Ganoderma Lucidum Guide
Ganoderma Lucidum is a mushroom traditionally used in ancient Chinese medicine. It’s commonly known as reishi and is used to enhance longevity and boost overall health.
What is Ganoderma Lucidum Reishi?
Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom that appears to have powerful health benefits. The ancient Chinese have used ganoderma lucidum – also known as reishi – for thousands of years to enhance longevity.
The mushroom itself is surprisingly large. It has a dark color, a woody texture, and a glossy appearance. The mushroom grows naturally throughout Japan, China, and many other Asian countries.
Benefits of Ganoderma Lucidum
Today, ganoderma users typically take the substance to heal a wide range of conditions and ailments, including:
— Heal And Fight Allergies
— Reduce Your Risk Of Liver Disease
— Treat Lung Problems
— Heal Diabetes Symptoms
— Improve Cardiovascular Health
— Treat Cancer (the mushroom is commonly used by patients who are currently undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment.
How Does Ganoderma Lucidum Work?
Supporters of reishi mushrooms believe that the mushroom has powerful natural properties that make it extremely useful to the human body. Some of those natural properties include:
— Natural compounds that boost the immune system
— Polysaccharides (referred to as the Ganoderma A, B, C) that lower blood-sugar and help manage the symptoms of diabetes.
— Those same polysaccharides also increase glucose liver metabolism, enhance peripheral tissue, and improve your body’s utilization of glucose.
— Tea made from ganoderma lucidum appears to have anti-inflammatory effects.
— Ganoderma lucidum is considered hepatoprotective because it protects the liver.
— The mushroom can be used to treat altitude sickness because it appears to improve oxygenation (i.e. it adds more oxygen to the blood).
Scientifically speaking, ganoderma consists of about 90% water by weight (just like most other mushrooms). The remaining 10% of the mushroom is made up of 10% to 40% protein, 2% to 8% fat, 3% to 28% carbohydrates, 3% to 32% fiber, 8% to 10% ash, and vitamins and minerals like potassium, iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and copper.
If you want to learn more about the bioactive components in ganoderma lucidum, I recommend reading through this study, where scientists examined ganoderma lucidum and determined the exact compounds inside it. There are hundreds of known bioactive components discovered in ganoderma thus far.
Scientific Evidence for Ganoderma Lucidum
The world of traditional medicine rarely aligns with modern scientific research. Ganoderma lucidum, however, has held up moderately well under modern scientific testing. Here are some of the most important clinical studies you should know about:
2004 Study Shows Ganoderma is Most Effective Mushroom at Killing Cancer Studies
In one study from 2004, scientists tested 58 different types of basidiomycetes mushrooms. Out of all those 58 varieties, G. lucidum was shown to be the most effective at killing cancer cells. Ganoderma was observed inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in both human and rodent tumor cells.
1980 Study Shows Ganoderma Has Antitumor Activity
One study from 1980, showed that ganoderma displayed “significant antitumor activity”. That study involved testing the effects of ganoderma on tumor cells in mice. The end result was an inhibition rate of 88%. A similar study from 1981 led to an inhibition rate of 95% to 98%. Keep in mind that both of these studies were performed on mice and not humans.
Ganoderma Improves Quality of Life in Humans with Cancer
Ganoderma appears to treat cancer cells in mice. But what about humans? Some of the landmark human studies on ganoderma including one from 2003, where researchers recruited 134 patients with advanced cancers of all different types. These patients received 1800mg of ganoderma per day for 12 weeks. Researchers observed that 80% of the patients had “significantly enhanced’ their cellular immunity as determined by their elevated plasma interleukin levels.
In a separate study, patients with cancer were also observed to be able to increase their quality of life after taking ganoderma. 65% of patients were observed to have improved their quality of life in terms of the Karnofsky score.
Ganoderma has a Proven Hypoglycemic Effect on Animals
Ganoderma is primarily studied for its cancer-fighting benefits. But its blood glucose benefits have also been extensively studied over the years. One study administered 100mg/kg of ganoderma extract to diabetic mice. These mice were observed to significantly decrease plasma glucose concentrations by up to 50%, with these effects lasting for 24 hours.
Ganoderma has a Hypoglycemic Effect in Humans
Fortunately, mice aren’t the only creatures that appear to benefit from ganoderma supplementation. One study involved 71 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. These patients received 1800mg of ganoderma extract three times per day for 12 weeks. After these 12 weeks, patients were observed with plasma glucose “decreased significantly” indicating a hypoglycemic effect of the extract.
Side Effects of Ganoderma Lucidum
The mushroom has displayed some side effects and downsides in certain scientific studies. Those side effects include:
— Some individuals are allergic to ganoderma lucidum and other mushrooms. You might experience itchy, red skin after taking the mushroom.
— You may experience a “drying out” effect after taking ganoderma, including dry mouth, throat dryness, and sometimes even nosebleed.
— Ganoderma can interact with other medications, especially blood thinners, which could lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
— Ganoderma thins the blood, which is a positive benefit for those who suffer from high blood pressure, but may not be healthy for those who have normal blood pressure.
— Some rare side effects of ganoderma include acne and gastrointestinal problems.
— Prolonged use of ganoderma can also lead to gastric bleeding, which is a very serious condition.
Ultimately, the side effects of ganoderma lucidum can be quite serious, which is why you should always consult a doctor before using the mushrooms.
How to Use Ganoderma Lucidum
Today, ganoderma lucidum nutritional supplements are gradually becoming more popular. You can buy ganoderma in the form of powders, dietary supplements, teas, and even shampoos.
Amazon sells the following supplements:
–Ganoderma Lucidum tablets with 99.4% rDNA, 60 capsules per bottle, and 350mg per capsule: $25
–Japan Reishi Ganoderma Lucidum Powder (Completely Decrusted) – 380mg, 60 capsules per pack: $39.99
-Organo Gold Organic Ganoderma Lucidum 90 Count: $18
–Nature’s Way Reishi Capsules, 100 Count: $6.99
Final Thoughts: Who Should Use Ganoderma Lucidum?
Ganoderma lucidum is a popular and well-studied mushroom with a long history of medicinal uses. Thanks to a growing market for the mushroom around the world, it’s easier than ever to buy ganoderma lucidum supplements online.
The main problem with ganoderma lucidum is that human studies performed thus far have been small in scale and don’t always support the in vitro or animal-based research.
Nevertheless, studies on both animals and humans have indicated that there are powerful anti-cancer effects along with benefits like improved blood glucose utilization and reduced symptoms of diabetes.
If you want to take a natural supplement to treat various symptoms of disease and illness, then the ganoderma lucidum mushroom, also known as the lingzhi or reishi mushroom, may be the right choice for you.
