|
|
What is Reishi? The last time I Googled "Reishi," I get more than 621,000 hits. It will be too time consuming going through all of them so let me save you the trouble by summarizing what most of these sites are talking about. Reishi belongs to the Basidomycetes family of mushroom, which is a branch of the Mycetes Kingdom. Many medicinal mushrooms come from the Basidomycetes family. Reishi is the Japanese word meaning "ancient goddess of health, life and eternal youth," a rare mushroom with amazing healing qualities. It has to be amazing to be noticed. Lingzhi, in Chinese which mean "divine herb that energizes the chi or life force," or Ganoderma Lucidum, its scientific name, is also known as the "King of Herbs" or "Gods Herb". This mushroom practically takes care of the entire body which beats multi-vitamins thus the "Miracle Herb" title is so fitting. Paul Stamets, the American mycologist and author of "Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms," describes that fungi is more directly related to us than any other in the animal kingdom. He says that we share the same pathogens, which is why fungi are great source for antibiotics. Its biological makeup is more compatible to humans and probably why we see great health benefits from a number of them such as Cordyceps, Maitake and especially, Reishi. Reishi history What is interesting about Reishi is its history. It has been in use in China for over 4,000 years. Because it is such a rare herb - for every 10,000 trees, one or three maybe found. Chinese history indicates that only Emperors were able to use them for their health and well being. There are stories where common folks could lose their lives if they were found to consume it for themselves. Commoners are encouraged to offer this rare mushroom to their Emperor whenever they discovered one, or lose their lives because of it. The rarity is so extreme that when someone was to find one, he will keep it a secret even to his own family. Shen Nong, the founding father of Chinese Medicine who lived during the Han Dynasty (206 BC ~ 8 AD) documented 365 plant species. In his meticulous study, he found that Reishi came out on top even superior to Ginseng. Types of Reishi However, there are more than 300 known species of Reishi. Out of these varieties, only six types have demonstrated beneficial to human health. These six types are: red, blue, black, yellow, white and purple. Black and red showed significant health benefits which are globally marketed today but the red variety supersedes the rest as having the most significant benefits for overall health by strengthening the immune system, enhancing many bodily functions and vital organs. Today, thanks to the technology developed in Japan, Reishi is being cultivated commercially in many Southeast Asian countries albeit in the strictest of control due to its sensitivity to how and where it is grown and the environment it is growing in. With the abundance of the product made available to the majority, many clinical trials and laboratory test are being done to understand the healing powers of this amazing herb. Reishi has 300 active elements. It contains Proteins, Amino Acids, Vitamins, Minerals and dietary fibers all of which are essential nutritional elements to build the body strong and healthy. Centum multivitamins and minerals boasting it has A to Zinc but which only have 27 in comparison. Of the 300, five active elements set Reishi apart from the rest of the herbs. These are: the rich content of Polysaccharides known to cleanse the body; Organic Germanium as the balancer; Adenosine as the regulator; Triterpenoids as the builder; and lastly, Ganoderic essence as the regenerator. Even though our knowledge of science is way ahead from our previous generations but yet we know very little how nature works its wonders. We may think we are smart by extracting only the active ingredients from Reishi but its potency may lie in the combination of all its active elements - the ideal "the whole is more than the sum of its parts". Third Party Opinion The article, "King of Herbs" written by Tish Davidson and Rebecca Frey, PhD, was compiled with the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine in 2005. Here are large excerpts from that article. "Ganoderma is considered an adaptogens, or natural regulator, suppressing the immune system if it is overactive and boosting it if it is underactive. Many health claims are made on the effect that Ganoderma has on the immune system. These claims are based primarily on the presence of high molecular weight polysaccharides and free radical antioxidants in Ganoderma extracts. Ganoderma is used in Japan and China to treat cancer and to stimulate the immune system after radiation or chemotherapy. It is also used to treat myasthenia gravis and systemic lupus erythematosus, both autoimmune diseases. It is also used to treat symptoms of viral diseases such as colds, influenza, canker sores, and hepatitis. Quite a few research studies on Ganoderma extracts have been done at universities in Japan, China and South Korea. Many of these are test-tube or animal studies. The results are not clear-cut, but they seem to indicate that at least in these non-human systems, Ganoderma has an effect on the immune system, some anti-tumor properties, and some anti-viral activity. One group of researchers reported in 2002 that Ganoderma appears to protect the liver from inflammation caused by infection. More recent research in Asian universities has investigated the effects of Ganoderma on human cells or tissues. A recent study done in Taiwan indicates that Ganoderma inhibits apoptosis (cell self-destruction) in human white blood cells. This finding may help to explain Ganoderma's beneficial effects on the immune system. Ganoderma has recently attracted the attention of Western cancer researchers. A case study report from Columbia University indicates that a Japanese dietary supplement containing Ganoderma as well as genistein, a soybean derivative, may be useful in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Ganoderma is also used in treating conditions of the nervous system. It is used to calm the nerves. Cure insomnia, reduce stress, eliminate nervous exhaustion, and increase determination and focus. Laboratory studies show fairly conclusively that Ganoderma does act as a sedative on cells of the central nervous system and possibly has painkilling and anti-convulsive properties. Ganoderma is frequently used to treat allergies, hay fever, bronchial asthma, and to reduce skin inflammation. Laboratory studies support these uses and show that some components of Ganoderma have a strong antihistaminic effect that interrupts the development of allergic reactions. Scientific research shows that compounds found in Ganoderma do lower blood sugar and also interfere with the clotting of blood platelets. This reduction in clotting may account for Ganoderma's effectiveness against stroke and arteriosclerosis." Toxicity Although there is no known toxic reaction from Ganoderma, it is wise to be on the side of caution. People who have allergic reaction to mushrooms should take more precaution prior to taking Ganoderma. Large doses of Ganoderma (3-6 grams) for 3-6 months may experience diarrhea, upset stomach, and dizziness. Others may experience nosebleed from high doses since Ganoderma is known to thin the blood. Caution again for people taking blood-thinning drugs like Warfarin. Efficacy and lesser side effects of Ganoderma seem to improve when taken with Vitamin C. It is also important to know the source of this amazing herb. Processing this herb for human consumption should also be taken into consideration. Many might argue that the only way to unlock its pharmaceutical benefits is through boiling; however, beneficial enzymes are destroyed in the heating process. DXN carefully considered the best way to harness natures goodness in Reishi. The one good measure is reading their testimonials. Disclaimer:The information provided in www.reishitherapy.com is for informational purposes and is not intended to provide specific medical advice, or substitute for medical advice from a physician or other qualified medical professional. Nothing contained in reishitherapy.com shall create, or shall be deemed to create a doctor-patient relationship, nor shall we the team members or the content there of be responsible for or assume any liability to arise from your use of the Herb. All the information's are collected from sources, which studied and found positive healthcare support to improve immune system. Person to person, condition of person, usage etc. also varies effectiveness. All claims and statements including testimonies are of respective writers, websites and links there of. |
Website designed by: BenLamp |