The mushroom known in Japan as Reishi and China as Lingzhi - an asian form of Ganoderma lucidum is a
polypore mushroom.They have no gills but instead pores that release their seed (spores) hence the name
polypore. Reishi is a large, dark, very tough, woody/corky mushroom. Most mushrooms are around 90% water,
while reishi is around 75% water. Dry or wet it is inedible, therefore it must be made into a tea or
extract.
In nature, they grow in densely wooded mountains of high humidity and dim lighting. It is rarely found
since it flourishes mainly on the dried trunks of dead plum, guercus serrata or pasonia trees. Out of
10,000 such aged trees, only 2 or 3 will have reishi growth, therefore its wild form is generally
rare.
Also known as Ling zhi meaning "herb of spiritual potency". Reishi has been used for more than 4000 years
in Traditional Chinese Medicine . The oldest mushroom known to have been used in medicine and is one of
the most respected medicinal mushrooms today. Reishi has now been added to the American Herbal
Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium. Once rare, this mushroom is now effectively cultivated and is
sold in many asian markets. Western health shops often stock extracts of G.Lucidum labelled as Reishi
however they are sometimes another type of the same family of mushroom without the full range of medical
effects.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Reishi is the most highly rated herb in terms of multiple benefit and
absence of side effects. It is the only known source of a group of triterpenes known as ganoderic acids,
which have a molecular structure similar to steroid hormones. It has the most active polysaccharides
(long "chains" of sugars) among medicinal plant sources. Reishi also contains ergosterols, complete
proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
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