REISHI - Ling Zhi
ganoderma
by Robert Bidleman
Of all the Fu Zheng herbs, Ling Zhi or Reishi Mushroom is the most mysterious
of all. Not only due to it's legendary qualities but also very much due to it's
simple ability to calm the human mind and lend some clarity in an otherwise
muddled existence. Practitioners are especially outspoken about Reishi.
The early Chinese medical texts speak with genuine reverence about Reishi and
it's powers to heal while the Taoists used it to lighten their selves and to
become "capable of spiritual transcendence".
This reference to Reishi is not by any means cultural. Although it has been
known as the mushroom of spiritual potency in Asia, it has rapidly garnered a
large following in the West amongst yoga, Tai Chi and meditation students.
The first textual reports of Reishi record it as a "Shaman's Mushroom" or
"Shaman's Ch'i". In fact it was originally called "Chih Zhi" or "Red Ch'i"
(Chih=red, Ch'i=energy) and the red variety remains the most sought after for
these reasons.
But it is the long chain polysaccharides that have attracted so much research in
China, Japan and now the United States. These immunmodulators increase RNA
and DNA in the bone marrow, increases interferon production, disrupting viral diseases
and "smartening up" up the T-cells and expanding their "memory".
A study in 1982 in Japan showed 100% of test mice had complete regression in induced
tumors. One of the constituents of Reishi which was studied was Beta-D-Glucan which holds
the cell walls of grains intact. Triterpenes are another aspect of Reishi which has researchers
scrambling. Shown to be the chief agent in Reishi responsible for lowering blood pressure
and blood lipids, triterpenes are found in the fatty acid form as "lucidenic" and "ganoderic"
acids. Ginseng also contains a similar compliment of these sterols and there is much
speculation that these may be one of the crucial commonalties in longevity herbs.
Reishi and Ginseng also share the adaptogenic effect and protect against biological,
emotional and environmental stresses. Reishi contains 112 known triterpenes which may be
the cause of it's anti-hypertensive action.
These triterpenes inhibit ACE, an enzyme (angiotensin converting enzyme) which many drugs
attempt to control (with side effects). Reishi alleviates allergies, oxygenates the blood, relieves
pain, reverses liver disease and is one of the most potent natural mood elevators known to man.
The various ganoderma are as follows:
g. lucidum (red)
g. applanatum (brown)
g.tsugae (red)
g. sinense (black)
g. oregonense (dark brown)
The lucidum variety is the well known, modern type of Reishi which is being cultivated.
The quality of the mushroom in terms of the effects are reliant on the conditions and
environment of growth. This is the reason that wildcrafted Reishi is much preferred.
Applanatum is the ancient Ling Zhi of legend, a stemless shelf mushroom which
grows world-wide and has been recorded in weights up to 12 pounds. It's traditional
name "Chih se lao mu chun" means "The flesh-like ancient source of life mushroom"
Tsugae is much like lucidum except in appearance as it has a high gloss and is a bright
orange-red.Sinense is a dark purple to black variety and is distinctive with it's longer stem
(up to 8 inches).Oregonense is, as it's name implies a native of the western North America.
It has not been studied for medicinal activity but it is assumed that it also contains similar
properties.
Reishi is prepared, traditionally by powdering the mushroom and decocting at a low
(sub-boiling) temperature for two to three hours or untill the original water level has been
reduced by two-thirds.The tea is strained and can be sweetened with honey (sugar is not
recommended). The powder (which is actually more like a wet "hair-ball") can be reused
untill the tea has lost most of it's color, about three times. It has been recently found that
long chain polysaccharides are utilized much more efficiently if taken within a few hours of
ingesting vitamin C.
Recent use of Reishi for treatment of HIV and cancer as well as leukemia has
spurred research to catch up with the modern "Folk Medicine" and the surge of positive
anecdotal reports. Reishi is now a recognized treatment (licensed) in Japan and China.
Herbal Hall Herb Sources Adaptogen Article