Herb Highlight: Lingzhi Mushroom
Introduction
Many know of the Lingzhi mushroom more commonly as the Red Reishi mushroom. Whichever name is used, both refer to Ganoderma lingzhi a fungus that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for 2,000 years.1 In TCM, the focus of medicine is on prevention and Ling Zhi is key part of maintaining a healthy balance in the body.2
Limited Scientific Studies
Despite the use of Lingzhi mushroom in TCM for thousands of years, the research on its effectiveness as a treatment in Western medicine is limited. In fact, most studies using lingzhi are small or do not use humans as subjects.3 However, science shows that lingzhi contains triterpenes that have a similar structure to steroid hormones and polysaccharides, a form of dietary fiber.1 Therefore, scientists have studied lingzhi mushroom’s effect on the immune system. Particularly, to see if it can help the immune system fight cancer, HIV/AIDs, and inflammation.3
Proceed with Caution
Since lingzhi mushroom interacts with our immune system.4 If you are on immune-suppressing drugs, please speak with a medical professional before taking lingzhi. You should also speak to your doctor before taking lingzhi mushroom if you are in chemotherapy treatment or are taking blood thinners.3
Sources
1 – Lingzhi (mushroom) – Wikipedia
2 – Reishi.com
3 – Reishi Mushroom | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
