Reishi mushrooms are one of our very favorite herbs, so we are very excited to have recently unveiled our very own Mushroom MD. We want to share some of the amazing benefits of Reishi with you! If you've read about
Reishi's History
Reishi has a long history in China, Japan and other Asian countries. We know it by it’s Japanese name, but it is also known as the Lingzhi mushroom in China. Its Latin name is Ganoderma lucidum, which is derived from it’s glossy or shiny appearance. It has been prized as a medicinal mushroom for two millennia, with mentions of it documented in ancient art and texts. Reishi has been used to symbolise longevity and good fortune in Chinese paintings, embroideries and sculptures. It is even depicted throughout the Forbidden City and Summer Palace in Beijing!
One of these early texts was, “Shen-nong’s Herbal Classics”, which was written and continually updated from as early as 206BC. More recent books dedicated to herbal medicine describe reishi as being able to “replenish Qi, ease the mind, and relieve cough and asthma.” They also recommend it for “dizziness, insomnia, palpitation, and shortness of breath.” In this book, plants were classified based on their benefits versus their side effects. Reishi was ranked the highest, even surpassing ginseng, because of its ability to “harmonize the functions of the body, mind and spirit”, with little to no long term side effects.
Initially, reishi was so rare that only nobility could afford it, in fact Chinese emperors would send servants out to forage for the mushroom as it was only found in high altitudes. In Japan, only the Imperial family enjoyed reishi until the late 20th century, when it’s cultivation made it more widely available.
Reishi's Many Health Benefits
When you think of reishi, think of a potent immunity booster. Here’s a short list of it’s most widely acknowledged health benefits:
- Stress resilience & inner calm
- Immunity booster
- Liver & nervous system support
- Prevents fatigue & helps relieve chronic fatigue syndrome
The thing that elevates reishi above other medicinal mushrooms is the compound triterpene. This compound is said to treat anxiety, ease depression and get a better nights sleep. Modern scientific studies have found that reishi does improve sleep, which explains why traditional Chinese and Japanese herbalists have used it to treat insomnia. Reishi is great for boosting your immunity because it can activate or deactivate certain parts of the immune system. The mushroom boasts high amounts of organic compounds that are proven to strengthen your immune cells and prevent liver damage.
