is much harder to define and pin-point with medical terminology. The idea is that it is much easier to prevent disease than to treat illness, and better maintain overall balance in the body than to heal it from sickness.

REISHI MUSHROOM STUDIES AND EVIDENCE

There have been plenty of rigorous scientific studies done to try and quantify and evaluate the reported health benefits of Reishi Mushrooms. Many of these studies have focused on the beta-glucans and the ability to slow the growth of cancer cells and tumors.

A recent meta-study, completed in April 2016, set out to evaluate "the clinical effects of G. lucidum on long-term survival, tumour response, host immune functions and quality of life in cancer patients, as well as adverse events associated with its use." The study involved 5 trials, which analysed 373 subjects suffering from various stages of cancer. These subjects were administered Reishi mushroom during the course traditional treatment methods. Placebo groups were also included in the trials.

Although the study could not conclusively state that Reishi mushroom alone were as effective as other treatments, it did find that "patients who had been given G. lucidum alongside with chemo/radiotherapy were more likely to respond positively compared to ...