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*key medicinal constituents Benefits Overall benefits include immune enhancement, resistance to disease, re-balancing metabolic functionality, and supporting longevity. Specifically, various constituents of Reishi fruit bodies and/or mycelium have the following properties/effects: anti-oxidant; anti-inflammatory and inhibit platelet aggregation; anti-tumor and immuno-stimulating; anti-ulcer; hypoglycemic; enhance protein synthesis and nucleic acid metabolism; anti-allergenic and inhibit histamine release; inhibit cholesterol synthesis; anti-hypertensive and ACE-inhibiting; cardiotonic; anti-viral and anti-bacterial; immuno-modulating; analgesic; anti-hepatotoxic; adrenocortical tonic; diuretic; laxative; sedative; tonic; expectorant and anti-tussive. Reishi is used in Western medicine to treat many aging-related diseases including: cancers; hyperlipidemia/elevated cholesterol and coronary heart disease; diabetes; chronic bronchitis; asthma; rhinitis; HIV-aids; hepatitis B; neurasthenia; dizziness; insomnia; anorexia; Alzheimer’s disease; leucopenia; progressive muscular dystrophy; gastric and duodenal ulcers; atrophic nyotonus; osteogenic hyperplasia and arthritis; liver failure; lupus; and conditions of suppressed or low immunity including mononucleosis as well as conditions of hyper-immunity such as some types of allergic reactions. Reishi can also be used as an antidote for poisonous mushrooms and as an ingredient in skin oils and creams for protection from UV radiation. Reishi has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. In TCM Reishi is referred to as a Fu Zheng herb, meaning that it helps a person to resist disease. In TCM Reishi is considered to be warming and acts to nourish, tonify, remove toxins, astringe, and disperse accumulation. It is used to treat ‘deficient’ principles of qi (in blood/fluid; kidney). Reishi has an affinity for low qi-emitting phenomenon in the body – areas that are stagnant, not moving, or are very slow moving and where accumulation of toxins occurs. Reishi, in combination with other herbs, can help in cleansing and moving toxins. Reishi helps with yin deficiency quickly and powerfully but it is contra-indicated in extreme yang deficiency. Physiological Effects Adaptogenic An adaptogen helps a person increase resistance to a large range of biological, environmental, psychological, and chemical stresses
Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and cardiotonic
Powdered capsules contain about 400 mg. of Ganoderma lucidum. For mild to moderate immune support take 2 to 3 capsules morning and evening; for specific immune suppressed conditions take 2-3 capsules 3 times per day. It is best to take tonic and ‘constitutional’ herbs for at least 3 months and up to 9 months To make a water extract that is stronger and more readily assimilated simmer mushroom pieces in water for about 1 hour. Strain off the dark tea and add fresh water to the pieces; simmer again for 30 minutes. Strain the new tea and add it to the first decoction. Combine the 1st and 2nd decocotions and simmer, reducing this liquid to a thick paste which may take several hours. Knead this paste into non-gluten flour or maca to make a ‘dough’; small pieces can be encapsulated (in 00 caps), or dried (in a dehydrator or oven on low heat), or frozen. Take 1 cap or piece morning and evening. Dried extract pieces can be powdered (in a coffee grinder), encapsulated, or sprinkled onto food or added to ginger tea/decoction. One can also make tea - simmer the pieces for 40 - 60 minutes, strain, and then add to ginger and/or licorice decoctions. For soups, add a variety of vegetables, including sea vegetables, to the tea stock. One can also add barley and meat (for deficiency conditions). Other mushrooms can also be added – tender ones like Shiitake and Oyster can be eaten but the fibous ones such as Reishi, turkey tail, and artist’s conk are too fibous to eat and so should be left aside once their essence has permeated the broth/soup. One can also make an alcohol tincture. For instructions about making tinctures see the books and/or website below or other books on herbs. Take ½ to 1 teaspoon morning and evening. For normal health maintenance and bronchial diseases a dose of 1-6 grams is standard. More serious diseases are usually treated with a 9-15 gram dosage but one can safely take 35 grams per day. Start with a smaller dose and work up to a larger one so your body has time to adjust. The extract can be added to a drink, smoothie, or placed directly on the tongue. Resources Willard, Terry Ph.D, with research by Kenneth Jones. Reishi Mushroom: Herb of Spiritual Potency and Medical Wonder. Sylvan Press, Seattle, Washington USA. 1990. Hobbs, Christopher, L.Ac. Medicinal Mushrooms: An Exploration of Tradition, Healing, & Culture. Botanica Press, Summertown, Tennessee USA. 1986. http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/reishi-mushrooms.html http://www.flowoflife.co.uk/Preparation%20of%20Reishi.pdf http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/5925988 