Last Updated on September 3, 2019

Red Reishi Mushrooms, also known as ganoderm and lingzhi mushrooms, are a mushroom in the fungi family Ganodermataceae. They are a unique rather unique medicinal mushroom that have shown a lot of therapeutic potential for improving the function of the immune system.¹²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19939212 They have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine in Asia, notably in the Han Dyanasty over 2,000 years ago. It has often been referred to as the “mushroom of immortality” throughout Asian countries.¹⁴https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19939212

Red Reishi mushrooms have not been studied quite as extensively as other herbs in traditional medicine such as ashwagandha, however preliminary evidence is very promising and user reports are quite positive. It’s primary benefits appear to come from anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulating properties.

Reishi’s Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Immune System Modulator

Reishi has been shown to posses quite potent anti-inflammatory properties¹⁴https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19939212¹⁷https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271985. It’s anti-inflammatory actions are seen by improving free-radical scavanging and reducing the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines.¹⁶https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12916709

Similarly, the mushrooms also appear to boast strong antioxidant properties, which primarily come from protecting the blood against oxidative stress and by inhibiting nitric oxide production.¹³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271985¹⁵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271860. Reishi has also been shown to increase the activity of natural killer cells (cells which fight cancer and tumors). Furthermore, some studies have shown that reishi may reduce inflammation by modulating white blood cell activity.²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20574926

Preclinical trials have indicated that reishi may play a large role in regulating immune health¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16230843 as well as metabolic and cellular function. Other studies have suggested that they may support cognitive ability, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular function as well.

Reishi supplementation may even act as a modulator of the immune system – activating or deactivating specific parts of the immune system as needed to maintain an optimal state of immune response.¹⁸https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16169168

Interestingly, the mushroom has also demonstrated antimicrobial and antiviral activity.¹⁹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23510217¹²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19939212 It may even be highly effective for enhancing wound healing²⁰https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271863 from the heighten immune system activity.²¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23510214

 

Benefits to Organ Health

One study found that supplementation of these mushrooms was able to dramatically improve kidney function by reducing the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell cytotoxins.²²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15567896

One rat study found that supplementation could protect the liver against daily alcohol consumption²³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26058418, while another animal study demonstrated potent liver-protecting qualities as well.²¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23510214

 

Fatigue

One study found that reishi supplementation was able to reduce fatigue and improve overall well-being after 8 weeks of supplementation.⁹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15857210

 

Heart Health

There was a 12-week study which discovered that reishi supplementation may provide cardioprotection and general heart-health benefits.¹⁰https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21801467

Supplementation was shown to have beneficial effects on HDL-cholesterol (the good cholesterol), blood pressure, and insulin levels.

 

Where to Buy Red Reishi Mushrooms

Buy Red Reishi Capsules at Nootropics Depot

 

Dosage and Side Effects

A standard dosage for a full fruiting body extract is about 400-500mg taken 1-3 times daily.

The mushrooms are well-tolerated and there have been very few reported side effects.⁸https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27045603

There are over 400 bioactive molecules within these mushrooms¹⁴https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19939212: polysaccharids, triterpenoids, nucelotides, alkaloids, fatty acids, and fungal immunomodulatory proteins. While there is some research under way regarding each of these individual bioactive molecules and their effects on the body, it’s unclear which of these compounds is the most beneficial.

There is a variety of mechanisms at play, and it would appear that there is no individual bioactive molecule that is solely responsible for all of the benefits of the mushrooms. As such, the entire fruiting body is typically supplemented to ensure that none of these compounds avoid extraction.

 

 

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16230843

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20574926

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10923835

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16233144

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12230910

6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20518254

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16428086

8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27045603

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15857210

10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21801467

11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23874589

12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19939212

13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271985

14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19939212

15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271860

16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12916709

17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271985

18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16169168

19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23510217

20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271863

21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23510214

22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15567896

23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26058418

 

 

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