Reishi mushrooms are an edible but bitter-tasting fungi used for medicinal rather than culinary purposes, explains integrative physician Dr. Andrew Weil. Reishi mushrooms strengthen the immune system and may have anticancer properties. Laboratory tests suggest that reishi mushrooms show promise for these purposes and a variety of others; however, human studies are limited as of 2010.
Background
Reishi mushrooms (Garnoderma lucidum) have been used for almost 4,000 years in China and Japan as a general health booster and folk remedy for arthritis, high blood pressure, cancer, asthma, and problems with the heart and liver, according to the North Carolina Agricultural and Technological University. In the United States, reishi mushroom products are regulated as a dietary supplement by the Food and Drug Administration, which means that reishi products cannot purport to prevent, treat or cure any medical condition.
Properties
According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, there are complex sugars in reishi mushrooms that have anticancer and immune-stimulating properties. Sterols are also found in the mushroom which, along with triterpenes, purportedly have an affect on high blood pressure and allergies. The center notes that reishi mushrooms also demonstrate the ability to slow down blood clotting.
Considerations
Laboratory studies suggest that reishi mushrooms may beneficial for treating HIV/AIDS, high cholesterol and allergies, states the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Laboratory studies and limited clinical trials suggest that reishi mushrooms may boost the immune system, particularly in cancer patients. However, more research on human subjects is needed. There's no scientific evidence to indicate that reishi mushrooms help fatigue, high cholesterol, viral infections and low stamina.
Warning
Reishi mushrooms can interact with other drugs, cautions the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Long-term consumption may affect how quickly blood clots, so reishi mushrooms should not be consumed while taking blood-thinning medications like warfarin, immuno-suppressant drugs or medications for high blood pressure, or during chemotherapy.
Uses
Dr. Weil describes reishi mushrooms as "woody, hard and bitter." Preparations found in health food markets include tablets, capsules and liquid extracts. Dr. Weil advises following the product label instructions as to daily dosing. It's also possible to purchase dried, ground reishi mushrooms and brew them into tea.
