The reishi mushroom has been used for thousands of years in China. One of reishi’s most famous healing attributes is its ability to regulate the immune system; it brings the body into a state of dynamic equilibrium. What this means is reishi will enhance or stimulate a weakened immune system if necessary, or it will lower immune function in those who have a hyperactive immune system, such as an autoimmune condition like allergies or asthma. This activity is primarily the result of over 100 different polysaccharides, which are active components in reishi mushrooms. To learn more about reishi’s amazing effect on the immune system, check out this blog.

This part 2 blog is to further discuss all the different, amazing benefits of reishi mushrooms.

Reishi Mushroom Benefits, continued…

Healing the Liver

Reishi contain 119 different triterpene compounds. One of the most well-researched feature to these compounds is its ability to tonify the liver and enhance overall liver function. They help the liver assimilate and utilize nutrients and store excess nutrients as well. They help support the liver’s natural detoxification process it performs for us regularly.   

Ganoderic acids, in particular, have a very direct effect on healing the liver because they’re a beta-glucuronidase inhibitor. Beta-glucuronidase is an enzyme in the liver that’s very prevalent and active in certain liver dysfunctions like hepatitis and cirrhosis, so reishi actually has a direct effect on inhibiting that liver enzyme and reducing the severity of these conditions.

Powerful Antioxidant Qualities

A lot of reishi’s other triterpene’s have shown very pronounced antioxidant qualities so they protect from free radical damage and enhance cell repair. They’re very anti-inflammatory so they’ve been used with great results in treating arthritis. They also increase the absorption capacity for oxygen within the body so they dilate the alveoli in the lungs. This allows the body to increase the flow of oxygen and utilize of it throughout the body. Because of this increased oxygen flow, reishi has become quite renown as a very effective natural treatment for asthma, bronchitis and other lung related conditions.

Tonic For The Kidneys and Heart

Reishi is also a very powerful tonic to the kidneys and the heart. For the heart, it can reduce diastolic blood pressure, which is the blood that enters the heart and does that without impacting or altering the natural rhythm of the heartbeat. It has been used for quite some time as a successful cardiovascular medicine in general. Not only does it have this tonifying effect on the heart, it also inhibits cholesterol synthesis so has been used as part of an overall treatment therapy for atherosclerosis.

Anti-Viral Properties

Reishi is also a powerful anti-viral medicine and studies have shown it can inhibit the replication of the HIV virus and good at repairing and healing immune cells that have become infected with the virus.

Overall Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

The entire human body seems to benefit from reishi mushrooms in one way or another. Reishi tonifies the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys; it modulates the immune system; it is involved in healing, repairing, and rebuilding the nervous system, it allows us to handle stress so much more easily by its adaptogenic effect on our physiology and metabolism; and it helps us detoxify from toxic, harmful substances we come into contact with regularly.

You can see why reishi has its great reputation and is known as “the great protector.”

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods