Ganoderma & Obesity

Obesity statistics continue to confound the efforts of health practitioners in the U.S. According to data compiled by the CDC, 68 percent of the American adult population registers a BMI over 25, meaning that over two-thirds of the U.S. population carries excess weight and risks high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health complications. Some research indicates that the ganoderma lucidum mushroom, an ancient remedy known to some alternative health practitioners, can aid weight loss; while other research suggests it has no effect.

Identification

The ganoderma lucidum mushroom, a tree fungus native to China and Japan, goes by many names, including the reishi mushroom, according to the Real Age website. Other common names include ling zhi, ling chi, lin zi, the mushroom of immortality, and mannentake, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website.

Uses

Alternative health practitioners and contemporary herbalists use ganoderma to treat obesity related illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, says Real Age. It has also been recommended for patients with high cholesterol, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Alternative medicine practitioners proscribe ganoderma for obese patients, as well as patients suffering from fatty liver and hardening of the arteries, says the Reishi Rescue website. The usual dosage, according to Real Age, is 2 g to 6 g per day of raw reishi fungus, or the equivalent dose in concentrated extract form, taken alongside meals. Traditional Chinese medicine combines ganoderma with related fungi, such as shiitake.

Research

Scant studies exist that conclusively prove the efficacy of ganoderma as a weight loss tool or as a means to treat obesity. One study published in the "Journal of Microbiology," in 2004, found that a compound extracted from ganoderma reduced glucose levels in test animals, and suggested that ganoderma might be effective in the oral treatment of diabetes and obesity.

Benefits

According to clinical studies referenced by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the reishi mushroom can augment immune response, and boost the capacity of antioxidants in the blood. Similarly, Real Age points to the possible antiviral and antibacterial healing properties attributed to ganoderma, but cautions that only preliminary forms of evidence support these claims. Neither the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center nor Real Age acknowledged any scientific evidence supporting the use of ganoderma as obesity therapy.

Warning

As with any alternative or traditional course of therapy or treatment, ask your doctor or health practitioner about ganoderma as a possible treatment for obesity. Some research links ganoderma to impaired blood clotting, so if you are taking any blood-thinning medications --- aspirin, for example --- check with your doctor before taking ganoderma, says Real Age.