Reishi Ganoderma lucidum

Ling Zhi, the Taoist mushroom of immortality

 

Reishi – also known as ling zhi – is widespread all over the world. In Germany it grows mainly in oak and beech forests as well as in parks and gardens at the foot of alder, birch, beech, oak, plum and cherry trees. Its whimsical-looking, glossy orange-brown, plate-like caps are up to 20 cm wide and grow on stems that are usually 3-14 cm long.

 

For thousands of years, reishi has been used and respected throughout Asia and is also known as the “king of mushrooms” because of its numerous positive health effects. The Chinese term “Ling Zhi” can be translated as “mushroom of immortality”; in Japanese, reishi means “mushroom of the gods”. Other common names such as "ten-thousand-year mushroom" and "herb of spiritual potency" refer to its immense importance in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. Many traditions attest to the high regard in which reishi was held by numerous Chinese emperors. Around 300 BCE, a cult centering around an elixir for immortality arose in China. The mushroom needed for this, known as “chih” – the ling zhi mushroom –appeared in the earliest records of Chinese alchemists. Emperor Chen Sung is known to have had all the ling zhi specimens that were found brought to him and thus was able to collect 10,000 specimens within three years.

 

Vitalpilze-NewsFreshly harvested Reishi


In traditional Chinese medicine, reishi is at least on a par with ginseng (bot.: Panax ginseng), which is also highly regarded as a tonic. Ganoderma contains large amounts of highly active polysaccharides, which were scientifically proven to boost immunity and prevent or inhibit tumors.

In addition, the mushroom contains over 130 triterpenes – these enable the reishi to protect the liver, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and counter allergies. Furthermore, reishi is used to promote sleep, prevent weakness and loss of appetite, and to treat neurological complaints and for nerve weakness. It is also used to prevent altitude sickness. According to new studies, the additional administration of vitamin C should greatly increase the absorption of the reishi polysaccharides., Arguably the most important vital mushroom, today reishi is regularly taken by more than four million people worldwide to maintain their health.

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