According to Christopher Hobbs, in his book Medicinal Mushrooms, Reishi has the following properties/activities/effects: Analgesic effects Anti-allergic activity Bronchitis-preventative effects Anti-inflammatory activity Anti-bacterial properties (against Staphylococci, Streptococci and Bacillum pneumoniae) Antioxidant effects Antitumor activity Acts to lower blood pressure Acts to enhance bone marrow formation Cardiotonic activity (lowers serum cholesterol; enhances myocardial metobolism; improves coronary artery hemodynamics) Enchances natural killer cell activity (in vitro) Expectorant and antitussive properties (mice studies) Immunopotentiation activity Anti-HIV activity (in vitro and in vivo) Improves adrenocortical function Stimulates production of Interleukin-1 (in vitro) Stimulates production of Interleukin-2 (in vitro) Liver-protective and detoxifying effects Protection against ionizing radiation Slight anti-ulcer activity. Increases white blood cells and hematoglobin in peripheral blood (mice studies)
Nutritional Content of Shiitake Lentinula edodes Ø Protein: 13-18% (15% in caps) – all essential amino acids Ø Niacin/B3 Ø Thiamin B1 Ø Riboflavin B2 Ø Vitamin B12 Ø Vitamin D Ø Polysaccharides – especially Lentinan Ø Alkaloid – eritadenine Ø Fatty acids – mostly unsaturated Ø Enzymes Ø Hemicellulose compounds Some of the constituents in Shiitake include: fatty acids (largely unsaturated); over thirty different enzymes; proteins (containing all the essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids); eritadenine; ergothioneine; vitamins B-2; varying levels of Vitamin D2; and the important and active glucan polysaccharide, lentinan. Shiitake Mushroom is believed to promote healthy heart function and prevent heart problems. It is thought to be beneficial in lowering levels of both total cholesterol and LDLs ("bad cholesterol"). In laboratory tests, the alkaloid, eritadenine, was said to reduce the total cholesterol levels by twenty-five percent in one week, and the effect was more pronounced in subjects who ate high fat diets than in those on low fat diets. Japanese scientists have found that Shiitake accelerates the accumulation of LDL in the liver, where it is then converted in HDL ("good") cholesterol. Shiitake is also said to promote normal blood pressure levels. Shiitake Mushroom is believed to build resistance against viruses and stimulate the production of interferon, a protein compound that slows the course of viral infection. Japanese physicians use lentinan when treating people with HIV/AIDS (by injection), and may be beneficial in cases of chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis and Lyme's disease. Interferon is also reputed to rein in the blood vessel overgrowth experienced in macular degeneration. The glucan polysaccharide lentinan in Shiitake Mushrooms is said to heighten the production of interleukin, a hormone that stimulates the immune system to produce B-cells that create antibodies and helper T-cells. T cells coordinate the immune response against infectious microbes and abnormal cells. Lentinan is also thought to build resistance by activating the immune system's lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK) and natural killer cells (NK) to combat various types of infectious materials and invaders. Penn State researchers discovered that all mushrooms are a rich source of the powerful antioxidant, ergothioneine, but the exotic mushrooms (such as Shiitake) contain even more ergothioneine. This unique constitutent is thought to provide cellular protection within the human body that can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases. Shiitake is the basis of several extracts including lentinan, and chemically, the sugars in lentinan form a helix that is structurally analogous to the helix of DNA, accounting for many of lentinan's healing properties. Japanese researchers have claimed that lentinan may prolong the survival rate or possibly lower the discomforts and/or damage associated with chemotherapy. In addition, it may improve the quality of life, providing substantial relief to patients who have undergone such therapy. Eritadenine has a role in cellular excretion of Cholesterol and so it plays a role in plasma cholesterol levels/balance Key constituents: Polysaccharides; Beta-D-glucans; Ergothioneine; Protein; Fiber; Lignans; Lentinan; Vitamin D2; Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin Properties and Benefits Anti-oxidant; Anti-viral; Anti-cancer; Cholesterol lowering For further Information see: http://www.herbalextractsplus.com/shiitake-mushroom.cfm?gclid=COe3zoqsh5cCFQRkswodjXUC9w See also: http://www.world-of-fungi.org/Mostly_Medical/Dawn_Soo/Dawn_Soo_SSM.htm for a lot of information about medicinal effects & uses of Shiitake "Quantification of the bioactive compound eritadenine" .J Agric Food Chem. 2007 For information about eritadenine
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One beautiful Reishi 'fruit body' growing indoors from a
sawdust substrate bag.![[Product Image]](GRAPHICS/REISHKITI.jpg)
