Reishi Mushroom
Some of the most marvelous advances in science are made with the help of things that have been around since the ancient times. Consider for instance, the Reishi mushroom or Ling Zhi as it is known in Chinese. This remarkable herb is known for its near miraculous properties in curing various diseases and has become widely accepted by most Western practitioners as well.
So, what is Reishi? It is an herbal mushroom typically found in East Asia. Reishi is found to be extremely useful in traditional Chinese medicine to cure and heal a number of ailments. Traditional Chinese medicine is a holistic form of medicine that relies on the concept of treating the patient in their entirety and not merely removing the immediate cause of their distress. In this, the Reishi mushroom has served to be invaluable and is found in many different herbal mixtures.
There have been numerous studies and research programs conducted with Reishi mushrooms, which have identified them as being safe and free from side effects. These studies orchestrated by Asian doctors, and carried out by their Western counterparts as well, have gone to prove the efficacy of Reishi mushrooms in healing and curing numerous diseases.
Components of the Reishi Mushroom
After plenty of research that has been conducted on Reishi mushrooms, it has been found that it contains water soluble polysaccharides which are known to reduce blood pressure and prevent the formation of tumors. It also has triterpenes, particularly ganoderic acids that are very effective when it comes to treating allergy related diseases and enhance the function of the liver.
Benefits of Reishi
Reishi, or Ling Zhi as it is commonly known is a very powerful herbal medicine that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine from time immemorial. Some people believe in taking Reishi every day because it strengthens the immune system and this is quite true. Meanwhile, here are some of the other benefits of Reishi and how they can help you lead a normal and healthy life.
- Consuming Reishi regularly can help you have better blood circulation, increasing your chances of living a healthy life.
- Reishi is known to help in the treatment of anxiety, blood pressure, hepatitis, asthma and insomnia.
- Specifically, Reishi is known to alleviate the symptoms of those who suffer from respiratory problems and studies have shown that those who have a persistent cough have found great relief from taking Reishi syrup.
- Reishi is also an antioxidant and helps prevent the formation of tumors and the accumulation of other cancerous cells. It also improves the efficacy of other antioxidants such as vitamins A, E and C, so that they become more powerful when taken with Reishi.
- While Reishi can help improve the quality of your physical life, it is also good for your mental health as it helps improve your mood and make you feel better.
- Reishi when combined with brain food like gingko, gotu kola and blueberry is fantastic for improving your memory and making your brain more sharp.
Side effects
Classic Chinese literature has demarcated Reishi as a superior herb. To make things more clear, it will be helpful to know that superior herbs in Chinese medicine are those that are not poisonous and that can be taken over a long period without any side effects. Nevertheless, studies even in the Western world have indicated that Reishi does not have any side effects. However, some people might experience the typical detoxification effects of skin rashes and stomach upset, which is a way of showing that indeed, the Reishi is doing its job and cleansing your body of toxins.
Harvesting and cultivating Reishi mushrooms
Typically, Reishi mushrooms are found growing on tree trunks in damp and warm areas. However, they are not easy to find and in China, they were mostly used by royalty as they were extremely expensive. Today however, Reishi mushrooms can be cultivated as well, and can be found in countries as diverse as the US along with most parts of Asia.
If you are harvesting wild Reishi from a tree, you need to hunt for a reddish orange fungus that has a smooth edge, sometimes having striations on the outer edge. It would be wise to venture out equipped with a picture for reference although Reishi mushrooms are known to curve out from the bark and back towards the tree where they curl deeply into themselves. The stem is long and tapered. Ensure that the Reishi is free from holes and or bruises and then loosen it from the bark by passing a knife under the stem so you can pop it out from the bark.
On the other hand, if you prefer to cultivate Reishi mushrooms at home, it’s quite possible with some of the Reishi kits available in the market these days. Reishi kits come with comprehensive and step-by-step instructions that help remarkably when it comes to growing a Reishi crop.
Consumption
The triterpenes in Reishi make it a very bitter mushroom. Also, it is highly advisable not to take it raw because of the bacteria that can be present on it. Reishi is available as a tablet, capsule or syrup, which can be used as medicinal supplements.
Reishi is indeed an amazing herb and a wonder medicine, the benefits of which are only now being discovered by the Western world.
References –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingzhi_mushroom
http://www.mycosource.com/Reishi _kit_instructions.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_7316980_harvest-Reishi -mushrooms.html
