There are many reishi benefits that you can receive by growing your own, foraging in the wild, or using our extract products
Reishi is an interesting and storied mushroom found in various parts of the world. Today we are looking at some of the main reishi benefits, in addition to options for growing it and consuming it at your home. Reishi has a long history of use in Japan and China and is extremely popular in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas.
Learn about reishi benefits
According to Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition, “Polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, and triterpenes are three major physiologically active constituents in G. lucidum”. These three constituents are great examples of reishi benefits. Let’s get a little deeper into each of these constituents.
First, let’s look at polysaccharides as one of the reishi benefits to know about. The polysaccharides that are unique to mushrooms and provide many of the benefits are beta-glucans, specifically 1,3 1,6 beta-glucans. Alpha glucans are also polysaccharides but are not unique to mushrooms and do not provide the same benefits. After researching on the Healthcare Information Directory, one can find a few major benefits of polysaccharides from a health standpoint, including:
- Supporting healthy blood sugar levels
- Supporting cardiovascular health
- Supporting the immune system
- Supporting liver function
- Supporting digestion and intestinal health
- Supporting healthy energy levels
Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition concludes with an interesting observation. It discusses reishi, its usage and growing interest among global users, and it states that there is “data that support its positive health benefits.” The study continues by noting that many of the studies that have shown these results were conducted on animals or in cell-culture models. Are reishi benefits the same in humans?
The results of one clinical trial includin
Grow your own to experience reishi benefits firsthand
You can grow your own reishi mushrooms with a reishi mushroom grow kit.
Reishi mushrooms are not necessarily the first mushroom that comes to mind with home mushroom cultivation, but it is an option! Reishi can often be found in abundance in certain parts of the country, but they aren’t always found everywhere and not everyone has the ability to go foraging as desired. This is why reishi growing kits are available.
These kits will also grow differently from reishis in the wild. They will begin growing with an antler stage, so they look quite different from reishis you may have found out in the forest. This reishi mushroom growing kit begins with the antler phase and then the mushroom morphs from the antler shape to the conch shape during growth. Many times this happens when the mushroom is in a higher CO2 and lower light environment. If you have used the other growing kits we provide, then you will recognize this mushroom is growing very differently from the others. With one of our reishi growing kits you do not have to forage this wonderful mushroom to experience reishi benefits. This is perfect for those living in areas where it’s difficult to find reishi in the wild. It is also great for getting fresh reishi during the winter when the mushroom is past prime and not available fresh.
You can grow your own reishi to reap the reishi benefits! Reishi is not typically eaten but it is used to make medicinal teas and tinctures. Other ways to grow reishi mushrooms include plug spawn, sawdust spawn, and grain spawn. The reishi spawn we provide is Ganoderma lucidum, which is best grown on sugar maple but will also do well on oak, red maples, and sweet gum trees. Here’s a quick rundown of the spawn type that would be best for you.
Reishi mushroom plug spawn: If you want to inoculate a few sugar maple logs on your property, then plug spawn would be your best bet.
Reishi mushroom sawdust spawn: Have any oak or red maple stumps on your property? You could easily turn them into totems with the use of some sawdust spawn. You can also use sawdust spawn for inoculating larger amounts of logs, or inoculating hardwood sawdust.
Reishi mushroom grain spawn: Interested in using supplemented hardwood sawdust indoors? Grain spawn is a great option for you.
Reishi benefits can be experienced in extract form, too
You can get reishi benefits from various products. Our reishi mushroom extract is different from other reishi supplements you’ll find in the market. We only use foraged fruiting bodies, mainly from ganoderma tsugae. There are other reishi mushroom supplements on the market that are mycelium-based products which are grown on grain. Growing reishi on grain is good for consumption, but the efficacy of its medicinal benefits as a supplement are questionable.
Furthermore, these tinctures are created using a triple extraction process that includes alcohol, and both hot and cold water. Some medicinal constituents from reishi are extracted only in water, while other healthful constituents are only extracted in alcohol. Using this triple extraction method is our attempt to get the most amount of constituencies in available liquid form for our customers, leading to the most reishi benefits.
We hope you understand reishi benefits even better now!
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Note: The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The products sold on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for a consultation with your physician. The information should not be understood as individual medical advice.
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Content by Chris Sturk