Home / Blog / 9 Studied Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

9 Studied Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms

Reishi mushroom, or Ganoderma Lucidum, is used in many countries as a medicinal supplement. So much so that it’s been nicknamed the "immortal mushroom." It’s studied and known to contain more than 400 biologically active ingredients, including peptides, steroids, fatty acids, sterols, and more.

Today it’s understood that Reishi mushrooms can effectively treat some of the most difficult diseases. So if you’re interested in a long and healthy life, then this mushroom just might be the perfect addition to your daily routine.

The Benefits of Reishi Mushroom Powder

1. Anti-Cancer

A 2010 study found that the pimelic acid in Reishi mushrooms can inhibit the growth of lung and colon cancer cells, preventing their metastasis (the main cause of cancer-related deaths). Another study found that people taking Reishi were more likely to respond positively to chemotherapy than those not.

Being that Reishi is known for its immunity-boosting effects, this could explain why cancer patients respond better to chemotherapy while using them.

2. Anti-Aging

Reishi has antioxidant and DNA-protecting properties that contribute to its anti-aging effects. One study found that Reishi mushroom protected the DNA in human cells at low doses, but that it actually had destructive effects at high concentrations. In another study, they were found to protect the brain and heart from age-related oxidative stress through free radical scavenging.

3. Wound Healing

Scientists researching certain Reishi mushrooms with high polyphenol and flavonoid content from the Himalayas of India studied their healing efficiency on rats. They concluded that these Reishi mushrooms enhance wound healing and collagen regeneration.

4. Herpes?!

In one study, an acidic-protein-binding-polysaccharide (APBP) was isolated from Reishi mushrooms to examine its anti-herpes effect on both type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex. The protein showed effective antiviral activity at a 50% concentration. So it seems that Reishi could be developed into an effective anti-herpes drug.

It’s also been shown that Reishi extract used in combination with other antiviral drugs has a better effect than anti-virals alone.

5. HIV

In addition Reishi’s immunity boosting effect, there are several compounds with anti-HIV properties. It’s also been shown to increase the level of T-cells in HIV patients.

6. Brain Health

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Reishi can help protect your brain from age-related brain problems. One study on the effect of Reishi spores on rat brains found that these powerful mushrooms may even reverse damage to the hippocampus.

7. Anti-Bacterial

In a study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, Reishi mushrooms also showed some antibacterial and antifungal properties. A compound extracted from Reishi mushroom inhibited Gram-positive bacteria (the really bad stuff) and certain fungal strains, but had no effect on Gram-negative bacteria (the less bad but stuff). Other compounds extracted from Reishi also have some effects on E. coli.

8. Liver

According to a study on mushrooms and the liver, Reishi seems to have a protective effect. The livers of the mice treated with Reishi spores faired better than the control when given high doses of cadmium.

9. Arthritis

According to a study of 32 rheumatoid arthritis patients, alternatives such as Reishi powder may provide analgesic effects for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We all know traditional analgesics have serious side effects.. but Reishi mushrooms didn’t show any adverse reactions.

It’s amazing to think that this mushroom might even lower the need for pain-killers!

The Immortal Shroom

Since 2000, humans have been using the “immortal mushroom” to fight many diseases. From preventing cancer, to treating viral infections, strengthening the immune system and relieve pain, Reishi mushrooms seem like a central supplement to any long-term health and fitness program.

How to Take Reishi Mushroom Powder

Some people boil the mushrooms into a tea or roast them as side dishes. We prefer to take the powdered supplement form since it’s much more convenient (and not everyone loves mushrooms).

For this, we recommend using edible films such as Blate Papes. Traditional Reishi capsules cost too much and filling them yourself can be messy and takes a long time.

Blate Papes take under 10 seconds to fill and swallow, they hold 20x more than capsules, they’re tasteless and even go down much easier.

But note that it’s important to make sure the Reishi mushroom powder you take comes from only the fruiting bodies of the mushroom! The “fruiting body” is everything atop the surface that they grow from.. and where all the benefits lie!

You can check out more about how you use papes to take Reishi mushroom here.

But no matter which consumption method you choose, it’s much more than likely that you’ll benefit from supplementing with Reishi, the “immortal mushroom.”