How do you recognize this mushroom ?
Reishi is also known as Ganoderma lucidum, Shiny Polypore, Shiny Ganoderma, Mannentake and Linghzi.
Reishi is identifiable by :
- its mode of life : it grows on the trunk of trees ;
- a hat : flat, spread out, thin, with a varnished effect on the top;
- white holes that turn red under the cap;
- a foot : long and brown ;
- a flesh : rigid and leathery. Reishi has a flesh that is too tough to be eaten directly.
Reishi is easily found in oak, beech, ash, maple and plane tree forests in Europe in summer and autumn.
What are the traditional uses of this mushroom ?
It is one of the most widely used mushrooms for 2000 years. It is considered a universal remedy for fatigue, pain, fever and cancer.
In the past, it was only used by Chinese emperors because tradition claimed that it could prolong the life of its consumer. The emperor Who of the Quin dynasty was fascinated by the search for immortality. For this reason, he used to take a daily elixir made of Reishi. It was traditionally used against coughs and asthma, as an aphrodisiac, to protect the liver, or as an antidote against mushroom poisoning. If it was rare and expensive in the past, the development of its culture has allowed an expansion of its commercialization throughout the world.
What are the medicinal properties of Reishi ?
Reishi has many medicinal properties :
- stimulates the immune system;
- Thins the blood;
- helps normalize blood cholesterol levels.
What precautions should I take before using Ganoderma lucidum ?
It is strongly discouraged to use Reishi with :
- Diabetes medication;
- High blood pressure medication;
- Blood thinning drugs.
This mushroom should not be used if :
- blood thinning medications are already being used;
- surgery is recent or imminent.
Updated on 20 January 2023 at 17:29
