The reishi mushroom is a highly valued medicinal in China and Japan where it is known as the Òmushroom of immortality. 1 There is evidence dating back to 109 BC indicating the Chinese used the mushroom for medicinal purposes. This mushroom is known as mannentake in Japan or ling chi in China.
Chinese tradition says reishi bestows the rewards of long life, wisdom, strength, and happiness to its users.2 Anecdotes aside, reishi has been shown to exert some benefits, though research in humans is lacking. In Asia the mushroom is considered an antioxidant and an energizer. It is used to speed recovery from illness, regulate blood sugar, normalize nervous and digestive system functions, and increase the flow of oxygen in the blood. Specific indications include nervousness, chronic fatigue, insomnia, asthma, and ulcers.
In China the reishi mushroom is used in the treatment and prevention of cancer, with specific potency against esophageal cancer. Extracts have also been shown to boost immune defenses of cancer patients.3 The reishi also contains compounds that are effective against liver cancer. Speculation about the use of reishi in heart disease is based on anecdotal evidence that reishi reduces cholesterol and lipids in the blood, as well as blood pressure.4
Reishi mushrooms are rarely eaten as food outside of Asia because they are hard with a bitter taste. Supplements are available in health food stores as powders, capsules, teas, and extracts. A dosage of 500 mg two to three times a day is the standard recommendation.
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