Reishi – A look at a very interesting mushroom
Ganoderma lucidum, so der eigentliche Name der geläufig als Reishi bezeichnete Pilz, ist ein orientalischer Pilz und wird in China, Japan und anderen asiatischen Ländern seit langem zur Förderung der Gesundheit und Langlebigkeit eingesetzt. Es ist ein großer, dunkler Pilz mit glänzender Außenseite und holziger Konsistenz. Das lateinische Wort lucidus bedeutet glänzend und bezieht sich auf das wie lackierte Aussehen der Oberfläche des Pilzes.
It’s not surprising, then, that in German it’s called the “shiny lacquer polypore”.
In China, Ganoderma lucidum is called “Lingzhi”, while in Japan it’s known as “Ganodermataceae Reishi” or “Mannentake”.
In Chinese, the name Lingzhi combines spiritual power and the essence of immortality, and is considered the “herb of spiritual power,” symbolizing success, well-being, divine power, and longevity. Among cultivated mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum is unique in that its pharmaceutical value, rather than its nutritional value, is emphasized.
Zur Vereinfachung werden wir fortlaufend den Begriff Reishi verwenden, da dieser im Allgemeinen die gebräuchlichste Form ist.
A look into the history of the Reishi mushroom
Lingzhi has been known as a medicinal mushroom for over 2,000 years, and its powerful effects are documented in ancient texts. The first book dedicated solely to describing herbs and their healing value was the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, written during the Eastern Han Dynasty in China (25–220 AD). This book is also known as the “Classic of Materia Medica” or “Shennong’s Herbal Classic.” It describes botanical, zoological, and mineral substances and was written in the 2nd century. The book, which was continually updated and expanded, details the beneficial effects of several mushrooms, including references to the medicinal mushroom Reishi. In the “Ben Cao Gang Mu” by Li Shizhen, considered China’s first pharmacopoeia (1590 AD), the mushroom was attributed therapeutic properties such as a tonic effect, boosting vitality, strengthening heart function, improving memory, and rejuvenating effects.
According to the official pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, reishi is used to restore Qi, calm the mind, and relieve coughs and asthma. It is recommended for dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Wild wachsender Reishi ist selten und konnte sich in den Jahren vor seiner Kultivierung nur der Adel leisten.
Auch heute ist der Reishi in Asien nach wie vor ein beliebtes traditionelles Heilmittel und seine Verwendung nimmt weltweit zu.
Ein Blick auf den Anbau und Verwendung von Reishi
Due to its irregular distribution in the wild and increasing demand, efforts have been made to cultivate the mushroom. Different members of the Ganoderma genus require different conditions for growth and cultivation. Additionally, different species are preferred in different geographic regions. For example, black reishi is popular in southern China, while red reishi is preferred in Japan.
Since the early 1970s, cultivation of reishi has been an important source for obtaining the mushroom.
The simplest way to produce it is to grind whole fruiting bodies into powder and then process them into capsules or tablets.
Ein Blick auf die wichtigsten bioaktiven Inhaltsstoffe
Most mushrooms are made up of about 90% water. Additionally, mushrooms contain a variety of bioactive molecules such as terpenoids, steroids, phenols, glycoproteins, and polysaccharides. Mushroom proteins contain all essential amino acids and are especially rich in lysine and leucine. The low overall fat content and high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids relative to the total fat in mushrooms are considered important factors in their health benefits.
Polysaccharides, phenols, and triterpenes are the three most important physiologically active components of reishi.
Polysaccharides
Mushrooms are characterized by the variety of polysaccharide structures they produce, and bioactive polysaccharides are found in all parts of the mushroom.
Polysaccharide passieren den Darm zur weiteren Verwertung, daher bieten Polysaccharide einen großen biologischen Nutzen für die Darmgesundheit. Menschen und Tiere können nur Einfachzucker und bestimmte Stärkearten direkt verarbeiten, deshalb gelangt ein großer Teil der Polysaccharide (z. B. Ballaststoffe) intakt in den Dickdarm und wird von der Darmmikrobiota fermentiert. Die Mikrobiota und die von ihnen abgeleiteten Metaboliten haben einen großen Einfluss auf die menschliche Gesundheit und Physiologie.
The impact of polysaccharides on gut health and metabolic diseases is not limited to mechanisms related to the gut microbiota. Some studies have shown that polysaccharides can directly modulate human health.
Triterpenes
Simply put, triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants. In fact, these hydrocarbons are among the most effective anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral compounds found in nature.
Triterpenes have been scientifically studied, and the results have shown several positive effects, which have proven useful, for example, in the treatment of cancer cells.
Triterpene enthalten Verbindungen, die die Leberfunktion unterstützen. Da die Leber und unser Nervensystem eng miteinander verbunden sind, wirkt sich dies auch positiv auf unser Nervensystem aus und hat eine beruhigende Wirkung.
In der traditionellen chinesischen Medizin (TCM) nährt der bittere Geschmack der Triterpene die Leber und beruhigt das Nervensystem.
Phenole
Phenolic compounds are probably the most extensively studied natural compounds due to their potential health benefits, which have been demonstrated in numerous studies. In recent years, phenolic compounds from natural sources have been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, anticancer, antihypertensive, cardioprotective, antiarthritic, and antimicrobial effects.
Daher ist die Identifizierung neuer phenolischer Verbindungen aus natürlichen Quellen heutzutage einer der Hauptforschungsschwerpunkte bei der Entwicklung natürlicher Produkte.
A look at other interesting compounds in Linghzi
An elemental analysis of the fruiting bodies of reishi showed that the main minerals are phosphorus, silica, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Freeze-dried fruiting bodies reportedly had a mineral content of 10.2%, with potassium, calcium, and magnesium as the main components.
Reishi also contains other compounds that may contribute to its medicinal effects, such as proteins and lectins. The protein content of dried Reishi is about 7–8%. Bioactive proteins are reported to contribute to Reishi’s medicinal properties, including an antifungal protein, ganodermin, which is isolated from the fruiting bodies.
A look at current studies on advanced topics
Gutartige Vergrößerung der Prostata
A double-blind study found that a Reishi extract was significantly more effective than a placebo in relieving urinary symptoms in men with BPH.
Hepatitis
Reishi scheint vorläufigen Untersuchungen zufolge bei der Behandlung von chronischer Hepatitis B wirksam zu sein.
Preliminary studies in humans show some effectiveness of the mushroom in treating chronic hepatitis B. However, further clinical studies are needed.
Diabetes
Reishi kann die Immunfunktion verbessern und hat sich bei diabetischen Tieren als vorteilhaft erwiesen.
Animal studies suggest that reishi extract can improve immune function and wound healing in type 1 diabetes. In addition, reishi has shown antidiabetic effects in animal studies, such as lowering high glucose levels and increasing insulin levels.
Several studies using experimental models of type 2 diabetes have reported on the antidiabetic effects of reishi and its components.
Our conclusion
A mushroom that truly deserves its good reputation!
Besonders seine Inhaltsstoffe machen ihn aus gesundheitlicher Sicht zu einer interessanten und reichen Quelle an gesundheitsrelevanten Stoffen!
Because of its abundance of these substances, it truly deserves the label "all-purpose weapon".
Here you’ll find our organic reishi extract in vegan capsules, handmade to the highest purity standards:
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