Ganoderma Lucidum Reishi

Ganoderma lucidium Reishi has positive drug enhancing effects. It is bracket fungi. This mushroom grows in the tropical as well as temperate regions. It has a global distribution and can be found in Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. It grows as a parasite on the trees drawing food from the dead or decaying wood. Its traditional name is Lingzhi and has been used as a part of Chinese herbology and traditional medicine from 4000 years.

Its history records are excellent. This mushroom has major health advantages. It has proven to be effective in enhancing conditions from fatigue to blood clots.

Ganoderma lucidium Reishi has been seen to have harmless and non-toxic consequences even when administered in high dosages to animals and human beings. However, you should be aware of some side effects. Although these side effects are quite uncommon. Some of them include dizziness, dry mouth, throat, and nose. It can cause your stomach to be upset and may cause diarrhea. Sometimes it may cause dermatitis.

Usually these side effects disappear within a week’s time. Sometimes they show after a prolonged period of intake.The diarrhea can be avoided if it is taken with food and some sort of vitamin C supplement. At times you will see allergic reactions due to Ganoderma ingestion. In case it is becoming a problem, discontinue the usage and consult a doctor.

Of course you must not consume this herb if you are allergic to mushrooms..

High doses of Ganoderma Lucidum Reishi has enhanced the effects of anti-hypersensitive medications, hypoglycemic medications and anti-coagulant medications. Hence, in case you already consuming these medicines, then take the advice of your doctor if you want to continue taking this herb.

From an article located on www.ganoderma-online.com

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Ganoderma Origins

Relatively rare and undiscovered in the West, Reishi and other mushrooms have been revered as herbal medicines for thousands of years in Japan and China.

Emperors of the great Chinese dynasties and Japanese royalty drank teas and concoctions of the mushroom for vitality and long life. The ancient Taoists were constantly searching for the elixir of eternal youth, and Reishi was believed to be among the ingredients. In ancient time, reishi in medicine was considered so auspicious that its medical efficacy has been attested to in the oldest Chinese medical text (presumed to be over 2,000 years old).

The book, which is known in Japan as “Shinnoh Honsohkyo”, is now accepted as being the original textbook of Oriental medical science. In it, 365 kinds of medicines are classified and explained. The medicines are basically classified into 3 categories: 120 of them are declared to be “superior” medicines, another 120 are classified as “average” medicines, and the remaining 125 are placed in the “fair” category. The “superior” medicines are called “God’s Herbs” and they are for perpetual youth and longevity – the medicines of the legendary wizards.

The “average” category medicines are those which can be taken as a tonic, and those in the “fair” category are taken to remedy specific ailments. One must be careful about the volume taken of the “average” and “fair” category medicines, and should never take them continuously. However, the book states that for “superior” medicines, any amount can be taken as desired on a continuous basis with no unfavorable effects. Of the superior medicines listed in the text, reishi was rated number one.

Also from www.ganoderma-online.com

For further reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganoderma. This includes a listing of books and websites for research.

Ganoderma grows in California, too.

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has an article on the purported effects of ganoderma here.

More Information from the Mushroom Expert.com website.

Answers.com has information on ganoderma as well.

Here’s a true gem of information collection.

Even PubMed, the National Library of Medicine, has information on ganoderma.

The Journal of Hematology and Oncology (blood and cancer studies) has it listed, too.

Here’s a beauty of a listing: HealthLine.com

Here’s a mycophile’s view on Ganoderma