It took a handsaw to cut through these dried reishi mushrooms. Lesson learned: process mushrooms when fresh. It makes cutting do much easier and faster. This beauty was harvest in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. My classmates and I spent the day with a beauty Soul name Tyson who is an herbalist and, Cherokee Native American.
Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lingzhi)
Reishi mushrooms have been a mainstay of Eastern medicine treatments for millenia. Several molecules within the mushroom, including triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and peptidoglycans may be responsible for its health effects. Reishi mushrooms have been shown to boost the immune system. They have been shown to increase the activity of natural killer cells which are important in fighting infections and cancer within the body.
This fungus has potential cancer-fighting properties. There are a multitude of studies demonstrating activity against cancers, including prostate, colorectal, and breast. More research is warranted. Reishi has been found to reduce fatigue, depression, and increase quality of life in cancer patients and others.
Reishi has been shown to improve blood sugar control in diabetics, improve cholesterol parameters, and improve antioxidant status.
Extracts are usually 10X more potent than the mushroom itself. Generally, Reishi has a very favorable safety profile. Although, there have been very rare reports of liver toxicity with large amounts of a powdered supplement. Avoid consuming during pregnancy & breast feeding, in those with a blood disorder, in those who will be undergoing surgery, or have a low blood pressure.
Visit Quinnieskitchen.com for a concentrated mushroom plant medicine tinure.