Understanding the Magnificence of the Reishi Mushroom

Mar 22, 2023

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Andrey Kono

In the traditional Chinese language, reishi is widely known as Lingzhi. The ancient herb doctors and medical practitioners in ancient China aptly named the reishi mushroom for its wonderful benefits for the human body. The herbalists believed that reishi mushrooms had the medicinal properties to potentially prolong life and keep the body young.

Emperor Yan, who was China's first emperor (and the most respected), was also the first person to introduce farming techniques and practices in ancient China. Emperor Yan's farming tools and strategies became the very essence of the country's agricultural prowess and success.

On the subject of reishi, Emperor Yan stated that consuming reishi mushrooms consistently helped make the body disease-free, stronger, and that it prolonged life.

A Brief Glimpse of the History of the Spiritual Functional Mushroom

The reishi mushroom has been used in ancient Chinese medications for millennia. And according to historians, the functional mushroom was discovered in the same region by herbalists and healers over 2,500 years ago. The mushroom was first harvested from the Changbai mountain range.

The Changbai mountains are notorious for their severe cold weather conditions and the name of the mountain also translates into "Perpetual White Mountain". Although it's pretty cold up there, the mountain is also an excellent habitat for reishi mushrooms that grow at the bottom of hardwood trees.

According to Chinese historians and ancient texts, the functional mushroom was widely celebrated as being a "spiritual elixir" that had the capability of granting and prolonging life. This is one of the reasons why Chinese healers at the time went through a lot of effort hiding the harvesting locations of the reishi mushrooms, which were kept secret from the general population.

Healers also made note of the fact that the mushrooms comprised a variety of compounds that potentially had anti-aging effects. This is also one of the reasons why reishi mushrooms are also used as a sacred talisman of wellness, luck, and spirituality in Chinese culture.

Fast forward to today and the functional mushroom is still typically used to create different types of modern medications in China.

Some Excellent Health Benefits of Reishi Mushroom Supplements

May Help Boost Your Immune System

While a lot of clinical trials and research on the medicinal benefits of reishi mushrooms have been performed on laboratory animals, researchers have been able to identify that reishi mushrooms may be able to boost immune system health in humans.

According to preliminary reports, it was revealed that reishi mushrooms helped increase the subject's white blood cell count. The study was, by and large, conducted on a test-tube subject.

While some details are still uncertain, test-tube studies have shown that reishi can affect the genes in white blood cells, which are critical parts of your immune system.

Packed with Antioxidants

Reishi mushrooms contain plenty of antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants play an instrumental role in keeping our bodies well-protected against free radical cell damage and oxidative stress. By consuming reishi supplements you may be able to reduce DNA damage caused by these factors on a day-to-day basis.

Potential Improvement in Focus Levels

According to preliminary research, it was discovered that reishi mushroom supplements could help people suffering from frequent mental fatigue, low levels of energy, and cognitive impairment. As per the study on the effects of reishi mushrooms on people suffering from neurasthenia, it was identified that functional mushroom supplements helped reduce mental fatigue in one group of volunteers.

Some Important Factors to Consider When Buying and Consuming Reishi Supplements

With so many potential medicinal properties of reishi mushrooms, you should probably consider including them in your daily diet. However, at the same time, it is also important to first consult your physician before you start taking reishi supplements.

When it comes to buying a product that really suits you, the first order of business is to make sure what you're buying is authentic and 100% organic or plant-based. Plus, the product also needs to prove that it has been harvested from a genuine source.

Always go for functional mushroom supplements that are made without a substance known as mycelium. Mycelium is basically an additive that refines the taste of the mushroom but has zero nutritional value. In addition, you can also opt for reishi supplements in powder form, which is easier when it comes to preparing meals and teas.

All you have to do is add just about 3 grams of reishi powder and enjoy the benefits. In addition, you can also use the powder to enrich the flavor and nutritional value of your smoothies, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, soups, and much more.

But the best way to consume reishi mushrooms is in supplement form. They're easier to use and store, and you don't have to worry about preparing meals. You can just pop a supplement after breakfast and you're good to go.

Did You Know These Fun Facts About Reishi Mushrooms?

Reishi mushrooms have been in use in ancient Chinese herbalism and medicine for 2,000+ years! The substance has a pretty long and graceful history.
While reishi mushrooms were initially discovered in China, they can also be found growing beneath hardwood trees in the forests of Japan and Korea. However, the mushrooms can also be found in other regions where the climate is warm and tropical.
Reishi mushrooms grow on oak trees, elm trees, and maple trees. They are very difficult to find and are fast becoming a rarity. This is why many of the products that you’ll find are made with commercially harvested reishi compounds.
Reishi is also a very safe-to-use supplement with zero side effects.

The Bottom Line

All in all, reishi mushrooms have a proven history of medicinal properties and have been popularly used for thousands of years. Reishi supplements can potentially help you increase your cognitive health, boost your mood, regulate stress and anxiety, and may also help increase your levels of focus. In addition, reishi mushroom supplements are easy to consume in supplement form and can be a great addition to your daily diet.

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