Are you noticing a weakened immune system, going through a period of stress, or experiencing hormonal imbalances? If you identify with any of these situations, this article is for you!
Today I'm going to talk to you about a mushroom, and I'm not talking about the common mushroom, or the porcini, or the saffron milk cap. I'm talking about the Reishi.
Reishi, Ganoderma lucidum, or Lingzhi, is a mushroom widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and is referred to as the mushroom of "eternal youth." In fact, its Greek name, "Ganoderma lucidum," means "shining skin."
Reishi contains substances such as polysaccharides in the form of beta-glucans, terpenes, peptidoglycans... In addition to being a source of minerals such as iron, magnesium, manganese, calcium and zinc, B vitamins (especially folic acid) and all essential amino acids (1).
Traditionally, infusions were made from dried Reishi. Nowadays, it's more popular to take it in capsules as a supplement or in powder form as a superfood.
Many of us might not feel like making a Reishi infusion, but why is it interesting to consume Reishi?
Reishi has been associated with many health benefits, including:
- As a complementary treatment in cancer : A review by the prestigious Cochrane noted benefits of Reishi in cancer treatments. It concluded that it could be administered as an alternative complement to conventional treatment given its potential to improve tumor response and stimulate host immunity (2). This evidence has been supported by further studies in subsequent years (3, 4, 5).
- For its role in aging: various extracts of Ganoderma lucidum have been observed to have anti-aging properties due to their effects against oxidation, immunomodulation and neurodegeneration (6).
- As an antiviral and immunomodulator: Beta-glucans isolated from Ganoderma increase the immune response and their triterpenoid content has antiviral effects by inhibiting several enzymes, some of which are involved in herpes simplex and HIV (7).
- As an adaptogen to improve rest: Reishi exerts an anti-insomnia effect through multiple mechanisms such as the regulation of cell survival and cytokine expression (8).
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, it has even been evaluated as a radiation protector. The journal Nutrients confirmed the role of Reishi beta-glucans as radiation protectors in mice. This effect was also observed in human cells, although more evidence is needed for practical application (9).
Note: Contraindications include not using it in cases of mushroom allergy, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
I hope you enjoyed this article.
And be aware of the uses of Reishi!
***
Coral Martín is a dietitian and psychologist. Every Tuesday she offers nutritional counseling at Salud Mediterránea Manuel Becerra: C/Ortega y Gasset 77.
Click here for more information and pricing for this service.
Reishi Supplements
Bibliographic references1. Reishi ▶ Discover its properties and medicinal uses. (n.d.). Hifas da Terra . Retrieved November 19, 2022, from https://hifasdaterra.com/hongos-medicinales/reishi-ganoderma-lucidum/
2. Jin, X., Ruiz Beguerie, J., Sze, DM-Y., & Chan, GCF (2016). Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) for cancer treatment. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , 4 (4), CD007731. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007731.pub3
3. Jeitler, M., Michalsen, A., Frings, D., Hübner, M., Fischer, M., Koppold-Liebscher, DA, Murthy, V., & Kessler, CS (2020). Significance of Medicinal Mushrooms in Integrative Oncology: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Pharmacology , 11 , 580656. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.580656
4. Sohretoglu, D., & Huang, S. (2018). Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides as An Anti-cancer Agent. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry , 18 (5), 667-674. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871520617666171113121246
5. Sun, L.-X., Li, W.-D., Lin, Z.-B., Duan, X.-S., Li, X.-F., Yang, N., Lan, T.-F., Li, M., Sun, Y., Yu, M., & Lu, J. (2014). Protection against lung cancer patient plasma-induced lymphocyte suppression by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry: International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology , 33 (2), 289-299. https://doi.org/10.1159/000356669
6. Wang, J., Cao, B., Zhao, H., & Feng, J. (2017). Emerging Roles of Ganoderma Lucidum in Anti-Aging. Aging and Disease , 8 (6), 691-707. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2017.0410
7. Ahmad, MF, Ahmad, FA, Khan, MI, Alsayegh, AA, Wahab, S., Alam, MI, & Ahmed, F. (2021). Ganoderma lucidum: A potential source to surmount viral infections through β-glucans immunomodulatory and triterpenoids antiviral properties. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules , 187 , 769-779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.06.122
8. Qiu, Y., Mao, Z.-J., Ruan, Y.-P., & Zhang, X. (2021). Exploration of the anti-insomnia mechanism of Ganoderma by central-peripheral multi-level interaction network analysis. BMC Microbiology , 21 (1), 296. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-021-02361-5
9. González, A., Atienza, V., Montoro, A., & Soriano, JM (2020). Use of Ganoderma lucidum (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota) as Radioprotector. Nutrients , 12 (4), 1143. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041143