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Red Reishi Mushroom Benefits

Red reishi mushroom or ganoderma lucidum is a fungus and one of the medicinal mushrooms that is known for its healing properties. The Chinese called it lingzhi which means spiritual plant. Reishi or lingzhi mushrooms are normally found attached to decayed logs and stumps and they are kidney shaped with reddish brown tops. The parts of the mushroom that are used as medicine are the caps or tops.

Nearly 4000 years ago, the Chinese and Japanese have already used ganoderma lucidum as folk medicine and tonic in the treatment of ailments such as asthma, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and liver diseases.

Studies found that reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucan polysaccharides, sterols and triterpenes. Other constituents present in reishi include adenosine, coumarins, volatile oil, R S-ganoderma and ganasterone. It also contains ascorbic acid, amino acids and riboflavin. Reishi has shown to produce analgesic, anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory, antihepatoxic and anti tumor effects.

Scientists discovered that reishi extract was able to stimulate the immune system and fight bacteria, virus such as herpes and cancer cells. They also learned that reishi improved blood circulation and reduced blood pressure level.

Benefits of Ganoderma Lucidum

1. Adenosine in reishi has the ability to promote sleep and speed up wound healing.
   
   
   
2. Cancer and HIV patients will benefit from taking ganoderma as it has shown to act as an immune stimulant. Studies on rats showed that it also helps lessen chemotherapy induced nausea.
   
   
   
3. Taking reishi mushroom extract may help treat urinary tract infection symptoms such as burning pain during urination and frequent but small amount of urine.
   
   
   
4. Because it has antihepatotoxic activities, reishi has the ability to prevent liver damage
   
   
   
5. Several studies indicated that because of its anti inflammatory activities, reishi may help fight against arthritis.

Chinese medical practitioners believe that taking reishi extract regularly can restore a person's health and promotes health and longevity as it helps the organs in the body to function normally. Based on numerous studies done by Chinese and Japanese scientists are researchers, reishi may also help as a remedy for the following conditions and illness:

1. As an antidote for mushroom poisoning
   
   
2. To fight fatigue and improve stamina
   
   
3. Lowering high cholesterol
   
   
4. Reduce inflammations and swellings such as bronchitis, hepatitis, sinusitis and asthma
   
   
5. As an anti histamine agent it helps reduce allergic reactions
   
   
6. Its anti viral activities may help reduce the risk of certain cancers

Red reishi are sold whole and dried, reishi tea bags and also as reishi powder. You can also buy reishi coffee which is a combination of ganoderma lucidum powder and coffee powder. Reishi extract is available in capsules, liquid extract and tincture. To make reishi tea, what you need is about 1 to 8 grams of dried mushroom for every cup.