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The Ultimate Guide to Reishi

Article at a Glance:

  • Reishi is a functional mushroom species used for thousands of years in Eastern medicinal practices.
  • The compounds in Reishi are being studied for several health benefits.
  • Reishi can support immune system function and healthy aging, help you handle everyday stressors, and improve sleep quality to help you feel more relaxed.
  • Our mushroom gummies are an easy and delicious way to reap the benefits of Reishi.

Reishi is one of the more recognized functional mushrooms or edible mushrooms offering health benefits. Also known as the king of mushrooms, Reishi has a long history of use in ancient medicinal practices, and current research supports its benefits. Let's explore the world of Reishi, how it can support your health, and the best way to incorporate Reishi into your lifestyle.

What is Reishi?

Reishi is a species of functional mushroom. Its proper scientific name is Ganoderma lucidum. Reishi grows on the base of tree trunks and is commonly found in forested areas in warm climates. Reishi’s roots can be traced back to Asia, where it’s known as lingzhi in China or mannentake in Korea.[1][2]

Although Reishi is a mushroom species, it doesn't resemble the mushrooms you see in the grocery store. Reishi mushrooms typically have a semicircle or kidney bean shape and are reddish brown or orange with a shiny finish.[1][2] 

Unlike culinary mushrooms, you won't be able to toss Reishi into a salad or casserole. Reishi mushrooms taste bitter and have a tough texture. That's why Reishi is most commonly dried and ground into powder. You can find Reishi in loose powders, capsules, and gummies, and added to functional beverages like mushroom coffees, teas, and cocoas.

What Does Reishi Do?

Reishi has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicinal practices, like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, to treat various ailments and enhance vitality, longevity, and overall well-being.[1][2]

Research has identified several compounds in Reishi that are believed to make these mushrooms so powerful, including:[1][2] 

  • Antioxidants
  • Beta Glucans
  • Plant Sterols
  • Polysaccharides
  • Triterpenes

What Are The Benefits of Reishi?

Immunity

Reishi has been used for thousands of years for immune support. Researchers have discovered the compounds in Reishi may have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.[1][2]

Numerous studies have also found these compounds stimulate the immune system by helping the body produce more Natural Killer (NK) cells, white blood cells, and helper T-cells. These cells play an important role in immune health.[1]

Everyday Stress Relief

Like other functional mushrooms, Reishi is considered an adaptogen. Adaptogens are natural substances that help your body handle stress and minimize the negative impacts of internal and external stressors.

Adaptogens support the body's stress response by balancing stress hormones. Stress hormones can impact mood and energy levels.

Researchers believe the adaptogenic qualities of Reishi may be beneficial for supporting mood. In animal and human studies, Reishi supplementation has been shown to lessen feelings of anxiousness and restlessness.[3] In a China-based study, patients with depressed moods reported an increased sense of well-being after taking Reishi for two months.[4]

Relaxation and Sleep

Reishi's impact on stress and mood can help you feel calmer. The more relaxed you feel, the more likely you will have a quality sleep that leaves you feeling rested and rejuvenated.

In animal studies, subjects fell asleep faster and slept longer after several days of Reishi supplementation.[5][6][7] Reishi is commonly used in China to support normal sleep with good results.[8]

Healthy Aging

Reishi mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants, which may protect the body from oxidative stress or the damage and inflammation that ages us at the cellular level. Oxidative stress also contributes to chronic disease risk as we age. Antioxidant-rich ingredients like Reishi may help reduce early signs of aging.[1][2]

Researchers are studying how antioxidant compounds in Reishi can support longevity.[9] The anti-aging effects of Reishi have been observed in a test tube and animal studies, where subjects given Reishi extracts lived longer than the control group.[10][11] More research regarding how Reishi can support aging and longevity in humans is needed.

The Bottom Line on Reishi

Reishi is a functional adaptogenic mushroom that offers several health benefits, including supporting a healthy immune function, decreasing the negative impacts of everyday stress, and promoting longevity and overall wellness.

With a delicious apple flavor and the equivalent of 500 milligrams of Reishi in each gummy, Fungies® Reishi Mushroom Gummies make it easy to capture the benefits of this incredible mushroom. Try them today!

References

  1. Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. (2011). Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. Chapter 9. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from: (Link)
  2. El Sheikha A. F. (2022). Nutritional Profile and Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum "Lingzhi, Reishi, or Mannentake" as Functional Foods: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 11(7), 1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11071030
  3. Singh, R., Dhingra, G. S., & Shri, R. (2016). Evaluation of Antianxiety Potential of Four Ganoderma (Agaricomycetes) Species from India in Mice. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 18(11), 991–998. (Link)
  4. Tang, W., Gao, Y., Chen, G., Gao, H., Dai, X., Ye, J., Chan, E., Huang, M., & Zhou, S. (2005). A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia. Journal of medicinal food, 8(1), 53–58. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2005.8.53
  5. Cui, X. Y., Cui, S. Y., Zhang, J., Wang, Z. J., Yu, B., Sheng, Z. F., Zhang, X. Q., & Zhang, Y. H. (2012). Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 139(3), 796–800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.020
  6. Chu, Q. P., Wang, L. E., Cui, X. Y., Fu, H. Z., Lin, Z. B., Lin, S. Q., & Zhang, Y. H. (2007). Extract of Ganoderma lucidum potentiates pentobarbital-induced sleep via a GABAergic mechanism. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 86(4), 693–698. (Link)
  7. Yao, C., Wang, Z., Jiang, H., Yan, R., Huang, Q., Wang, Y., Xie, H., Zou, Y., Yu, Y., & Lv, L. (2021). Ganoderma lucidum promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-involved pathway in mice. Scientific reports, 11(1), 13660. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92913-6
  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. 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
  10. Cuong, V. T., Chen, W., Shi, J., Zhang, M., Yang, H., Wang, N., Yang, S., Li, J., Yang, P., & Fei, J. (2019). The anti-oxidation and anti-aging effects of Ganoderma lucidum in Caenorhabditis elegans. Experimental gerontology, 117, 99–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2018.11.016
  11. Peng, H. H., Wu, C. Y., Hsiao, Y. C., Martel, J., Ke, P. Y., Chiu, C. Y., Liau, J. C., Chang, I. T., Su, Y. H., Ko, Y. F., Young, J. D., & Ojcius, D. M. (2021). Ganoderma lucidum stimulates autophagy-dependent longevity pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans and human cells. Aging, 13(10), 13474–13495. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.203068

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