Medicinal mushrooms may stimulate many aspects of the immune system, including
the production of interferon.
In the Orient, Reishi is considered a Fu Zhen herb (immune modulation).
Presently, Reishi has various applications including lowering or raising blood
pressure, stimulating liver actions, blood cleansing, and acting as an
adaptogen in helping the body fight the effects of stress.
Chinese herbalists prize it for its abilities to regenerate the liver. In high
doses, and to some degree normal doses, Ganoderma maybe classified as a
liver detoxicant and protectant.
Toxicity studies show no toxic effects on humans. In research, patients are
given much higher doses, as high as 10 grams of extract per day, with no
ill effects.
The potency of Reishi mushrooms is usually based on its level of
triterpenoids. One can determine the level of this by tasting it. The
more bitter it is, the higher the level of triterpenoids.
Because Reishi is a polypore, (a group of hard, woody, bracket-like mushrooms)
it is not eaten, but cut into pieces and made into a tea. In China, the
average dose is 3 to 5 grams a day. Other popular forms of delivery are
the water/alcohol extracts and powders. “Reishi: Ancient Medicine is
Modern Hope”, Linda McGlasson, Health Foods Business Consumer Education
Series, January 1992.
A study of Ganoderma undertaken at Cornell University found that there was a good argument for the use of this substance in conjunction with other medicines in the treatment of Cancer. There was no mention in the literature of HCV. (Role of Ganoderma Supplementation in Cancer Management Meridian Medical Group at the Institute of East-West Medicine and Department of Medicine, Cornell Medical College Raymond Y. Chang, 1997).
